Whether he’s engaged in a professional, civic or personal endeavor, Tyler James seeks leadership.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Missouri State University, James began his career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
“In my three years with the company, I was named agent of the year in Springfield, recognized as a superior producer in opening new client accounts and named as one of the company’s top 50 out of more than 2,000 new advisers,” says James, president of James Financial Partners LLC, which he co-owns with wife Stacey.
He was next recruited by New York Life Insurance Co. for a partner position in its southwest Missouri region and, at the time, was one of the youngest people companywide ever offered that job.
“After spending two years in a recruiting, training and managerial role with New York Life and five years working for someone else after graduating college, my entrepreneurial spirit came out, and James Financial Partners LLC was born,” James says.
JFP was founded in 2007 on the mission to provide superior financial services in an independent capacity, providing clients with objective advice and ultimately working for one person – the client.
For six years, JFP has been included in the Million Dollar Round Table, an international association. The company also has earned the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors’ National Quality Award for each of the past five years by meeting five criteria, which include professionalism through education and earned designations; production requirements measured by performance metrics; adherence to NAIFA code of ethics; service to industry associations; and at least an 80 percent annual customer retention based on production.
Of the many professional accomplishments in his career, James is proudest of the NAIFA recognition, which requires a yearly application.
“JFP has earned a five-year average customer retention rate of 97.2 percent, showing our high level of ongoing customer service and client satisfaction,” James says.
In addition to assisting individuals and businesses with their financial goals, James has conducted peer-to-peer training.
As a third-generation resident of the Springfield area, James takes a keen interest in community involvement. Organizations with which he has worked include the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross, Pregnancy Care Center, Logan-Rogersville Educational Foundation, Care to Learn’s Logan-Rogersville chapter, Springfield Sertoma and Rotary Club of Springfield Metro for which he helped organize its annual fundraiser, Rock’n Ribs.
Given his business bent, James also has devoted time to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce since 2002 and is a member of the chairman’s committee and small business council. He joined the Rogersville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2012, where he has served as an executive board member since 2013 and its president since 2015.
Should we be talking about politics in the workplace? Whatever one’s opinion on the practice, a February study by Gallup Inc. says 54% of on-site U.S. employees are doing it anyway.