Outlook Financial Group

Our Firm

Outlook Financial Group, LLC is a Houston-based financial planning and investment advisory firm.
We have:
  • Over $275 million in assets under management
  • 12 professionals and staff
  • 2 locations: Houston and The Woodlands
Areas of focus include:
  • Financial planning
  • Investment management
  • Retirement income planning
  • Estate and wealth transfer planning
  • Insurance and risk management
Securities and Investment Advisory services are offered through Sanders Morris Harris (SMH). The parent of SMH is Sanders Morris Harris Group (Nasdaq: SMHG).

Sanders Morris Harris Group is:
  • A financial services holding company headquartered in Houston that manages approximately $10 billion in client assets.
  • Its primary clearing firm is Pershing LLC. Pershing was founded in 1939 and is a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Company. With a staff of more than 4,400, they custody client assets worth over $700 billion.

Our Philosophy


"To provide both the blueprint and the implementation
of your wealth architecture."


Our Firm seeks to develop deep and broad client relationships anchored first in a clear understanding of each individual’s goals and objectives. Our clients are not interested in short-term, transaction-driven associations but, rather, in personalized, life-long, goal-oriented relationships. Through close communication, we develop further understanding of your specific needs, and design strategies and portfolios both to accomplish your objectives and to enhance your peace of mind. We believe that the value of a long-term relationship and the pursuit of excellence in service and investment opportunities help us provide superior financial and investment services to our clients.

Our Professionals

Jim Huston
Allen Neuenschwander
Chris Ramsey
Michael Neuenschwander
Elsa Cázares
Ray Stanley
Jill Norris

Jim Huston, CLU, ChFC, CFP®

A native of the Philadelphia, PA, suburbs, Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics in 1969 from Lehigh University, with dual majors in Finance and Economics.

Jim’s professional career began with Exxon, where he spent more than 10 years, eventually transferring to Houston. Over the years, Jim came to realize that one of his strengths was his ability to communicate, one on one, in a clear, concise manner. He also realized that he preferred working directly with individuals and their issues. It wasn’t long before Jim decided that, with his desire to help others, his ability to communicate, and his financial education, the financial services industry was the place for him.

Starting on his own, Jim learned the value of independence and all that meant to his ability to serve his clients. For over 30 years now, Jim has served the financial planning needs of his varied clients. Along the way, he also continued his professional education, earning the Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Certified Financial Planner™ accreditations.

Jim has taught financial planning classes for the University of Houston System and the Lone Star College System, as well as employee groups of many of the Fortune 100 companies in the Houston area.

Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors and is a former president of the Klein Education Foundation. He previously served on the Boards of the Klein Soccer Club, Eastern District Division One Youth Soccer, and the Burroughs Park Sports Authority, and he is past President of the Northampton Club.

Jim was also co-founder of the Challenge Soccer Club. He coached girl’s youth soccer for 23 years and recently had the opportunity to assist his daughter in coaching one of his grandson’s recreational teams.

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J. Allen Neuenschwander, CPA, CFP®

There’s no substitute for experience in the highly complex field of financial planning and Allen Neuenschwander has a wealth of experience.

Allen began his training more than 30 years ago, earning a bachelors degree in accounting at Spring Hill College in Alabama and an MBA in Finance at the University of Tennessee.

Allen began his career as an auditor with a "big 5" multinational public accounting firm. This career was interrupted by his military service as a U.S. Army Finance officer where he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant prior to honorable discharge.

It was a devastating family tragedy that brought Allen into the world of financial planning. Helping his family through that emergency gave Allen a passion for helping others avoid or, when necessary, cope with crises in their lives. He has been dedicated to that work ever since.

Over the years, Allen has made his biggest investment in education, passing a battery of exams to become a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Certified Financial Planner™. Unlike academic degrees, each of Allen’s licenses and designations assist his clients by requiring extensive annual continuing education. Allen has taught financial and retirement planning courses for several Houston area colleges and universities and for employee groups at several Fortune 100 companies. He has served on the investment committee of the Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs, and on the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association of Houston.

Still, Allen’s thriving practice remains his passion. He has helped hundred of clients reduce their taxes and protect and grow their assets.

A major focus of Allen’s practice is working with retired people and those who are about to retire. One of his obsessions is helping seniors avoid serious financial mistakes. Among the most common mistakes, Allen says, are paying too much in taxes, taking excessive risks, and earning too little with their investments.

Perhaps the biggest mistake, Allen emphasizes, is the misalignment of goals and resources, or failure to plan for change. Simple mistakes can seriously affect people’s lives, but taking proper action with a competent financial advisor can make all the difference. Putting his own experience to work for others is Allen’s work and his life’s mission.

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Chris Ramsey, CFP®

Originally from Lynchburg, VA, Chris was awarded the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship to the University of Virginia. During his four years there, he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering.

Following graduation in 1992, Chris spent eight years as a successful civil engineer, working in both the public and private sectors. He became licensed as a Professional Engineer and, at one time, was the youngest Professional Traffic Operations Engineer in the U.S. His work as a civil engineer eventually brought him to Houston in 1999.

Despite his success as a civil engineer, Chris found that most of his time was spent working with numbers instead of people. He began to search for a new career that would not only allow him to work directly with people, but also provide him the opportunity to use his considerable analytical and problem-solving skills.

His opportunity came in 2000 when, accepting the proverbial offer he couldn’t refuse, Chris joined his father-in-law in financial planning practice. Since then, Chris has assisted Jim in all facets of the financial planning and investment management process with Jim’s clients while, at the same time, building his own clientele.

Chris has also continued his professional education, completing the Financial Planning Program at the University of St. Thomas in 2002. Later that same year, he passed the rigorous CFP® certification examination. In 2003, he received the Certified Financial Planner™ designation.

In addition to continuing his own education, Chris has been active in providing financial and investment education classes to the public through the Lone Star College System.

Chris is a Life Member of the University of Virginia Alumni Association and sits on the Houston Region Jefferson Scholars Selection Committee, the board of the Cypress Forest Estates Community Improvement Association, and the board of the Forest Oaks Swim Team.

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Michael A. Neuenschwander, CPA, CFP®

A native Houstonian, Michael graduated from Saint Thomas High School and went on to earn both a Bachelors degree in Accounting and a Masters degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.

Michael began his working career as an auditor with Grant Thornton LLP, and, upon completing his Masters degree, he decided to join Allen in the practice of financial planning. Drawing from his father’s 20 plus years in the financial planning and investment management industry, Michael was able to gain valuable professional experience early in his career.

Although his academic education has been completed, Michael believes that professional accreditation and continuing education are necessary to best serve the needs of his clients. In 2001, he successfully passed the rigorous 4-part examination to become a Certified Public Accountant. Subsequently, Michael successfully completed the educational and exam requirements set forth by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to become a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional.

As a CFP® professional, Michael approaches financial planning as a process. That process begins with getting to know the client, their goals, and their present situation. Next, he evaluates the situation and develops recommendations and alternatives. From there, Michael reviews the plan with the client, and then helps the client implement the plan and monitors their progress along the way.

In addition to continuing his own education, Michael has taught financial and investment education classes both through the University of Houston and for the public. He is an active member of the Financial Planning Association of Houston, and served as an education committee member for several years.

Michael is a member of several professional and civic organizations, which include the national Financial Planning Association and the Texas A&M Association of Former Students

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Elsa Cázares

Elsa earned her Bachelors of Arts degree from Southwestern University in historic Georgetown, Texas with a major in Psychology and minor in Spanish.

She joined Allen Neuenschwander’s team in 1996 as an administrative assistant and in the past 11 years pursued her goal to help others plan and manage their financial lives. She completed the Certified Financial Planner courses at Rice University in 2005 and in November of 2006 passed the rigorous Certified Financial Planner™ exam.

Elsa has assisted Allen’s clients for over 10 years as the operations and client service manager. She enjoys helping clients open and manage their investment accounts and has over the years become very familiar with clients’ needs and goals.

Along with her recent CFP® certification, Elsa holds various other licenses and certifications that help her provide services to Allen’s clients such as being a Certified College Planning Specialist.

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Ray Stanley

A native Texan from the Hill Country, Ray has resided in the greater Houston area since the mid 70s and in the Champions area since 1991. Ray has been in the Houston area banking arena for 30 plus years, enjoying a progressive career, working in multiple industry disciplines, primarily lending and management. He was most recently with Citibank as the Houston Area Manager responsible for retail banking.

During Ray’s banking tenure, he most enjoyed working with clients to develop their respective businesses while integrating a total banking relationship approach. Ray truly enjoyed working with people, assisting with their financial needs and helping to make an impact in people’s lives. This comprehensive approach to working with people to help secure their financial future has always been important to Ray.

As Ray contemplated a career change, Jim Huston, who has known Ray for many years, suggested that he leverage his banking, finance and personal talents to join Outlook Financial Group. He had already secured several of the requisite securities licenses necessary and it seemed a natural fit in both personality and skill set. Ray joined OFG in August of 2008, beginning a successful transition at a historic period in our economy and industry.

Over the years, Ray has been active in the community, managing bank Habitat for Humanity projects and in the local youth soccer community for some 14 years. Ray sits on the Board of the Challenge Soccer Club and coaches one of their premier level teams for the Club.

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Jill Norris

As a native Texan, Jill has resided in Houston most of her life. Jill worked with her family in the waste industry for 17 years before turning her talents to the financial services industry in 1998. Drawing on her experience as a communicator and financial planner, she works with clients to assist them with the development of their life and financial goals.

She works closely with her clients to:

  • Set realistic financial and personal goals by assessing their current financial health (examining assets, liabilities, income, investments, insurance, taxes, and estate plan);
  • Develop a realistic, comprehensive plan to meet financial goals by addressing financial weaknesses and building on financial strengths;
  • Put plans into action and monitor their progress, and;
  • Stay on track to meet changing goals, changing personal circumstances, changing stages of life, changing products, markets, and tax laws.
Prior to joining Outlook Financial Group LLC in December 2009, she was a Financial Advisor with Sanders Morris Harris based in downtown Houston.

Jill received her Bachelor’s degree in Management from Texas A & M in 1980. She received her MBA in Finance from The University of St. Thomas in 1997. In her free time, Jill lectures on sales training, service training and personal development. She and her husband, Gary, split their time between their home in Houston and their lake house on Lake Conroe. Jill enjoys running, hiking, skiing, and travel.

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