Candidate for CFP® Certification

Welcome

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My professional background includes more than a decade of experience as an independent life and health insurance agent. That experience, and my desire to help people make informed decisions across their entire financial lives, led me to pursue a career in comprehensive financial planning.

I have earned a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning. Through the program, I developed a broad foundation in financial planning principles, insurance, investments, taxation, retirement, estate planning, and the psychology of financial planning.

I passed the CFP® exam in March 2025 and the Series 65 exam in March 2026. I am currently a candidate for CFP® certification as I work toward completing the required professional experience.

James L Mahaffey II

About

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My professional journey began in 2004, when I helped individuals and businesses obtain supplemental health insurance coverage. I later worked with Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans and, in 2014, expanded my work to include life insurance and annuities.

Throughout my insurance career, I have approached each client relationship with a simple standard: provide the same care and consideration I would want for myself or a member of my own family. That commitment to acting in each person’s best interest ultimately inspired me to pursue comprehensive, fiduciary financial planning.

My path to financial planning has also been shaped by a wide range of life experiences. Educated as a classical percussionist and jazz drummer, I have performed for audiences around the world. My travels have included musical performances, humanitarian work, and service to local churches. I also spent more than six years designing international concert tours for choirs, bands, and orchestras, as well as religious pilgrimages for church groups. These experiences strengthened my ability to listen carefully, communicate with people from many backgrounds, and guide others through important and sometimes complex decisions.

My wife and I have been married for more than 20 years and live with our three children in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Designations & Certifications

I have earned the following certifications and designations with the goal to increase my knowledge and provide excellent financial planning services.

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  • MPAS™ designees have completed a Master of Science degree with a major in personal financial planning.

  • I completed the AWMA® training in September 2016. This comprehensive curriculum focused on the unique needs of high-net-worth clients.

  • The ABFP® program explores the nature and role of psychological biases, heuristics, and emotions in influencing financial decision-making.

  • I completed the AAMS® designation coursework through the College for Financial Planning in March 2016.

  • This designation is issued by the Financial Psychology Institute® and equips professionals with communication skills and behavioral finance frameworks to better understand client money beliefs and improve planning outcomes.

Contact

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