Jim Claypool, CPA, PFS

Jim has dual roles at Coldstream, as a Team Lead & Wealth Manager, he leads a growing and dedicated team of like-minded professionals who share his passion for helping clients achieve their financial goals. He specializes in providing comprehensive wealth management services including estate and financial planning for affluent individuals and families. As a Team Lead & Partner of Coldstream Tax & Consulting, Jim leads a specialized team providing proactive tax services that align with clients’ overall wealth management strategies to help ensure peace of mind.

Jim started his career at Ernst & Young in Seattle. He then moved into the wireless business on the finance side. He transferred around the country a few times while taking on larger and broader roles living in Indianapolis, IN, Bakersfield, CA, and Portland, OR, where he served as VP/General Manager for the NW region. Jim then decided to leave the corporate rat race and move home to Seattle in 2001 to be closer to family; returning to working with clients in public accounting. Since 2004, Jim has been a Partner at Harrison, Berkman, Claypool & Guard, PLLC (HBCG), a family-focused CPA firm that merged into Coldstream in 2025. He was also part of the group that started HBC Financial Services, PLLC, the wealth management side of the house that also merged into Coldstream in 2025.

Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University and earned his MBA from UCLA. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS).

THE MOST TREASURED THING I OWN

I try not to focus on stuff. The thing I treasure most is my family (my wife and 2 grown daughters).

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE

Keep it simple – the world is complicated enough.  There is value in finding the simple approach.

HOBBIES

My wife and I love to travel.  I’m a private pilot and I volunteer with Angel Flight West, providing flights for people who need medical treatment from providers a long way away.