An investments-oriented boutique that offers a wide spectrum of wealth management advice
We provide our fee-only services in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area of North Carolina, Chicagoland, and wherever our clients take us.
SERVICES
Investment Management
We don’t build your portfolio based on speculation or market timing but rather on principals of long-term investing and compounding returns
Active strategies suited to clients’ return and income objectives, risk tolerance levels, and stage of life
Invest across individual US and international equities, individual bonds, and select non-equity ETFs
Financial Planning
We believe a solid financial plan serves as an important guide to help you make good decisions, measure progress and make necessary adjustments to meet your goals
Financial planning services include:
Retirement planning
Tax minimization strategies
Education planning
Estate planning
Personal finance such as buy vs rent analysis
Insurance needs assessment
Our Differentiators
INVESTMENT EXPERTISE
Over 15 years as an equity analyst and portfolio manager
Investment philosophy solidified over multiple market cycles
CONFLICTS of INTEREST MINIMIZED
As a registered investment advisor (RIA), we have a fiduciary obligation to our clients to provide objective advice that is in your best interest, not ours
We don’t earn commissions or fees from third parties, nor do we have in-house investment products that generates enhanced fee capture
CLIENT ACCESS to ADVISOR
As a small RIA, we believe every client should receive the attention they deserve
All communication comes straight from the advisor, not an associate
LOW FEE-ONLY PRICING STRUCTURE
Compare our assets under management-based fees to the all-in fees charged at larger RIAs and wirehouses
Lower overhead costs passed on to the client
Investment Philosophy
Our deep-rooted investment philosophy encapsulates some of the key tenets of investment organizations Jim has been a part of.
Portfolio Level
WE ARE LONG-TERM INVESTORS, NOT SHORT-TERM TRADERS
By buying high quality franchises and not overly trading, our goal is to target maximum after-tax returns
Investment horizon is typically 3-5+ years
CONCENTRATION on our BEST IDEAS
Typically hold 25-30 stocks for equity portion of asset allocation
Avoid overly diversifying and focus on companies with our greatest long-term conviction
SECTOR AGNOSTIC
Select what we believe are the most attractive companies, regardless of sector
Don’t worry about not having exposure in unattractive sectors or industries
Individual Stock Level
STRONG ECONOMIC MOATS, or SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
Qualitative characteristics such as customer switching costs, network effects, scale-driven cost advantages, or intangible assets from a brand name or difficult-to-obtain government license
Quantitative attributes such as high profit margins, strong free cash flows, and impressive returns on invested capital (ROIC)
ABOVE-AVERAGE LONG-TERM GROWTH PROSPECTS
Track record of fast top-line growth helps, but more important is growth sustainability given the degree of competitive advantages and addressable market opportunity
We believe the highest long-term stock returns typically come from “compounding” businesses that can consistently grow in excess of the overall economy
PRUDENT USE of LEVERAGE (DEBT)
Debt levels should not exceed what is appropriate given the cyclicality and long-term uncertainty level of the business
Prefer companies with low or no levels of debt to withstand and take advantage of unexpected economic shocks
Blogs
Every month we write a blog that rotates among the following topics:
(1) a specific financial planning topic
(2) a review of what is driving the stock market, how we have clients positioned, and recent changes to client portfolios
(3) an in-depth overview of one of our stock holdings
We strive to pack our blogs with unique, insightful, and practical information that can be easily read and understood.
Most Recent Blogs
Month BLOG TYPE TITLE
April 2025 Investment Letter 1Q25 Investment Letter
March 2025 Stock Feature Mercado Libre is Driving E-Commerce Growth in Latin America
February 2025 Retirement Planning How to Optimize Health Savings Accounts Over a Lifetime
Archived Financial Planning Blogs
CATEGORY TITLE
Retirement Planning Assessing How Much You Really Need to Retire
Insurance Planning Umbrella Insurance Can Protect You from Financial Ruin
Personal Finances New Landlords Face More Challenging Economics
Retirement Planning Roth Contributions Are More Valuable Than You Think
Estate Planning Now Is a Good Time to Assess Your Estate Plan
Education Planning Look Beyond the Sticker Price to Get a Better View into College Costs
Retirement Planning Which States Make for a Tax-Smart Move at Retirement
Personal Finances Better to Rent than Buy at Present Unless You Stay Put
Personal Finances Exploit This Loophole to Invest >$10k in Inflation-Linked I Bonds
Retirement Planning Roth Conversions Can Really Pay Off, if Timed Well
Personal Finances When It Makes Sense to Prepay Your Mortgage
Insurance Planning Be Firm with Term If Life Insurance Makes Sense for You
Retirement Planning Delaying Social Security Benefits Is Often the Best Choice for 60-Somethings
Tax Planning The Great Migration — Which States Make for a Tax-Smart Move
Retirement Planning A Backdoor Roth IRA Could Pad Your Retirement
Education Planning 529 College Savings Plans Are Best In Class
Estate Planning You, or Your Parents, Probably Should Have a Revocable Trust
Jim Krapfel, CFA, CFP
Founder and President
DESIGNATIONS
Jim earned his CFA® charter in 2008.
The CFA® charter is often pursued by those seeking a higher standard of excellence in the investment management industry.
Earning the CFA® charter is a highly selective process. Fewer than one in five candidates become a CFA charterholder.
It takes an average of 1,000+ hours of rigorous study, along with four years of professional experience and successful completion of the CFA® Program exam, to earn the distinction of being called a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder.
Jim earned his CFP® certification in 2020.
CFP® professionals meet rigorous education, training and ethical standards, and are committed to serving their clients’ best interests.
Comprehensive financial planning education topics include the following: investment planning, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance planning, financial management, and education planning.
Click here for an information brochure from the CFP Board.
EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
Jim founded registered investment advisory firm Glass Lake Wealth Management in April 2020 with a focus on helping clients preserve and compound wealth, as well as providing a range of financial planning solutions based on clients’ unique situations and long-term goals. In 2022, he moved his family and business to the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, NC from Chicago to better raise his two sons, now 4 and 2 years old.
Prior to starting Glass Lake, Jim worked at three Chicago-based asset management, equity research, and wealth management firms. Most recently, Jim spent four years as a senior equity analyst and portfolio manager at RMB Capital. At RMB, he worked on a small team managing approximately $1 billion of assets under management (AUM) across three U.S. equity strategies. Prior to RMB, Jim spent four years as an equity analyst at Morningstar, researching companies in the homebuilding, building supplier, diversified industrial, home security, and regulated utility industries. Jim began his investment career as an analyst and assistant portfolio manager at Driehaus Capital Management. During his six years at Driehaus, he worked on a small team managing approximately $500 million of AUM.
Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004, where he majored in Finance, Investments, and Banking.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Besides staying abreast of what’s going on in the stock market, the economy, and geopolitics, Jim’s hobbies include recreational tennis, running, F3 workouts, and hosting poker nights with friends. He also enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, young boys, and Cavapoo dog.