James Kelley

James Kelley, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager at Creative Financial Designs, Inc., based in Kansas City, MO. In his current role, he oversees the firm's Fundamental Opportunities brokerage strategy, where he focuses on identifying value-based investment opportunities and managing client portfolios through a research-driven, long-term approach. He also collaborates on strategic portfolio direction, asset allocation, and investment and economic research within a multi-disciplined advisory team.

Kelley’s investment expertise spans equity and fixed income markets, with a particular emphasis on value-oriented strategies and fundamental analysis. Prior to joining Creative Financial Designs in 2020, he served as Investment Analyst and later Portfolio Manager at Lighthouse Financial Strategies, where he contributed to custom portfolio construction and asset allocation research for diverse client segments.

James holds both a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Operations Research from Kansas State University. Before entering the investment industry, he worked as a Hydraulic Fracturing Field Engineer at Schlumberger from 2012 to 2015, providing him with firsthand experience in the energy sector, which informs his research perspective. He is a CFA charterholder, demonstrating a strong commitment to investment research excellence and professional ethics.