A discussion with U.S. Veterans Magazine

I’m Russell Simmons, a Director in Advisor Services, and I’ve been with Schwab for 13 years and in the Army Reserves for nearly 22 years. I am a Chief Warrant officer in the Engineer Branch. 

I transitioned to Schwab from the military in 2011 after my second deployment. I was able to easily transition my leadership experience making important decisions in stressful environments.

I’ve been part of Schwab’s Military Veterans Network (MVN) ERG since my first day with the company. MVN is one of the most fulfilling opportunities I’ve had throughout my tenure. 

The benefits are vast with our MVN, including networking, support, and giving back to the local community. You can lead a local chapter, support a local non-profit, or simply provide support through volunteer events. Each MVN member can make the experience what they want. For example, we have set up recruiting fairs for transitioning military and started the Freedom 4 Miler, a partnership to support a local non-profit to enhance military and veteran lives.

Schwab’s values were familiar to me since day one. As a soldier and veteran, it was instilled in me to accomplish the mission with the highest standards possible. You don’t simply accomplish the mission, you do it the right way, work together as a team, and make the biggest and most positive impact possible.

At Schwab, we focus on integrity, always doing the right thing for our clients, and being accountable for anything that makes the experience less than ideal by addressing it. Schwab’s culture supports all employees and strongly encourages a collaborative team effort. Those skills were what I learned in the military.

I also get excited when I see a military term become popular in the corporate environment. We use BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front), because getting to the point swiftly helps us quickly address and resolve the underlying need.

Schwab’s CEO and leaders are a big reason I’ve been with Schwab for over half of my military tenure. I’ve deployed and had military training ranging from 2-5 weeks. I’ve always felt support from Schwab’s leadership.

I vividly remember the day I was leaving for Afghanistan, my third tour, during my early years at Schwab. Our CEO, Walt Bettinger, called me within 10 minutes of sending an email to my floor that I was leaving. Walt left an incredible impression about how much appreciation he, his family, and Schwab have for the military.

I constantly try to pay it forward and lead by example in response to the support given to me by leaders across Schwab. Once I returned, I began leading our local MVN ERG and now lead at the national level. It’s great to get support and guidance about executing your strategy to make a positive impact for future candidates, employees, and our community.

The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.

My current manager, Julie, has been incredibly supportive of my military commitments. She has been my leader for over four years and supported me as I travel to help support humanitarian and strategic military missions. The mindset at Schwab is always focused on helping others. When I was presenting the award to Julie, she shared, “I never thought twice about helping, it’s what I thought was right.” 

As a soldier and employee, I never take for granted the tremendous support Schwab provides to those of us who wear dual hats.