Meet James
James is a Wealth Advisor at Mercer Advisors, joining the firm in 2018. In his role as a Director, James leads a team of advisors across the Northern U.S. and meets with prospective clients to determine whether Mercer Advisors is the right fit for their needs. He also specializes in providing clients with comprehensive wealth management strategies, including savings optimization, tax-efficient retirement planning, estate planning, and values-based investment portfolio design. James is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Chartered SRI Counselor, and a graduate of the University of Liverpool.
James’s specialties
At Mercer Advisors, all of our wealth advisors provide a highly personalized approach, backed by a team of specialists that ensure every part of your financial list is addressed. Additionally, James has focused experience in these areas:
- Planning for retirement, from high-earning years to long-term income strategies
- Multi-generational planning that aligns with your values and minimizes tax impact
- Helping new families shift financial priorities while building a strong foundation for the future
- Advising tech professionals, including clients at Nvidia, Apple, Meta, Google, Tesla, and Amazon.
- Aligning portfolios with purpose for clients pursuing values-based investing
His working style
James’s working style is deeply client-centric and rooted in curiosity, empathy, and precision. He believes that meaningful financial planning begins with meaningful conversations. Once the foundation gets established, he takes a detailed and methodical approach to delivering sophisticated planning solutions that align with each client’s unique background and aspirations.
James in real life
What keeps you busy outside of work?
In my spare time, you can find me hiking the Colorado 14ers, playing cars with my son Theodore and his little sister Poppy, or travelling the globe to experience new cultures.
What’s one thing you are surprisingly good at?
I’m good at baking sourdough and brewing homemade kombucha!
Why do you like working at Mercer Advisors?
As a fiduciary, everyone that works here is working in the best interest of our clients, which is so important when we are talking about building and preserving wealth to achieve Economic Freedom™. Couple that with the fact we are able to provide the financial services an American family needs during their lifetime.
James’s snapshots
The Forbes Next-Gen Wealth Advisors rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria—mostly gained through telephone, virtual, and in-person due diligence interviews—and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of four years’ experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass the highest standards of best practices. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
Please Note: Limitations. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals are engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A fee was not paid by either Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals to receive the award or ranking. The award or ranking is based upon specific criteria and methodology. No ranking or recognition should be construed as an endorsement by any past or current client of Mercer Advisors or its investment professionals.
Meet James’s Teammates
Jessica Livingston
Client Service Specialist
What James Says
Jessica is the like the chief operating officer of my team. Her effective manner of managing-up helps ensure our clients continue to receive service that goes above and beyond. She is prompt, thorough, and extremely professional.
Courtney Eastlack
Managing Director of Wealth Path Group
What James Says
Courtney is a compassionate, empathetic, and strategic thinker. Our discussions always leave me reinvigorated. He does an exceptional job reminding me what is important to all our stakeholders, including our wonderful clients, our incredible team of advisors, and our client service specialists.
W. Thomas McNary
Sr. Wealth Advisor, Director
What James Says
Tom is not only one of the best wealth advisors I know, but also a friend. His natural curiosity, coupled with his desire to help the team, means he regularly shares his best practices. His commitment to our one-team mentality is unparalleled.
David Simpson
Sr. Investment Strategist
What James Says
David and I have partnered together many times. His deep understanding of investment analysis is an incredible resource and a significant value-add, especially when reviewing highly complex strategies for our clients.
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