From a young age, James has treated money with the inherent respect it deserves. He grew up in a proudly blue-collar family as the son of a teacher and small construction business owner who gave every dollar a specific purpose. This pragmatic approach guided him as he began his career in 2010 at Wachovia in the Washington DC metro area just as the economy was recovering from the Great Financial Crisis. As he worked his way up to branch manager, and then to premier banker, James was surprised by the decisions that some wealthy clients made: Carrying credit card balances, letting money sit idle instead of being invested. They didn’t lack funds. They lacked knowledge — and confidence, given the market. His caring nature led him to make simple, proactive suggestions during routine transactions. He felt rewarded simply helping people make better decisions with their wealth, with some customers assuming he was a financial advisor. It was this combination of events that led him to pursue the fulfilling career he has today. Finding Sweet Spots: James believes his age and middle-class background give him a different perspective that his clients appreciate. He relishes helping his friends, clients — and even their children — with things like prioritizing saving for retirement, purchasing homes and making the most of an inheritance. Additionally, he sees a little of his parents in each retirement-age client, which inspired him to complete the CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELORTM certification. This knowledge allows him to suggest in-depth strategies for tax-efficient investing, retirement income and cash flow in general. Outside the Office: James and his wife Kaitlin, live in Bucks County with their young son and daughter. He gladly spends any free time on the sidelines as a coach for their youth teams and he and his family look forward to an annual trip to Virginia Beach each summer — a family tradition since 2010. True to his character, he also instills a sense of compassion by bringing them to help him volunteer at the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.