As a Senior Planning Associate, Jim plays a key role in strengthening client relationships and supporting the delivery of comprehensive financial planning. As an integral part of your advisory team, he conducts in-depth client interviews to gather financial data and clarify planning goals, contributing to strategies across investment, tax, retirement, estate planning, executive compensation, risk management, and education funding.
In addition to helping clients implement their financial plans, Jim participates actively in client meetings, providing documentation and follow-up support to support continuity and clarity. He reviews investment allocation reports, collaborates with the client service team to monitor service activities, and researches planning strategies and potential tax law changes to keep clients’ financial plans current.
Beyond client-facing responsibilities, Jim contributes to internal initiatives such as onboarding new team members and supporting broader wealth management projects. With a collaborative mindset and strong attention to detail, he helps support Modera’s comprehensive planning process.
What sparked your interest in financial planning? What fuels you every day in your work?
It’s definitely not a typical path to discover financial planning and advising as a career; I come from a bluecollar household with a 90’s era high school education that barely covered how to balance a checkbook. I’d finally realized that managing money is more about managing behaviors and getting trusted advice than it is about mastering concepts and crunching numbers, or struggling to try and ‘do it on your own’. My kids fuel me in my work; I want them to experience the breadth of life and value building trusted relationships.
What do you feel is a strength that you have?
Being able to connect well with a variety of personalities both personally and professionally. I am naturally curious about people: what they do, what motivates them, how do they plan for success in life.
When you retire you’re going to…?
Highlights will probably include ultramarathon/outdoor adventures, guitar making, outdoor/travel fun with my wife. I’ve always wanted to have goats.
Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?
I grew up in northwest Pennsylvania; the snow-belt winter wonderland of ice skating, skiing, sledding and snowblowers. After living in 4 mid-western states before and after college, meeting my wife in Texas; we now call home Asheville, NC, where we love our 4 seasons and living near our extended family.
University of Findlay, B.S., Environmental Safety and Health Management / Industrial Hygiene
Board member/Head Coach – Asheville Hockey League
