Before joining Equitable Advisors, in November, 2001, Jim Blassingham was an associate and later an active partner with a well known firm in Hampton Roads, Spence Financial Group.  In 1998 Jim founded Coastal Financial Group and in 2008 merged his firm with Capital Financial Group.  Capital Financial Group provides Wealth Strategies, Retirement and Financial Planning Strategies, Corporate Retirement Plans, Executive and Employee Benefits and other financial services throughout Hampton Roads and Virginia.  Jim has over 40 years of experience in the financial services profession as a manager, advisor and fee based financial planner, focusing on Estate & Financial Analysis and Executive & Employee Benefit Plans.

Jim is a 1971 graduate of Maury High School and Randolph-Macon College (Class of ’75) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and has also obtained his professional designation of CLU from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  He has the following securities registrations; Series 7, 6, 65 and 22, and is also licensed for life, and health insurance as well as variable annuity products.  Mr. Blassingham has completed the course work for a Wharton Certificate in Retirement Planning.* He has also received training to earn the “Qualified Plan Specialist” title from Equitable Advisors and is a “Retirement Plan Consultant Specialist” as well as an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF).

Over his 40+ year career, Jim has assisted numerous companies and business owners with the design and implementation of selective executive fringe benefits, employee benefits, wealth preservation strategies and retirement plans.  Jim has been active with various professional organizations, including the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors, serving on the board and as President of the Norfolk Chapter and as a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and MDRT.  Jim is also a certified continuing education instructor for CPAs and has provided seminar training for hundreds of CPAs in our region.

Jim has always believed in giving back to his community and has served as an Executive Board member of Goodwill Industries, Inc., coached youth soccer and baseball. He has served as Chairman of Ghent United Methodist Church’s Executive Council and is an active member of the Virginia Maritime Association.  Jim is a former member and former President of the Norfolk Jaycees and The Volunteer Connection, a United Way Agency.

The Retirement Planning Specialist title is awarded by Equitable Advisors, based upon the Financial Professional’s (FP) receipt of a Certificate in Retirement Planning from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In a collaboration between the Wharton School and Equitable Advisors’ affiliate, Equitable Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), coursework for the certificate was developed exclusively for Equitable Advisors FPs, and the title may be used only by FPs who have completed the required coursework and maintain the title through ongoing continuing education requirements. To verify that an FP has earned and holds the title in good standing, contact Equitable atretirement@equitable.com. Complaints about an Equitable Advisors FP should be directed to customer.relations@equitable.com.

Capital Financial Group is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by Equitable Advisors or Equitable Network.