James Wandzilak, one of the first tenants in the new “green” building at 10 Maple St., gets to relax after work and enjoy the view of the hills from the balcony of his top-floor office, along with a glass of wine. The Edward Jones financial advisor appreciates the practical benefits of the building – in particular, the solar panels on the roof that generate electricity.
After studying finance and communication at the University of San Francisco, Wandzilak realized at graduation that he was too young to be giving financial advice. He decided to work in radio instead, and moved to Susanville, about midway between Red Bluff and Reno, Nev., where he spent 18 months as the morning announcer at KSUE and also covered local news and high school sports.
Deciding he didn’t want to move around the country pursuing a career in broadcasting, Wandzilak moved back to the Bay Area – and finance – in 1992 and joined Edward Jones in Novato, then moved on to Wells Fargo Securities in 1994.
In 2000, at the invitation of Jeff Panchot, a longtime Edward Jones financial advisor in Sonoma, Wandzilak took over part of Panchot’s business when he was promoted to the company’s headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., Wandzilak calls it a perfect fit. “I like being independent,” he said. “I do what’s right for the serious long-term investor.” Most of his clients pay a fee for his services, though he also earns commissions.
One of his specialties is helping clients plan their estates so the heirs won’t have to sell a family vineyard or home to pay inheritance taxes. Wandzilak enjoys the intricacies of the planning process because it’s like solving a puzzle. And, he said, “It makes me feel good about what I do.”
James Wandzilak,
Financial Advisor,
Edward Jones,
10 Maple St., 302, Sonoma; 707.935.0865; james.wandzilak@edwardjones.com;
www.edwardjones.com
