Wealth advisor, Jim Tucker, is co-founder of Tucker Bria Wealth Strategies, LLC, a wealth advisory firm in Durham, North Carolina. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist®. His focus is on both professionals and business owners preparing to retire as well as those  just beginning their careers.

Tucker’s 15 year business career prior to joining the wealth advisory profession makes him uniquely qualified to understand the professional and financial pressures of his clients.

Jim began his business career in finance, working as both a commercial banker, for a regional bank in Washington, DC, as well as an investment banker, for storied investment banking firm, Drexel Burnham Lambert.  He then joined a team to oversee the regional mall real estate investments for a subsidiary of The Prudential.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Tucker jumped to the west coast to lead the expansion of privately-held, mall based, specialty retailer, Natural Wonders. Once public, Jim left Natural Wonders and returned to corporate America and the east coast,  joining the North Carolina regional office of the British spirits and food retailing company, Allied Domecq.  Declining a move to the Washington, DC area with Allied Domecq, Jim connected with a Charlotte, NC start-up real estate technology  firm, AvidXchange, which went public in 2021.

Deciding that constant business travel did not suit a father with 2 young children and a wife who also worked, Tucker entered the wealth advisory profession. Initially, he worked for the Wall Street firms of UBS, Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley.  During this time Jim picked up the professional credentials of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist®. However, Tucker was once again drawn to the entrepreneurial side of the business. So, in 2013, he formed Tucker Bria, an independent wealth strategy firm, with longtime friend and fellow competitive swimmer, Patrick Bria.

“The two core  client bases that I enjoy working with and with whom I feel I can add value, are those who are within 10 or 15 of retirement and those early in their career,” says Tucker. “Both groups yearn for financial education and direction, one group to set up their retirement strategy and the other to establish great financial habits to carry them through their life.”

Education has become a driving force of Tucker Bria and Jim’s focus.  Jim is a licensee and instructor for Retirement Planning Today®, an educational course for individuals aged 50-70. Tucker also developed a young adult seminar to educate young professionals on the foundations of a sound financial strategy.

“The reason why I like working with those approaching retirement and individuals beginning their careers is because it’s so important for each group to avoid making the BIG MISTAKE. Each period has a number of decisions which, if not addressed properly, may derail the achievement of their financial, and thus, life goals.”

So, from Tucker’s perspective, financial education is critical to his mission of helping his clients avoid the big mistake.

Jim Tucker, CFP®, CRPS® is a financial advisor located at 3100 Tower Blvd, Suite 117, Durham, NC 27707. He offers securities and advisory services as a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network^®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Jim can be reached at 919-381-5780 or at [email protected]