Jim grew up in a small town outside of Syracuse, NY where, as a young boy, he learned from his parents that his word and his handshake would mean everything. To this day, Jim honors that tradition and carries it into every relationship he has. As our President and Chief Investment Officer, Jim’s first priority is to establish client relationships built on trust. He does this by investing enormous amounts of time into learning about the values, beliefs, hopes and fears of all of our clients. Jim has developed a unique ability in offering calmness in times of stress and hope during times of uncertainty. Jim’s mission is to have meaningful impact in the lives of his clients by helping them simplify the complexities of their lives.
Jim has become a thought leader in financial services, often sought out for his ability to guide clients through the financial, estate, and legacy planning process. He has co-created a systematic process of identifying “true wealth” for clients called the Wealth FORMation Experience™ (WFE). WFE creates a blueprint which helps clients integrate their core personal principles into their day-to-day financial lives. His industry views him as a “pros pro”, having coached so many professionals in the financial services industry (that’s how he met his business partner, Matthew Grishman). Jim’s strategic leadership is valued by clients, peers and a wide range of organizations who value his contributions to the cultural fabric of the community through charitable giving.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Rochester, New York. He is an experienced surety bond underwriter, which makes him familiar with the unique issues associated with the construction industry. For the ten years prior to founding Gebhardt Group, Jim worked as a Financial Consultant (FC) for Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney, and during his tenure as an FC, he earned the Certified Financial Planner™ certification in 2004.
Jim holds a State of California Insurance License for Life, Accident, Disability and Health Insurance. His registrations include Series 7, Series 65, and Series 31.
Our Five to Thrive:
1) Show up on time and prepared
2) Say please, thank you and you're welcome.
3) Do what you say you are going to do
4) Finish what you start.
5) When you make a mistake, own it and fix it.
Every money decision is not a financial decision.