Skyler Fulton (’25SPS, Wealth Management) has worn many hats over the course of his career. Some of them were helmets.
A native of Lacey, Washington, Fulton was a high school All-American in both baseball and football. He played on the USA Baseball Team and was drafted by the New York Mets out of high school and by the New York Yankees out of college. After four seasons playing football at Arizona State University, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. His football career included time with the Colts, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks, along with two seasons in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals.
After his playing career, he coached at the youth, high school, college, and NFL levels. He served as the wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coaching Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin, and Justin Watson.
Fulton’s academic career was just as prolific. He holds four master’s degrees, an M.Ed. from Arizona State University, an M.S. in Real Estate Development from Portland State University, an MBA from Portland State University, and an M.P.S. in Wealth Management from the Columbia University School of Professional Studies.
In an interview with SPS, Fulton shares why he made the leap into wealth management and how his sports background has complemented him every step of the way.
Tell us a bit about what you’ve been up to since receiving your M.P.S. in Wealth Management.
After graduating from SPS, I joined the NFL at League Headquarters in New York City, working within Football Operations and leading the International Player Pathway (IPP) program. A core area of Football Operations relates directly to my education and experience from Columbia: providing engaging, unbiased financial education designed to improve the financial decision-making ability of NFL players. In my role, I support international athletes as they transition into the league and into life in the United States. I am also pursuing my Ph.D. at Texas Tech University.
What brought you to the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program, and why did you choose Columbia?
I chose Columbia because it’s the best wealth management master’s program in the world. I’m a lifelong learner, and I believe deeply in understanding the financial systems we use every day. I knew Columbia would put me in a cohort of exceptional professionals, offering access to some of the most talented people in the industry—not just in my cohort but across past and future cohorts as well. I was also considering pursuing a Ph.D., and the Columbia M.P.S. program was the perfect foundation for that next step.
You have a foot in both the wealth management and the sports worlds. How do you juggle both, and are there any similarities/points of convergence between the two fields?
A significant part of leading the IPP program is educating players financially and helping them build the professional team required to support their unique lives and circumstances. My time at Columbia gave me access to a strong network of highly qualified financial professionals, which allows me to connect IPP players—who often have atypical financial lives and unstable career arcs—with experts who can help them plan intentionally.
At the highest levels of sports, whether you’re a coach, player, or executive, career volatility is normal. Most people move between jobs, cities, and income levels. Because of that, they need intentional support from a strong financial team. I often find myself connecting people in sports with trusted experts who can help them reach their personal and financial goals.
Can you tell us about your time in the Wealth Management program at Columbia? What lessons stayed with you?
I appreciate the relationships I’ve built with my cohort and others (both staff and students from other cohorts) in the program.
Columbia reinforced the importance of teamwork and building the right team around you. Many industries perform similar functions—the difference is who can execute consistently at the highest level. The PBL [problem-based learning] structure in each class was a valuable reminder of the power of collaboration and collective intelligence.
During this time, I also began teaching financial literacy at Highline College. This gave me the chance to apply what I was learning at Columbia in a real-world setting. Teaching at Highline has sharpened my focus on developing financial education systems that resonate with first-generation wealth creators, and it is something I really enjoy.
Tell us about the Ph.D. program you’re in. What are your particular research interests?
I’m currently in the Ph.D. program at Texas Tech University. I ended up at Texas Tech in large part because of Dr. Kothakota (Dr. K), a lecturer who teaches in the Columbia Wealth Management program. He completed his own Ph.D. at Kansas State under Dr. Stuart Heckman, who now leads the Texas Tech program. Dr. K and another Columbia Wealth Management program lecturer, Craig Lyman (’22SPS, Wealth Management), wrote reference letters for me within 24 hours—a testament to the strength of the Columbia Wealth Management community.
My research focuses on first-generation wealth creators, especially athletes, and how to design financial literacy systems that resonate with them and improve long-term outcomes. I’m also studying the financial and psychological impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) on high school and college athletes.
My first literature review explored how prenuptial agreements can be reframed as financial-planning and family-governance tools, similar to how we view term life insurance. You don’t buy life insurance because you think you’re going to die; you buy it to protect against the worst-case scenario. Prenups should be approached with that same mindset.
Do you have any advice from your time in sports for wealth managers? Any advice from the wealth management field for sports coaches?
To wealth managers: Take the time to understand the cultures, family backgrounds, and specific needs of first-generation wealth creators. Many clients don’t just need instructions; they need to understand why you’re advising on a particular course of action. Education builds trust and long-term success.
And for people in sports: Be intentional about your finances early. Jobs change quickly, income can be unpredictable, and opportunities can disappear fast. The earlier you build a strong financial foundation, the more stability you will have throughout your career and beyond.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management program is a 16-month online program with asynchronous instruction specially designed to accommodate working professionals. It is taught by distinguished faculty with deep applied experience in their respective fields. Additionally, it is a CFP Board Registered Program designed to help students meet the education requirement for CFP® certification.
The priority application deadline for the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program is January 15, with a final deadline of May 1. Learn more about the program here.
