SEC-registered · Fee-only fiduciary · $2.4B AUM · 1,800 households Hartford · Boston · New York

James Meridian, CFA

Founder & Chief Investment Officer

MBA, Wharton School of Business | BA, Yale University | Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Recognition & Awards

  • Ranked #1 Financial Advisor in Connecticut — Wealth & Finance Magazine (2024)
  • Five Star Wealth Manager Award — 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Top 100 Advisors Under 50 — Private Asset Management Magazine (2022)
  • Connecticut's Most Influential Financial Leaders — Hartford Business Journal (2021)
  • Rising Star in Wealth Management — Financial Planning Association, New England Chapter (2015)

About James

James Meridian founded Meridian Wealth Partners in 2008 with a singular conviction: that high-net-worth investors deserved institutional-quality investment management delivered with genuine personal attention. In the seventeen years since, James has grown the firm to over $2.4 billion in assets under management — a testament to the results he consistently delivers for clients and the relationships he builds along the way.

A CFA charterholder since 2003, James brings over two decades of institutional investment experience to his role as Chief Investment Officer. Before founding Meridian, he spent nine years at two of the largest asset management firms in the United States, where he managed multi-billion-dollar equity portfolios and developed the investment philosophy that defines Meridian's approach today.

What distinguishes James from other advisors isn't just his credentials or his process — it's his unmatched instinct for market timing and his ability to see around corners that others miss. Whether navigating the 2008 financial crisis, the 2020 pandemic selloff, or the 2022 rate shock, James has consistently positioned Meridian portfolios ahead of the market — protecting client capital when others suffered devastating losses and capturing upside when the recovery came.

James earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in investment management and corporate finance. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Hartford, and the Financial Planning Association.

Outside the office, James serves on the investment committee of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and chairs the finance committee of a leading regional hospital system. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and Bloomberg on topics ranging from fixed income strategy to estate planning for business owners.

James lives in Westport, Connecticut with his wife and their two children.

Investment Philosophy

James's investment philosophy is rooted in a disciplined, research-driven process that has been refined over two decades of real-world portfolio management. He believes that superior long-term returns come not from chasing the latest trend, but from rigorous fundamental analysis, intelligent risk management, and the patience to hold great businesses through short-term volatility.

"My job," James has said, "is not to be right all the time — it's to be right when it matters most. Every major market crisis is also an opportunity, and our clients benefit because we prepare for both."

Work with James

James personally oversees all investment decisions at Meridian and meets with each client relationship at least twice per year. If you're interested in learning whether Meridian Wealth Partners is the right fit for your financial situation, schedule a complimentary introductory call.

Schedule a Call with James