What Jim Niedzinski has to say about fellow Co-Founder Jay Close...
What He Does
Jay Close, CFA, CFP®, directs our investment strategy and oversees the management of our client's portfolios. He creates custom investment solutions that are mosaics of our client's needs and values, insights from independent research sources, and our best ideas.
Who He Is
What stands out to me about Jay is his incredibly rare combination of complementary skills and his integrity in their application. First, Jay is, to be certain, a true technician. He finds research and analysis fun like most people might enjoy a good novel or night on the town. Yet Jay isn’t content, as many intellectuals are, to merely learn — Jay is a doer, driven to apply his discoveries. Finally — and this is what makes Jay a truly rare bird — he isn’t just satisfied with deeply intellectual pursuits, or the effective application of his work, but ultimately Jay finds fulfillment in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Jay’s Qualifications
Since 2006, Jay has been serving wealthy families as a fiduciary, managing their investments within the context of coordinated financial plans. Jay previously managed client portfolios totaling over $1 billion as the Director of Investments of a privately held wealth management firm. Before Motive, Jay served as a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Private Asset Management division of a Fortune 100 financial services firm. Based in Ann Arbor, his practice focused on serving the needs of high net worth faculty and physicians at The University of Michigan. Jay is a CFA charterholder and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He graduated magna cum laude from Western Michigan University with a major in Personal Financial Planning.
Jay’s Personal Life
Jay’s family includes his wife Jackie (truly his better half) and their three adorably rambunctious daughters. After living in Beverly Hills, Michigan, for many years, the Close Family moved to Brighton Township where they’re surrounded by extended family, big sunrises, and sandhill cranes. If Jay isn’t exploring the woods with his family, he’s probably reading, or fiddling with a chisel and plane, intent on becoming a more capable woodworker.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.