Jim Charles, CFA, CFP®, CDFA®
Worry less. Live more.
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Worry less. Live more.
Areas of Focus
- Financial Life Planning
- High Net Worth
- Investment Management
- Retirement Planning
- Tax-Smart Distribution Planning
About Jim Charles, CFA, CFP®, CDFA®
You’ve spent your career building wealth — now you want retirement to be about more than money. You want purpose.I’m Jim Charles, a fiduciary financial advisor specializing in retirement income planning, tax strategy, and investment management. I help people navigate the transition from work to what’s next, creating sustainable income strategies, and designing tax-aware decumulation plans that support the life they want to live.
I’ve advised individuals and institutions for more than 30 years, including leading the North American institutional group at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where I worked with some of the world’s largest investors. I also earned a Master’s in Financial Planning — but the experience that shaped me most wasn’t academic or professional.
In 2021, I stepped away from my career, convinced I was ready for the next chapter. Instead, I discovered something many retirees quietly struggle with: when the structure and identity of work fall away, the absence of purpose can feel startlingly hollow. My own “failed retirement” became the catalyst for my deepest learning.
That journey ultimately led me to co-author the best-selling book From Work to What’s Next – Designing a Life You Don’t Want to Retire From, a project rooted in the very transition I struggled through. The book — and my re-emergence — reinforced a simple truth: a great retirement plan isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about meaning, identity, and intentional design.
In 2023, I co-founded Sanctuary Financial Planning with my wife, Sarah, to offer the kind of advisory relationship I wish more people had — comprehensive financial planning and wealth management – all for a single, transparent, flat fee.
Sanctuary’s model eliminates AUM fees, product sales, and asset minimums. Clients receive objective advice, continuous planning, and disciplined investment management designed to support a confident, purpose-filled transition into and through retirement — not just a financial plan, but a roadmap for what comes next.
You’re in the driver’s seat — I’m the guide who helps the road feel clear.
Professional Designations
- Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP)
Affiliations
- CFA Institute
- CFP Board
- Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
- XY Planning Network
Primary Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
Video
Meeting Options
- Video Conference
- Phone
Compensation Methods
- Fee Only
- Flat Fee
What to expect in the first meeting
Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to learn more about Sanctuary and how we work with clients. This 15-minute, complimentary Inquiry Call is a chance to mutually determine if the services we provide are a fit for your needs. I look forward to speaking with you.Offers Investment Management
Yes
About Sanctuary Financial Planning
At Sanctuary, clients receive ongoing financial planning, proactive tax strategy, and integrated wealth management — all for a single, transparent, flat fee.Our work focuses on:
• Retirement income planning using dynamic, research-based withdrawal strategies
• Tax-efficient portfolio management and multi-year tax planning
• Social Security, Medicare, and transition decision support
• Coordinated, ongoing financial planning across all areas of life and money
Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Jim Charles, CFA, CFP®, CDFA®, and Sarah Charles, CSRIC®, AIF®, Sanctuary’s model eliminates AUM fees, product sales, and asset minimums. Clients receive objective advice, continuous planning, and disciplined investment management designed to support a confident, purpose-filled transition into and through retirement — not just a financial plan, but a roadmap for what comes next.
Education
Master of Science, Personal Financial Planning, Georgia State University | BSBA Marketing, Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business
Hobbies and Interests
- Animals
- Beach
- Cars
- Cycling
- Exercising
- Family
- Gardening
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Movies
- Music
- Photography
- Reading
- Traveling
- Volunteering
- Walking
- Wine
SEC Lookup
View DisclosureWho We Serve
- Baby Boomers
- Business Owners
- Corporate Executives
- Couples
- Divorce
- Dual Income Family
- Entrepreneurs
- Families
- Gen X
- Living in Retirement
- Women in Transition
- Women Professionals
- Women’s Finance
Wealthtender® is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.
Write a Review
By clicking submit, you acknowledge this review is based on your own experience and reflects your genuine opinion. You also agree to our review policy, privacy policy, and terms and conditions, and give this financial advisor permission to publicly display your review on their website.
Building Our Financial Future with Trusted, Personalized Guidance
Extremely Knowledgable - Appreciated the thoughtful and valuable advice given as part of our "Financial Checkup"
Financial Road Map with a Competent, Compassionate and Engaging Fiduciary Firm
Thoughtful, Transparent Financial Planning with Peace of Mind
Happily Moving Forward
Gave us the confidence to pull the trigger on retirement!
Sarah and Jim were great!
Thank You, Sarah & Jim
Made the Process Easy - Great to Work With
Sigh of Relief!
I wish I found them earlier!
Comfort and Confidence in Planning!
Very Positive Experience
Exceptional Guidance on Roth Conversion and Investment Simplification by Jim and Sarah
Wonderful to work with!
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