With a long and storied career of helping his clients preserve and grow their wealth, Jim’s expertise in working with individuals, affluent families, business leaders, and non-profit organizations spans more than 50 years. Jim holds both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certificate and a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Jim is President of MASTERPLAN, Inc., Hefren-Tillotson’s parent company, and a member of Hefren-Tillotson’s Asset Management Group. When Jim joined the firm in 1977, he created the firm’s first MASTERPLAN® software analytical tool, more than a decade earlier than the industry.

Jim has spent his entire investment advisory career with Hefren-Tillotson providing consistent service to his clients. He is the recognizable and trusted voice in Pittsburgh’s community at large and beyond as the host of the long-running Sunday morning radio program, Your Money & You, heard on NewsRadio AM 1020 KDKA and 100.1 FM KDKA.

Jim is a multi-year awardee of Barron’s Top 100 independent financial advisors.(https://www.barrons-advisor.com/rankings.html)While offering unbiased, expert financial advice to radio listeners of all ages, Jim masterfully integrates his vast knowledge and financial know-how over the airwaves and into every facet of his financial planning practice, The Meredith Group at Hefren-Tillotson.

“At this point in my career my sole purpose is to help people by assisting them on their journey toward achieving their life goals and dreams,” Jim says.Jim is dedicated to his clients, as a close family confidant would be, and often provides advice solving multi-generational family concerns, designing estate plans, managing elder care issues, providing recommendations on home purchases, and guidance in selling multi-million dollar businesses.

Jim has served as an active participant and one of the initial major contributors in the creation of a $5 million foundation for ALS research through “LIVE LIKE LOU”. Jim has partnered with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank on several campaigns the most recent in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was promoted by his team and his matching funds helped contribute to the $1.2 million raised in one day. He is also a supporter of “Gwen’s Girls,” a home for abandoned unwed mothers

.Jim received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Dayton. His continuing education has included postgraduate work in accounting, taxes, and finance. Jim has lectured extensively across the United States on the subject of Personal Financial Planning, and has co-authored “Expert Financial Planning,” a book loaded with ideas and concepts on financial planning.