Your Financial Team

Hello! I'm Ethan, the owner of Sage Wealth Planning.

Believe it or not, my journey started right where you might be now: scratching my head over traditional investments and trying to decipher the unique language in which prospective financial advisors spoke. At the time, my wife, Robin, and I owned a rental property and were looking for someone—anyone—who could help us make sense of our financial lives without leading with insurance sales or rattling off stock tips.

Enter the Sage team. At the time, I had no idea there were financial planners who started with your life, values, goals, and find ways to create efficiencies and customized plans. The team helped us see how small, intentional changes could have a big impact, and it was the first time Robin and I felt like we had a financial partner, not just a backseat driver taking us on the scenic route they preferred.

I officially became a client of Sage in 2020. One meeting in, and I was hooked—not just on the advice, but on the mission. A year later, I joined the team. And three years after that, I purchased the business!

At Sage, we like to think of your financial life like a boat journey. You're the captain—always. We're your seasoned crew: helping you read the maps, adjust the sails, and steer around those pesky icebergs. There are a million ways to get to your destination, and we love helping each family chart the course that best suits them. There are no cookie-cutter routes when working with Sage.

A bit about my background: I graduated from Michigan State University, and I started my working career at Dow Inc. in my hometown of Midland, Michigan. These days, I call Georgetown, TX (a northern suburb of Austin) home, and it's also where Sage is headquartered.

When I'm not diving into financial plans, you'll probably find me walking or running behind a stroller with my daughter, Maddie, alongside my wife, Robin. We enjoy various outdoor activities, such as golfing, swimming, and hiking.

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me. I'd love the chance to get to know you and your story—and maybe even help write the next chapter together.

Hi, I'm Paige. I started with Sage Wealth Planning in the fall of 2022, and absolutely fell in love with the company and the work we do for our clients!

I grew up in the small town of Grayling Michigan, and was raised on the East Branch of the AuSable River. My parents are the proud owners of Skips Sport Shop, a sporting goods store started by my grandfather in the mid-1960s. Spending time there on the weekends or after school helped me develop a love for the outdoors, especially anything that has to do with being around water. I love swimming, fishing, kayaking, and, honestly, the togetherness being on the lake or river brings me.

Being raised by generational business owners also taught me the importance of hard work. I have seen my parents work nearly 365 days a year to provide for the life I have been so blessed to live, sacrificing their own free time to ensure I had my needs met.

Fortunately, I received a full-ride scholarship to Central Michigan University, where I majored in Financial Planning.

I fell more in love with the strategy, problem-solving, and relationship-building that financial planning offers as I took classes, began working with other advisors to serve clients, and eventually earned my CFP® certification.

I thoroughly enjoy helping the families we serve set and achieve goals as well as maximize the efficiency of their finances. Working with a smaller firm has allowed me to really get to know the individuals we work with and even begin helping the next generation. It is extremely rewarding work that I am thankful to practice every day.

Hello, my name is Zack Smutzer! I am the most recent addition to the Sage Wealth Planning Team, but my journey into financial planning began years earlier.

When I got my first job at 16, my parents helped me open a Roth IRA. We sat around the kitchen table and talked about compound growth and the importance of delayed gratification. I remember running the numbers on how far just a few hundred dollars could go by the time I turned 65. They taught me that while I may not have been wealthy in dollars, I was wealthy in time. That simple conversation stuck with me and changed the way I saw money forever.

After high school, I went on to study Finance at Texas A&M. At first, I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take with my degree. That changed when I discovered Financial Planning. Once I learned I could build a career helping people have those same kitchen table conversations that my parents had with me, I was hooked.

As I gain more experience in the profession, I'm continually reminded why I love this work. Financial planning combines technical knowledge and personal values in such a unique way. I like to think of it as a real-life puzzle, one where the “best” solution isn't just about numbers, but about what helps someone sleep better at night. True wealth goes beyond dollars and cents.

Outside the office, I'm passionate about community theater and have been performing in plays and musicals since I was seven. I also love college football and try to catch at least one Aggie game every year. Gig 'em!