Matthew James

I specialize in working with people who inherit significant wealth at a relatively young age. I've seen time and again clients go through a sudden loss and also have their entire financial picture radically change in a matter of months. Suddenly coming into a large amount of money adds complexity both on the technical side (taxes, investing, retirement, probate, etc.) but also on the identity side: Who am I now? What has changed and what hasn't? How do I do my best to value this money while not valuing it TOO much? These are the types of questions I love helping clients wrestle with. Before becoming a fee-only financial planner, I worked as a teacher and then as a school administrator overseeing HR, including recruiting and hiring teachers. Working in HR revealed a lot about the financial lives of employees, and that’s where the lightbulb went off: Too many people feel overwhelmed with their finances, always wondering if they're making mistakes. And too many people who want help are taken advantage of or shut out by our financial institutions. I changed careers, earned a certificate in financial planning from L.S.U., became a CFP® professional, and started Deliberate Finances. I work primarily with couples in their 30's and 40's to help make sure your money is going to supporting your ideal life, and NOT going to things that you ultimately don't value highly. When not working, I’m exploring a New Orleans festival with my wife & two kids, running or biking around the city, or watching way too many hours of tragic Minnesota sports teams. I also tend to be on one nonprofit board or another at all times.