Our Qualifications

J. W. Brennan & Associates, Inc. has provided strategic business services to businesses and individuals in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan for over 50 years.  Today we work with clients from as far as New Jersey, Florida, Arizona, and California.

We are an independently owned firm and through our registration with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., we help business owners, professionals, and families grow their net worth with tax-efficient ideas, investment guidance, and one-on-one attention to your financial health.

James W. Brennan, CLU, has nearly 55 years of experience in the financial planning industry.  Before founding his firm in 1972, Jim had achieved a "Life Membership" with the MILLION DOLLAR ROUND TABLE, an organization devoted to maintaining the highest standards attainable within the Life Insurance Industry (Qualifying membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is based on minimum sales production requirements and gross business generated within a year).  At his own firm, he demonstrated to physicians the advantages of the "Professional Corporation" business model paired with a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Money Purchase Pension Plan, or Profit Sharing Plan. During this time, his practice evolved from insurance and risk management to a successful financial services practice.   Jim holds the securities licenses series 7, series 63, and series 24.  He graduated from Indiana University majoring in Business in 1956.  

James W. Brennan, II, CLU, ChFC has 30 years of experience in the financial planning industry.  Upon joining the company, the investment environment was rapidly changing, and many more types of businesses as well as individuals were eligible for formal retirement plan strategies.  Jim focuses on designing retirement plans for businesses in this new era of government regulation and complexity.   In addition, as part of a family owned business and experiencing the transitioning of a business from one generation to the next,  he is uniquely qualified to advise clients with managing transitions or  "milestones" in their lives.  Financial planning through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., and estate planning for families is a central part of the practice.  Jim also holds the securities licenses series 7, series 63, and series 24.  He graduated from Indiana University at South Bend with a degree in Public Policy and Administration. 

To help provide high quality service to our clients, we have been fortunate to have many qualified assistants over the years.  Ann Marie Ridenour has been our administrative assistant since 2006, and interacts with our clients on a daily basis.  Her organization skills and attention to detail helps to insure our clients have a positive experience when interacting with our office.  We value her attention to detail, and knowledge of the daily issues our clients have.  Ann Marie is not a registered representative with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., her assistance in our practice is a true asset to the company.