James Simon is Director, Wealth Planning for Cresset’s Family Office clients, advising CEO Founders, wealth creators, and ultra-high-net-worth families on holistic wealth management. His areas of focus include pre- and post-transaction planning, tax and estate planning, cashflow, risk management, and philanthropic planning.
James is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with more than 15 years of experience advising families on complex tax, investment, and wealth-planning strategies. He started with Ameriprise Financial as a Financial Advisor. James was a Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab, where he worked with high net worth and ultra-high-net-worth families to address their personal financial planning needs.
In addition to serving high net worth families, James is an Army National Guard Military Officer with nearly two decades of service. He is an Iraq War combat veteran and has served in a variety of leadership and intelligence assignments, most recently as National Guard Liaison Director for the US Capitol. Currently, James is an Operations Intelligence Officer assigned to The White House Military Office. He volunteers his time and talents with the Wounded Warrior Project and is an advocate for helping advance treatment options for veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD. James is also passionate with educating youth on financial literacy within the DC Metro area.
James is a graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History. He also holds a Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning. James is pursuing his Chartered Financial Analyst charter and is a CFA Level III candidate. He resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his family. Outside of the office, he enjoys global exploration, salsa dancing and playing golf.