All of these phrases describe Andres Gutierrez ’99, a
financial advisor in San Antonio.
Andres and his wife, Zaira, have just made plans to include Schreiner
in their estate plans through a life insurance gift. This commitment
follows a natural progression that reflects all of Andres’ life
values.
When Andres first started his career in financial planning five years
ago, he began to ponder the same questions he was asking his clients.
As he encouraged others to consider their beneficiaries, he kept thinking
about Schreiner.
Although his own resources were understandably modest at the time,
Andres wanted to honor the college that had helped him become a competent
businessman and thoughtful citizen.That
desire evolved into a definite plan this year. Now a family man with
a wife and baby, Andres recently purchased a term life insurance policy
to protect his loved ones.
As a financial planning professional, Andres also knew that he could
expand the plan to include Schreiner as well. Andres said, “So
I increased the amount of insurance I felt was sufficient to cover
my family and added Schreiner as a 10 percent beneficiary. It’s
my way of saying thank you to everyone who made my college experience
so unforgettable. The way I am today is the result of going to school
at Schreiner, and I think it is important to give back.”
Andres arrived at Schreiner thanks to his brother Abel,
who was already playing tennis at Schreiner. Andres, a year older,
was attending college in the Rio Grande Valley where the Gutierrez
family lived.
One
day Coach Lee Jennings and Abel persuaded Andres to consider Schreiner
and its tennis team.
“I fell in love with the school!” recalls Andres. “I
loved the campus, the outdoors, the experience of being away from
home. I loved the size and knew I would learn so much more at Schreiner,
where I would not be sitting in an auditorium, listening to a teacher
over a microphone. I recognized immediately that Schreiner was for
me!”
Believing he wanted to pursue a career in science or medicine, Andres
majored in chemistry. However, teachers across the academic disciplines
inspired and motivated him. “Dr. (Mike) Looney absolutely would
not let me make excuses when I tried to blame my tennis schedule for
my performance. And Dr. Fred Stevens is a man of vast, vast knowledge.”
Andres has enormous respect for the late Dan Swenson, who taught him
just one class. “Dr. Swenson made a huge impact on me because
he made me think critically, made me mature.”
Andres also remembers studying the history of Christianity with campus
minister Loren Scribner. “Dr. Scribner made me feel as if I
were really in college. His class was intense, with lots of reading
and writing and hard work.”
And his tennis coach? “Lee Jennings is a very fair person. Here
I came, thinking I should receive special treatment as a district
tennis champion from the Valley! That’s not how Coach Jennings
works. But by the time I was a senior, however, Coach let me
know that he counted on me to set an example as a scholar athlete.
I did not want to let him down!”
The combined wisdom and encouragement of his teachers helped Andres
develop a successful approach to college that he hopes current Schreiner
students will follow. “Do what you’re there to do. Go
to every class, listen, make good grades. Then everyone will be happy:
coaches, teachers, parents and yourself.”
Andres credits Schreiner with teaching him how to use time wisely
and accept personal responsibility. Schreiner’s internship program
after Andres’ junior year provided another valuable insight.
Returning to Brownsville for the summer, Andres worked for the public
utility company as a bench chemist. It was that experience that made
Andres know he wanted a career with more variety and flexibility.
Then, a few months later, Andres attended his first job fair. Not
having a job when he graduated was not an option, Andres explains.
The positions that looked the most promising at the January job fair
were in financial planning. He liked the promise of working with people
in a career that offered variety, autonomy and flexibility. So he
prepared a résumé, made hundreds of copies, and returned
to the next job fair ready to work on life after college.
“I knew nothing about stocks and bonds, but the companies told
me they would train me. I gave a résumé to every person
at the fair, knowing that the more people who knew of my interest,
the better chance I would have at interviews. Fortunately, it worked!”
Upon
graduation, Andres began training as a financial advisor. A year and
a half later, he and Zaira married. Now Andres is the first to admit
that he has fallen in love three times—once with his college,
then with his career, and now with his family.
“My family means everything to me,” he says emphatically.
“I just cannot wait to get home at night and see what Andres
(11 months old) has learned each day!”
Andres Gutierrez knows that he is well blessed. He
honors those blessings by devoting himself to his family and by helping
others. He works actively
with the Pecan Valley Optimist Club and is vice president of the San
Antonio alumni chapter of the Schreiner Former Students Association.
Grinning broadly, Andres takes credit for helping create the monthly
SFSA events at the San Antonio Mamacita’s Restaurant.
“I like our monthly gatherings where I can get to know other
former students. I encourage everyone to become involved with the
SFSA…to stay in touch, to help young grads start their own careers,
and to
remember those who have helped us.”
Andres summarizes his relationship by describing Schreiner as a family…
“a place to find strength, support, encouragement, everything
a family
provides. Schreiner offers fellowship…and awesome memories.”
Proud alumnus, skilled financial planner, loving family man—that’s
Andres Gutierrez.
And it makes Schreiner proud, too, to recognize Andres and Zaira as
the newest members of the Schreiner Oaks Society.
Andres may be contacted either by calling (210) 639-3082 or e-mailing
him at aagutierrez@finsvcs.com.
Karen Davis Kilgore is Schreiner University’s Consultant for
Planned Giving.
The
Schreiner University Board of Trustees honors all friends and former
students who have included the University in their estate plans by
naming them as members of the Schreiner Oaks Society.
New members are recognized each year at the February Donor Recognition
Schreiner Oaks Society banquet.
To become a member, simply notify the University that you have taken
this step. You do not have to disclose the details of your plan. You
will be asked to sign a simple letter of intent to confirm your decision
and to let us know if your plan changes.
On the other hand, we stand ready to help you in any way, including
sharing ideas with your professional advisors and illustrating specific
plans for you and your family with our planned giving software. Schreiner
offers a variety of tax-wise life income plans and estate planning
options. We also welcome the opportunity to discuss specific needs/funding
opportunities and levels of giving.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Davis Kilgore
Planned Giving Advisor
kkilgore@ktc.com
(830) 896-1787
Mark C. Tuschak
Vice President for Advancement
& Public Affairs
mctuschak@schreiner.edu
(830) 792-7215
Supporting
Schreiner University is easier than ever now.
Click here to visit our Online Giving Web site where
you can make a secure gift—one that will benefit Schreiner students
for years to come—in a matter of seconds.
If you have questions, contact Mignonne Frantzen, associate director
of development for annual giving, MRFrantzen@schreiner.edu
or phone (830) 792-7208.
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