Charles James

With nearly 25 years of experience in investment research, portfolio management, and advisory operations, I founded my RIA to provide expert guidance to financial advisors and investors. As a CFA Charterholder, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), my goal is to simplify the complexities of investing and help clients make informed decisions about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, annuities, alternatives, and private investments. For advisors, I offer tailored support for creating model portfolios, conducting investment committee meetings, and developing retirement plan strategies, all aimed at enhancing advisor-client relationships and delivering better outcomes. Over the years, I’ve worked in various roles, from equity research and fixed income trading to serving as the de-facto Chief Investment Officer for a large RIA. My services cover a wide range of needs, including life insurance analysis, capital gains budgeting, structured product and annuity evaluations, options-based strategies for individual stock positions, IPS reviews, enhanced prospect conversions, and the development of customized model portfolios. I pride myself on providing data-driven insights to help advisors improve their practices, better serve their clients, and grow their businesses. In addition to my professional work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and four kids, golfing, traveling, coaching youth sports, and mentoring students. I’m passionate about investing in future generations and advancing the fields of finance and investing. My technical expertise, combined with a personal approach, allows me to work alongside advisors to elevate their client offerings, streamline operations, and achieve lasting success.

I’m a CFA® and CFP® professional who helps young professionals and growing families navigate life’s big financial decisions with clarity and confidence. Many of my clients are in the middle of major transitions—equity compensation, an inheritance, buying a home, or welcoming a child—and want expert guidance without the jargon. I combine deep technical expertise with a straightforward, approachable style so you can make smart moves today and build lasting wealth for tomorrow. My approach is collaborative and grounded in your real-life goals. We’ll create a plan that’s clear, flexible, and tailored to your priorities—whether that’s funding your next big move, investing for long-term growth, or making work optional someday. The result? You spend less time stressing about money and more time enjoying the life you’re building.

Mindful Wealth is an independent financial planning and investment advisory firm dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate financial complexity with clarity, confidence, and intention. We believe that financial planning is not simply about managing money; it is about helping people live meaningful lives aligned with their values, goals, and evolving circumstances. Money touches every aspect of life: career decisions, family relationships, health, geography, opportunity, and legacy. Yet traditional financial advice often focuses narrowly on investments or isolated transactions. At Mindful Wealth, we take a different approach. We view financial planning as an integrated, ongoing process that connects every financial decision to the broader story of a person’s life. Our work begins not with markets or products, but with people. We partner with clients during moments of transition, growth, uncertainty, and reinvention to help them make thoughtful financial decisions in an increasingly complex world.

Retirement Income & Tax Planning We have the ability to make the greatest impact for people who are within 5 years of retirement to 5 years post retirement. That 10 year window is crucial for establishing and executing a plan designed to minimize your tax bill and allow you to live your best life, whatever that means to you. The earlier we begin working with a client in that window, the better. Here are some examples of the questions we help clients answer: When can I retire? When should I claim Social Security benefits? How much can I spend each month? How can I minimize my tax bill? Should I take a lump sum pension payment or monthly income? Do I need a trust, or is a will sufficient? What other estate planning documents should I have? Should I change my investment mix as I age? How can I avoid the Medicare IRMAA surcharge?

Meet Joe Petry, Ph.D., CFP®, EA, CRPC®— Passionate hooper, hiker, and dog lover who founded Mayfair Financial. -Ph.D. in Economics and a Master's in Personal Financial Planning. -Extensive academic and professional background in teaching finance and economics at renowned institutions. -Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®. -Has received awards for his volunteerism and leadership. -He believes in the power of random acts of kindness to make the world a better place. Fun Fact: Joe and his neighbors are now novice beekeepers.

Describe the education and business background of the adviser’s principal executive officer: Carl Dwayne Goodin was born March 7, 1951, in Springfield, Missouri. He grew up in and around St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Lafayette High School in St. Louis County, MO, graduating with honors. He was conferred a BM in Education from the University of Missouri at St. Louis in May of 1973. He has completed coursework toward an MA in Finance and Economics from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. His grade point average in graduate studies is 4.0. He completed the CFP professional education program (College for Financial Planning, Denver, CO) in 1989. He continues to study, analyze, and research all matters related to personal financial planning, investments, insurance, estate planning, accounting, and taxation, generally devoting from 5 to 20 hours per week to independent study and advanced seminars. Carl D Goodin, CFP™: Having completed the education, examination, experience and ethics requirements he was awarded the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation in March 1989. The Financial Planning Association: Carl Goodin has been a member in good standing of the Financial Planning Association since 1985. For many years he served on the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association of Greater St. Louis, serving as Director of Professional Development, Director of Public Relations, President Elect, and President. Financial services career and education: Carl Goodin began his career in finance and insurance in 1979 as an aircraft insurance (property and liability) underwriter. In 1981 he chose to continue serving the aviation community, but in a different capacity, primarily as a life and health insurance producer associated with the company now called Lincoln Financial Group. During this period his clientele expanded from those associated with aviation to include small business owners and other professionals. Also, during this period, he became interested in providing personal financial planning services not focused on life insurance sales. In 1986 he accepted an offer to be the regional manager of the UNUM non-cancelable disability income office in St. Louis, only to return to Lincoln Financial as regional manager in 1988. During this period, he successfully completed the examination requirements for the Missouri Uniform Securities license (Series 63), the Investment Company/Variable Products license (Series 6), the General Securities Representative (stock/bond broker's license, Series 7), the General Securities Principal license (stock/bond broker's supervisor, Series 24) and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER. Financial Planning Associates, Inc., A Registered Investment Adviser: Believing that he could offer better, more objective advice for his clients in a more independent setting, he left Lincoln Financial and incorporated Financial Planning Associates, Inc. in 1998. Carl D Goodin, Professor, College for Financial Planning: From March 1999 until July 2005 Carl served as an adjunct faculty member of the College for Financial Planning, teaching all of the required classes for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER candidates. Those classes included: Financial Planning, Insurance, Retirement Planning, Employee Benefits, Tax Planning, Investment Planning, and Estate Planning. Carl D Goodin, Professor, University of Missouri at St. Louis: In July 2005, Carl resigned his teaching activities at the College for Financial Planning and assumed a similar teaching position as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, where he continued until 2015. Fee Only financial planning and investment management: In 2009 Carl Goodin voluntarily relinquished his securities and insurance licenses and terminated all associated residual benefits in the interest of offering his clients valuable, objective advice unaffected by conflicts of interest associated with commission compensation.