James believes life is about people and the impact you make on them.  As the founder of Opal, James serves as a financial advisor to clients and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the company. He is passionate about focus and simplicity when it comes to financial plans and investments.

Prior to starting Opal Advisors, James was the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Sheppard Wealth Management and prior to that he was an analyst and on the investment committee at Freestone Capital Management, one of the largest independent advisors in Seattle.  James began his career as the Controller of Liberty Capital, a private equity firm focusing on distressed investments in real estate and real estate related loans.

James also served as a board member and audit chair of Emergent Capital, a NYSE listed life insurance company where he helped the company restructure its debt and balance sheet.

James earned his BBA in Accounting from the University of Washington.