James Pothier

I help individuals, families, and business owners bring clarity and structure to their financial lives, especially when priorities shift and complexity begins to build. My approach is planning‑first, because meaningful financial decisions start with understanding where you are today, where you want to go, and the path that can support both your long‑term goals and the life you’re living now.

My mission is simple: to help you structure your finances for simplicity and confidence, while guiding you through your most important financial decisions.

I primarily work with people who want to feel organized and in control of their financial direction. Together, we coordinate all the moving parts such as: balancing priorities, consolidating and simplifying accounts, building tax‑efficient accumulation strategies, and designing thoughtful withdrawal plans for short, medium, and long‑term goals. My objective is to bring coherence to your full picture, so you don’t need to go to multiple places for banking, lending, investing, or planning needs.

My perspective is shaped by where I grew up. I was raised in a small rural community in Alaska where many families, including my own, experienced financial uncertainty. That experience sparked my interest in personal finance early on and taught me the value of structure, organization, and long‑term discipline. I want clients to know things will be taken care of and that someone is always thinking ahead on their behalf.

As a former Division I track athlete, I bring a structured, goal‑oriented mindset to my planning work. I learned that real progress comes from breaking goals into milestones, reviewing your process often, and making adjustments over time. My role is to provide that same level of clarity and guidance so you can focus your energy on what matters most.

As a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, I pair a modern, proactive planning approach with the depth of resources across Merrill and Bank of America, including access to specialists who support both sides of your balance sheet.

If you’re looking for a structured and forward‑thinking partner to help simplify complexity and bring confidence to your financial life, I’d welcome the opportunity to connect.