Maxim Global Wealth Advisors is an independent firm specializing in financial advice for globally oriented families in the United States and abroad. Our clients are located around the world, giving us a truly global perspective on the investment landscape. We design portfolios with a focus on risk management, low costs, and tax-efficiency, which we combine with personalized financial advice aimed at helping clients make better informed decisions.
Our mission is to build lasting client relationships based on a level of trust that is earned through wise counsel, investment results, clear and candid communication, and service that exceeds expectations. We are compensated by an agreed upon fee rather than from sales commissions, which enables us to give advice based solely on the needs of our clients. We serve as your advocate, focusing our attention on your best interests.
Professional Team
Andrew Fisher, CFA, CPA
President
Andrew is our Chief Investment Officer and a Senior Client Advisor. With a broad base of experience in finance and investing, he enjoys helping clients find creative solutions to complex financial problems. Andrew has lived abroad and studied international languages, culture, and business, and enjoys the diversity of his client base.
Prior to founding Maxim, Andrew was an international Equity Research Analyst for Montgomery Asset Management in San Francisco. Previously, he worked in New York as an International Equity Analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (now Credit Suisse) and HSBC Securities. He began his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Los Angeles. Andrew graduated cum laude from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Finance and a minor in Spanish. He also completed a year of study at the University of Madrid in Spain. He holds CFA and CPA credentials, and is a past President and board member of the CFA Society of Portland.
David Colvin, CPA, CFP®
Managing Director
As our Managing Director of Expatriate Wealth Management, David focuses on tax and wealth planning for our cross-border clients as well as ensuring that our organization is up to date on the latest tax laws. David is considered one of the foremost industry experts on international tax planning for cross-border families with U.S. tax obligations – focusing especially on residents of the Netherlands and Switzerland.
David spent eight years with Ernst & Young in Palo Alto and Amsterdam, eventually leading the U.S. tax group in The Netherlands. He then established the U.S. tax practice of TaXpat (now Grant Thornton Expatriate Services) before founding CLVN, a boutique tax and financial planning consultancy based in Amsterdam. David graduated cum laude from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Business Administration and double concentration in Finance and Accounting. He holds CPA, PFS and CFP® credentials and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the American Business Club of Amsterdam.
Philipp Muedder
Wealth Advisor
Philipp leads our marketing efforts, focusing primarily on international families and 401k plan sponsors. In addition, he works with clients on an ongoing basis to better understand their goals and provide sound investment advice. With his strong business and financial background and significant multi-national experiences, Philipp is uniquely able to assist our global clientele in reaching their financial goals. Having lived in numerous countries, he knows first-hand the value of specialized advice for cross-border families.
Prior to joining Maxim, Philipp worked as a Wealth Manager at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Portland. Previously, he was an International Tax Analyst for Tektronix, Inc. as well as an Online Marketing Intern for the NBA Portland Trailblazers. Born and raised in Germany, Philipp completed a high school exchange program in Portland, Oregon; this was his first step toward a global life. He later graduated from the University of Maastricht in The Netherlands with a degree in International Business. He also completed an exchange program at the University of Toronto in Canada. Philipp is fluent in German and English.
Jim Zapell
Senior Portfolio Manager
Jim is a senior client advisor and the leader of our domestic client service team. He has been advising families on their investments since 1984, and believes strongly in planning diligently for retirement.
Prior to joining Maxim, Jim spent 11 years with Charles Schwab in various capacities including Investment Consultant, Branch Manager, and Regional Trust Services Manager. He previously worked as a Regional Manager and Vice President of the U.S. Bank Investment Division, where he managed fixed income portfolios for individuals and institutions. He also worked as a Financial Advisor with AG Edwards, where he primarily focused on investment strategies in commodities and currencies. Jim is a graduate of Southern Oregon University with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Economics.
Our History
We formed Maxim because we felt it was time for a new class of U.S. investment advisor – one with a more worldly perspective. We were witnessing an explosion of global growth and a lowering of international barriers, but the prevailing philosophy among our peers was to invest primarily in stocks and bonds within the United States. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that we all need to start thinking, and investing, differently. Like world citizens.
We soon began attracting clients who are connected to the United States but have a global mindset. Serving these families - Americans living abroad, international families in the U.S., and other globally minded Americans - has become the focus of our business.
