Jeff Donham CFP®, CLU

Senior Wealth Advisor

Richmond, VA
Focus Areas

Business Transition Planning
Tax Planning
Investment Strategies
Multi-Generational Planning

Client Specialty

Executives
Business Owners
Retirees
Women in Transition

Recognitions

Five Star Wealth Advisor 2020, 2021, 2022

Community

Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia

Jeff is a Senior Wealth Advisor based in the Richmond, VA office of The Colony Group. He utilizes a goals-based planning approach emphasizing tax efficiency, cash flow management, risk mitigation, philanthropic planning, and investment management. Jeff is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and a Chartered Life Underwriter®.

Prior to joining The Colony Group, Jeff worked for Northwestern Mutual where he provided financial planning services for a wide array of client needs including education, insurance, tax, investment, and estate planning. Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Jeff worked at LPL Financial where he delivered investment and asset allocation guidance for client portfolios.

Jeff serves on the Community Advisory Board for The Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia as well as mentoring students from Christopher Newport University looking to

pursue a career in the financial services industry. Previously, Jeff volunteered for CancerLinc providing financial advice for families that have been affected by cancer.

Jeff graduated, magna cum laude, from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance. Jeff earned his Certificate in Financial Planning from The College for Financial Planning. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children, as well as spending time with friends on the golf course.

Disclosures:

Five Star Professional criteria: Credentialed as an IAR, FINRA-registered rep, a CPA, or a licensed attorney; at least five years in the financial services industry; favorable regulatory and complaint history review; meeting firm’s review standards; accepting new clients; one and five-year retention rates; assets administered; number of households served; and education and professional designations. Advisors awarded: nine Wealth Advisors for 2015; nineteen Wealth Advisors for 2016; twenty-two Wealth Advisors for 2017; and twenty-two Wealth Advisors for 2018, 2019, and twenty Wealth Advisors in 2020.

Published Insights

A Dad’s Guide to Financial Success: Nurturing Your Family’s Future

As a dad, the well-being of your family is of utmost importance. Among the many responsibilities you shoulder, ensuring their financial security is crucial. From personal experience, I understand...

How to Protect Your Credit with a Credit Freeze

Identity theft will affect approximately 1/3 of Americans in their lifetime, according to identitytheft.org. One way to protect your identity is with a credit freeze. What is a credit...

Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages

Should You Get a Reverse Mortgage? According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), approximately 64,000 reverse mortgages were created in the 2022 fiscal year, with...

Three Cons of Self-Insurance

While self-insurance presents certain pros, it is important to recognize that this approach is not without its cons. Self-insurance involves assuming financial responsibility for potential losses or damages instead...

Three Pros of Self-Insurance

In a world of uncertainties, protecting oneself against unexpected financial burdens is paramount. Insurance offers a safety net, but have you ever considered an alternative approach known as self-insurance?...

Should You Self-Insure Your Long-Term Care?

Who could be a good candidate for self-insuring? The Colony Group's Jeff Donham, Senior Wealth Advisor explains in this Wall Street Journal article. 

Starting 2023 with a Clean Slate

What a year! There is a lot to unpack from 2022 whether it be inflation in the US, global issues in Ukraine, Iran and various other countries, COVID restrictions...

“Mortgage Rates Are Rising. How to Put Together Enough Cash to Buy a Home”

The Colony Group’s Jeff Donham CFP®, CLU, Senior Wealth Advisor, spoke with Barron’s in the article “Mortgage Rates Are Rising. How to Put Together Enough Cash to Buy a Home”. Read the full article here.

The Benefits of Filing Taxes Early

"We usually tell our clients to wait until late February or even March to file," said Jeff Donham. Many must wait on tax statements or other documents in order to file an accurate return by April 15 or extend.

Refinancing-or Paying Off-a Mortgage? Questions to Ask Yourself

"Withdrawals from 401(k) funds typically are taxable, which could push you to a higher tax bracket, and you’ll be losing the opportunity for your money to grow," says Jeff Donham CFP®, CLU® of The Colony Group in The Wall Street Journal article, Refinancing-or Paying Off-a Mortgage? Questions to Ask Yourself. “You’re really robbing Peter to pay Paul in that situation."

35 Ways to Jump-Start Your Emergency Savings

Here's a quick tip to jump-start your emergency savings, "Create shorter-term goals. If $3,000 is one month of expenses, set a goal to try to save 5% to 10% of that amount a month or break it up into weekly deposits," says Jeff Donham CFP®, CLU®, Wealth Advisor of The Colony Group.

Another way to save money for a rainy day is to "Get a credit card that pays points that can be converted to cash. Then deposit that cash into your emergency savings," says Patrick Donnelly, CFP®, Vice President & Senior Wealth Advisor of The Colony Group.

When a family member dies take a deep breath, consult professionals and don’t make any big moves

As appeared in Salon.com  Life has a way of ramping up stress — both good and bad — at times.  In 2018, my wife and I were blessed by...

How to Protect Your Credit with a Credit Freeze

Identity theft affects nearly 60 million Americans, according to a 2018 Harris Poll with credit card fraud accounting for 33% of all identity fraud complaints. One way to protect...