Born and raised in Ottawa, James is fluently bilingual. He graduated from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2002. James joined BMO Nesbitt Burns in 2004 as an Investment Advisor and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® or CFP® professional and obtained the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) and Financial Management Advisor (FMA) designations. James completed his CFA level 1.

James volunteers with the Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation where he is currently Treasurer of the Board of Directors as well as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and co-Chair of the Joint Investment Advisor Committee.