James Wert is the senior client advisor of CM Wealth. From 2003 to 2019, Wert served as president and chief executive officer of what was then CM Wealth Advisors, also known as Clanco Management Corp. In 2002, he led the firm’s transition from a single-family office to a multi-family office registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, allowing the firm to begin accepting unrelated clients.

Wert oversaw the CM Wealth 2019 conversion from a corporation to a limited liability company that became 100% owned by its partners. In 2020, he passed the CEO baton to Doug McCreery. Wert continues in an advisory role to CM Wealth’s partners and client families on a variety of matters.

He has guided the firm’s growth from its humble origins in 2002 to approximately 100 families, $2 billion in assets under management, and a staff of 25 today. Under his leadership, ownership of CM Wealth is transitioning from the three modern company founders to 14 partners today without resorting to outside capital.

Prior to joining CM Wealth, Wert was the senior executive vice president and chief investment officer of Cleveland-based KeyCorp and a member of the four-person Office of the Chairman. He retired in 1996 at age 49 following the passing of his spouse to focus on his young children. During the period before joining CM Wealth, he served on several public and private company boards and as trust advisor and manager of a prominent Cleveland family’s operating entities.

Beyond his corporate work, Wert has a long history of civic and philanthropic engagement. He has served as a director or trustee of the American Red Cross, the Achievement Center for Children, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, the St. Luke’s Foundation, Hillcrest Hospital, University Hospitals’ Cleveland Medical Center, the MetroHealth Foundation, and Bluecoats, Inc.

His leadership roles include heading the Seidman Cancer Center Leadership Council until 2023 and co-leading the Bluecoats Education Fund Campaign. A graduate of the Leadership Cleveland class of 1979, he also served as a trustee of the Cleveland Development Partnership and as class president of the Leadership Cleveland Alumni Association.

Wert earned a Bachelor of Arts in finance with high honor from Michigan State University in 1971, followed by graduate study at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management from 1971 to 1975. He also completed the Stanford University Executive Program in 1982.

A resident of Lyndhurst, Ohio, Wert and his wife, Debbie, have three adult children and four grandchildren. Outside interests include travel, golf, the performing arts, and G-gauge model railroading.