By Jamie French & Jim Dunlop, CFP®, Managing Partner at Advent Partners
Every business has a beginning, but not all beginnings are created equal. Some are born out of necessity, others from ambition. Our firm, Advent Partners, was built at the intersection of opportunity, conviction, and a deep desire to serve clients in a more meaningful way.
In the summer of 2019, following a 23-year career in the financial sector, Jim Dunlop reached a definitive crossroads. Having spent nearly two decades inside a traditional, large-scale corporate model, he recognized that the industry had become overly “solution-driven.” In that landscape, the objective was often to identify clients who fit a narrow portfolio of products.
However, the needs of families and business owners were evolving far beyond static financial instruments. They needed a partner who could see the family’s financial life as a whole—business, estate, retirement, and generosity.
The Significance of “Advent”
When the opportunity arose to establish an independent firm, the priority was to select a name that conveyed a sense of purpose rather than corporate anonymity. Consulting a client advisory board led to a title that resonated deeply: Advent.
In many traditions, Advent represents a season of preparation—an intentional, disciplined period that precedes a significant milestone. This concept perfectly captures our work.
Wealth management is, at its core, the art of preparation. It’s the practice of organizing resources today to create the freedom to live fully tomorrow. With the insight of our clients, Advent Partners was established to honor that process.
The Pursuit of Autonomy
The transition to an independent platform provided the autonomy necessary to be truly client-centric. Inside a massive organization, creativity and bespoke planning are frequently sidelined by rigid structures. Independence from this granted the freedom to abandon the question of which product a client might fit, and instead ask:
“What strategy must be built to achieve this specific vision?”
This change allowed for a more sophisticated perspective, where the person, the family, and the business are viewed as a single, cohesive picture.
Interlocking Gifts
The evolution of Advent Partners accelerated when Jim partnered with Jamie French. While they shared an identical value system, their professional strengths functioned like interlocking gears.
Jim operates as the visionary with a “high quick-start” who identifies opportunities and drives forward momentum. Jamie provides the essential counterweight as a “fact-finder” bringing discipline, detail-oriented work, and rigor in operations. This partnership means that while we pursue growth, the foundation remains immovable.
In our work, this balance allows our clients to dream expansively, backed by a plan that is technically sound.
A Values-Driven Approach
Every firm lists “integrity” and “trust” on their website. We set those aside and asked what values truly shape how we show up for clients and what really matters to them. Generosity, Relationship, Excellence, Authenticity, and Fun.
While “Fun” may seem unconventional for a financial firm, we believe the pursuit of financial independence should not be a somber or clinical experience. Wealth is most meaningful when it is managed with warmth, joy, and a human connection.
Fueling Your Legacy With Advent Partners
Ultimately, Advent Partners exists to help disciplined savers with a heart for generosity impact their communities. In an industry that often discourages giving because it reduces “assets under management,” we take the opposite view.
At Advent Partners, we believe capital is not the destination, but the fuel for a greater purpose. Whether that purpose is building a family’s future or supporting a local cause, our work is to provide the tools and ideas that turn financial success into a lasting legacy. As the saying goes, there are no U-Hauls behind hearses. You cannot take it with you, so we help you make the most of it while you’re here.
If you’re ready to align your financial strategy with your personal values, we invite you to schedule an introductory conversation with our team to explore what your wealth can create by calling (717) 525-9535 or send us a message online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does intentional financial planning mean?
Intentional financial planning means making financial decisions with a clear purpose instead of reacting to life as it happens. It focuses on aligning your money with your long-term goals, values, and the legacy you want to leave behind. Rather than simply choosing products or investments, intentional planning helps create a strategy that supports your life as a whole.
How do I find a financial advisor who aligns with my values?
Finding the right financial advisor starts with looking beyond investment performance alone. You want someone who understands your priorities—whether that’s generosity, family legacy, business growth, or community impact—and builds your financial plan around those values. A strong advisor should offer personalized guidance, not standardized solutions.
Why is preparation important in financial planning?
Preparation is one of the most important parts of financial planning because it helps you make confident decisions before major life events happen. Whether you’re planning for retirement, selling a business, supporting your children, or giving back charitably, preparing early creates more flexibility and reduces stress. The goal is to use today’s decisions to create tomorrow’s opportunities.
About Jim
Jim Dunlop, CFP®, is a Wealth Advisor and Managing Partner at Advent Partners, where he leverages 23 years of experience to help high-income families and business owners in Central Pennsylvania build generous, tax-efficient legacies. Recognized on AdvisorHub’s “100 Advisors to Watch – Next Gen” list, he specializes in holistic retirement and estate planning through a collaborative, education-first approach. A pioneer in the independent RIA space, Jim is driven by a faith-rooted calling to help clients transform their wealth into meaningful abundance for their families and communities.
6.20.25 – The person was named in the 2025 AdvisorHUB’s 100 Advisor’s to Watch – Next Gen ranking. Advisors are ranked on a 100-point scale in three categories: (1) scale – relative size of assets, production and quality of service; (2) growth – relative year-over-year change in assets, clients and production; (3) professionalism includes regulatory record, community involvement, mentorship and team makeup. More information can be found at https://www.advisorhub.com/resources/2025-advisors-to-watch/. No fee was paid by these persons* or Thrivent in exchange for inclusion in the ranking. There are no other material relationships between Thrivent including these persons* and AdvisorHUB. The ranking is not related to the quality of investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Please note that this is not an indication of any client’s experience or an indication of Thrivent’s future performance.
About Jamie
Jamie French is a Wealth Advisor and Managing Partner at Advent Partners, where he specializes in helping families and thrifty savers in Central Pennsylvania navigate faith-based planning and tax strategies. He views financial wellness as a tool for generosity and is dedicated to empowering clients through authentic partnerships and intentional steps toward financial freedom.
IMPORTANT: Advisory Person(s) may use proprietary financial planning tools, calculators and third-party tools and materials ("Third-Party Materials") to develop your financial planning recommendations. The projections or other information generated by Third-Party Materials regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. Results may vary with each use and over time. Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC and its advisors do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney and or tax professional regarding these situations.
The return assumptions in Third-Party Materials are not reflective of any specific product, and do not include any fees or expenses that may be incurred by investing in specific products. The actual returns of a specific product may be more or less than the returns used. It is not possible to directly invest in an index. Financial forecasts, rates of return, risk, inflation, and other assumptions may be used as the basis for illustrations. They should not be considered a guarantee of future performance or a guarantee of achieving overall financial objectives. Past performance is not a guarantee or a predictor of future results of either the indices or any particular investment. Investing involves risks, including the possible loss of principal.
Investment advisory services are offered through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, a registered investment adviser. This material, in and of itself, does not create an investment advisory relationship subject to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
The purpose of the report is to illustrate how accepted financial and estate planning principles may improve your current situation. The term "plan" or "planning," when used within this report, does not imply that a recommendation has been made to implement one or more financial plans or make a particular investment. You should use this Report to help you focus on the factors that are most important to you. Review the Financial Planning Disclosure Document and the Financial Planning Agreement for a full description of the services offered and fees.
Investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC., (herein referred to as “TAN”), a registered investment adviser. Clients will separately engage an unaffiliated broker-dealer or custodian to safeguard their investment advisory assets. Review the Thrivent Advisor Network Client Relationship Summary, Financial Planning and Consulting Services, Investment Management Services (Non-Wrap) and Wrap-Fee Program brochures for a full description of services, fees and expenses, available at Thriventadvisornetwork.com. Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC’s Advisory Persons may also be registered representatives of a broker-dealer to offer securities products.
Certain Thrivent Advisor Network LLC advisors may also be registered representatives of a broker-dealer to offer securities products. Advisory Persons of Thrivent Advisor Network provide advisory services under a “doing business as” name or may have their own legal business entities. However, advisory services are engaged exclusively through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Please visit our website www.thriventadvisornetwork.com for important disclosures.T
hrivent and its financial professionals do not provide legal, accounting, or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Representatives have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration. Before investing, investors should carefully read the prospectus/summary?prospectus. and carefully consider the?investment?objectives, risks, charges and expenses.?All portfolio-level performance shown is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Investor returns will differ from the results shown. The investment funds listed herein are not FDIC insured and shouldn’t be seen as a substitute for money market funds. Increases in interest rates can cause the prices of bonds in the portfolio, and thus. the fund’s share price, to decrease. All distribution yields shown are after all fund related expenses, but before Advent Partners’ management fee.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.
Advisory Persons of Thrivent Advisor Network provide advisory services under a “doing business as” name or may have their own legal business entities. However, advisory services are engaged exclusively through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Advent Partners and Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC are not affiliated companies. Information in this message is for the intended recipient[s] only. Please visit our website
https://www.adventpartnersfp.com/ for important disclosures.S
ecurities offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc. (“TIMI”), member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent.com/disclosures. TIMI and Advent Partners are not affiliated companies.
