James A. Slazas
James has over 15 years of experience in the financial industry. He began his career on the floors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and The Matif in Paris trading financial futures and option contracts. In 1992, James joined Lehman Brothers where he managed a proprietary arbitrage book of derivatives and structured tax products.
While at Lehman Brothers, James created a Global Risk Management Group, encompassing the London, Swiss and Hong Kong banks for the Private Client Area.
In 1997, James left Lehman Brothers with a team of colleagues to form Beta Capital Management Inc., a US broker dealer managing assets of $2 billion primarily with emerging market clients including sovereigns, local investment banks, public corporations, and high net worth individuals from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Later, James co-founded the Legacy Group specializing in sophisticated tax planning, life settlements and derivative strategies for closely held businesses and high net worth individuals. The Legacy Group recently became part of Sagemark Consulting LFA, which trades on the NYSE as LNC, a market capitalization of $10 billion and manages over $120 billion in assets. James specializes in working with CPA's and attorneys to enhance their practice with sophisticated financial planning and the roll-out of a cohesive plan for offering financial services.
James currently serves on the board of NAIFA, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is also a qualifying member of the Court of the Million Dollar Round Table.
He graduated from the University of Richmond, E. Claiborne Robins School of Business and studied at Oxford University, Hertford College.