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Meet James J. Urda, CFP
CFP and Registered Representative
Meet James J. Urda, CFP, LPL Registered Principal
President, Urda Wealth Management
James (Jim) Urda has been helping clients pursue financial independence for over 20 years. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM Practitioner (CFP) and Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Jim understands the unique challenges wealthy individuals face in planning for life’s opportunities. Jim’s extensive experience has taught him that managing wealth is about far more than numbers on a page.
According to Jim, wealth and success can’t be defined in purely monetary terms. Real wealth is about achieving a level of balance in your life that helps to create more time to enjoy the people and priorities that are most important to you. It’s about lifestyle—not hitting some magic number.
Jim founded Urda Wealth Management to simplify the wealth management process for individuals and families with significant wealth. He and his team understand that managing large investment portfolios can be complex, time consuming and challenging. Sound decisions require extensive research, expertise and deep knowledge of the marketplace. Urda Wealth Management clients rely on Jim and his experienced associates to provide effective strategies that strive to simplify the financial and investment management process.
“Ultimately, life is about choices,” Jim says. “Everyday we make large and small choices about how we will spend our time and our money. The more thoughtful the decision-making process, the more likely your decisions will serve your goals and make a difference in your life and those around you.”
When he’s not working, Jim often chooses to spend his time cooking for friends and family, and putting together wine parings. “I’m a red wine enthusiast—Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, Pinot Noir—but I’m not opposed to a good Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc on a hot summer day,” Jim stated. “I really enjoy spending time with my family. With two sons in college, it is not always easy to get everyone together to do the things we love such as play sports, hike, or even just watch a movie so I really cherish the time we can be together.”
Jim played football in college at Kent State University and remains an avid supporter of his alma mater. “Golf, bike riding and fishing are the only sports I actively participate in now.” Jim added.
Off the clock he prefers not to be on a rigid schedule although he does make time to work out on a regular basis. As Jim puts it: “So I can stay healthy and continue to indulge in two of my primary passions—good food and good wine.”
Jim holds his Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations at LPL Financial and is licensed by the California State Department of Insurance (CA Insurance Lic. #OB14837).
Meet Carrie Urda
Accounting and Marketing Associate
Meet Carrie Urda
Accounting and Marketing Associate
Carrie Urda relishes the opportunity to interact with clients since the majority of her time in the office is spent working behind the scenes. Carrie plays a key role in driving the firm’s growth goals from strategic planning and marketing to monitoring and managing Urda Wealth Management’s operating budget. She helped Jim establish the firm in 2006.
In addition to overseeing the firm’s health on a day to day basis, Carrie is capable of assessing more than a simple case of the sniffles among her fellow associates. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing and is a registered nurse. Carrie previously worked for Abbott Laboratories for 14 years as a sales specialist, national sales trainer, and a divisional sales manager. As the Divisional Sales Manager in Northern California, she managed a sales team and was responsible for sales, marketing, and the operation of a multi-million dollar territory. Carrie is a two time recipient of the Abbott Laboratories National All-Star Divisional Manager and Northeast Area National All-Star Sales Representative awards.
Carrie and Jim have two sons, Ashton and Preston. As parents, they have enjoyed volunteering and sponsoring school, sporting, and community events over the past two decades. Carrie has previously served as the Health and Safety Chairperson for the Irvington High School PTSA. She helped Fremont schools with emergency preparedness for 13 years. She was named “Volunteer of the Year” in 2008 by James Leitch/Warm Springs Elementary Schools and received an “Outstanding Effort” award from Irvington High School PTSA for the 2014-2016 school years. Carrie is also a past Board Member of the Fremont Ladies Guild and Family Services of the East Bay.
Suffice it to say Carrie is no stranger to wearing multiple hats. She attributes her high energy and drive to her commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating well and staying fit. She enjoys sports and various types of training such as weight lifting, hiking, and running. She is also an avid reader. “My goal is to read 10 pages of inspirational material each day which I try to apply and share with others.” Carrie stated, “One of my passions is getting individuals involved in fitness and seeing the confidence that comes with the conditioning and transformation of their bodies.”
No wonder Urda Wealth Management is a good fit for Carrie. The firm has a long standing tradition of helping clients experience a similar transformation in their financial lives, resulting greater clarity and confidence in the financial decision-making process.
Meet Ashton J. Urda
Financial Consultant
Meet Ashton J. Urda
Financial Consultant
Ashton is thrilled to achieve his life-long goal of joining his family’s firm, Urda Wealth Management, as a Financial Consultant. He has dreamed of working along-side his father James (Jim) Urda and building his own practice ever since he was a young boy. Ashton said that he has observed and admired Jim’s integrity and commitment to helping clients pursue financial independence for more than 20 years.
Similarly, Ashton also relishes the challenge of integrating complex information needed to develop and implement effective investment strategies tailored to each client’s goals to help them strategically work toward improving and maintaining the lifestyle they desire.
Ashton graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the W.P. Carey School of Business. He is an alumnus of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in which he served as an Assistant Treasurer as well as in Risk Management. After graduating, he was employed as a Service Consultant at LPL Financial in San Diego before joining Urda Wealth Management in June 2020.
In his free time, Ashton enjoys competing and staying in tip-top shape. He is not one to shy away from challenges. He played water polo for many years and currently powerlifts. He loves being in nature so hiking and horticulture are also hobbies he enjoys.
He holds his Series 07and 66 securities registrations at LPL Financial and is licensed by the California State Department, License #4085879.
Ashton Urda is a registered representative with securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.