Robert (Rob) has over 50 years of wealth management, tax and accounting experience. His career began in Boston at the accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand (today PwC). He left PwC in 1973 to work for U.S. Trust Company (Boston) in their financial planning company. He also taught accounting at Nichols College and Bentley College.

In 1975, Robert Scharar formed First Commonwealth Associates, the predecessor to FCA Corp, to offer fee-based independent financial planning with offices in Boston and Houston. In 1981, he rejoined U.S. Trust, who acquired FCA, as President of the financial planning company. In 1983, he re-acquired the business and moved the entire operation to Houston.

Rob was the editor of Money Management for Physicians for several years, a monthly publication focusing on financial and business planning for the medical community.

Rob is the President / Head Portfolio Manager for Commonwealth International Series Trust (established 1991), the home to five mutual funds: Japan Fund, Australia/New Zealand Fund, Africa Fund, Global Fund and Real Estate Securities Fund.

Having a vision for the opportunities in Africa, FCA under Rob’s leadership began investing on the continent which led to forming Africap, LLC, a private fund owning companies in the insurance, banking, hospitality, healthcare, energy and other industries. Rob serves on the Board of Directors for NICO Holdings Plc and Blantyre Hotels, Plc, both public companies listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange.