James Investment offers advice for medical/health care professionals

Founded in 1972 in rural Alpha, Ohio, James Investment has grown, spreading its wings well beyond the Greater Miami Valley. Starting with an initial investment of just $500 in 1972, assets under management now exceed $1 billion.

Now serving clients in all 50 states, through its individually managed accounts, mutual funds, wealth management services and estate planning, the firm has successfully navigated all types of marketing environments, helping its clients realize their financial goals.

“In addition to growing our client base, James is focused on expanding valuable services offered to clients to help simplify their lives and provide confidence in their financial journey,” says R. Brian Culpepper, president and CEO of James Investment. “Asset management will remain a core part of our business. However, we are taking steps towards providing a more holistic approach to wealth management. As the industry, client needs and preferences change, we will adapt and provide a one-stop shop.

Serving individuals and organizations across a broad spectrum of professions and industries, James Investment recently offered some sound advice for medical and health care professionals, a population that is growing not only in the Dayton area but across the country.

“Just as regular checkups with your doctor are an important preventative measure, so are financial checkups due to the ever-changing laws,” says Culpepper. “Doctors often have busy work schedules and limited time for family and leisure activities. The last thing they want is to spend time keeping up with updates on pending tax law changes, such as the 2025 tax law sunset or the newly passed Secure Act 2.0, which has over a hundred provisions. This is why it’s crucial for doctors to choose a financial expert and schedule regular checkups to ensure they stay up to date on their finances and plan for the future.”

Physicians and doctors have planning and retirement issues that are unique to their profession, says Culpepper.

“Typically, doctors get off to a late start in saving for retirement and take on a significant amount of student loan debt for medical school,” says Culpepper. “Despite this, after sacrificing so many hard-working years for medical school, residency and fellowship, doctors hope to live a luxurious lifestyle throughout their careers, which can result in overspending. “

On the other hand, doctors like the idea of an early retirement due to the high stress of their profession and increasing chances of burnout.

“As a result, doctors typically save for only 25-30 years on average compared to 40-45 years for others,” says Culpepper. “Given the shorter timeframe for saving for retirement, it is important for doctors to make wise financial decisions and take advantage of as many investment opportunities as possible.” 

How does James Investment help?

“James offers ongoing comprehensive financial and estate planning,” says Culpepper. “The first step in wealth management is determining the client’s goals and priorities.”

It all starts with an in-depth analysis, which provides a snapshot of the client’s risk tolerance, lifetime income, taxes, goals and needs.

“In addition to initial suggestions, our advice is ongoing and evolves with the client,” says Culpepper. “Having meetings throughout the year to measure progress towards goals helps keep clients accountable for their financial success. Taking a proactive approach to financial planning and staying organized is essential. We like to form strong relationships and simplify the lives of our clients whenever possible, allowing clients to focus on what matters most to them. Leaving a legacy and caring for the next generation is often very important to our clients.”

One area health care providers should consider is prioritizing is tax planning.

“By this we mean lifetime tax minimization, not the tax return work accountants provide each year,” says Culpepper. “Doctors are high income earners, and strategically reducing taxes over their lifetime can result in significant assets being passed to the next generation and charities close to their hearts.”