Jeffrey M. Kragen,
CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA®, MBA Senior Vice President, InvestmentsJeff builds boring portfolios for fascinating clients. He serves a loyal and accomplished clientele that spans generations and the nation’s geography. Many clients are successful couples approaching retirement situated in more than 20 states. With an emphasis on fact-based decisions and a focus on long-term financial planning, he has navigated his clients through many market storms, including those in 2008, 2020 and 2022.
A veteran of the financial services industry, Jeff is a highly credentialed, lifetime learner. He holds the Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Investment Management Analyst™ and Certified Private Wealth Advisor™ designations. These professional designations are backed by a strong educational foundation, having earned both an MBA from the University of California Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in economics and French from the University of California Davis. Before bringing his talents to Raymond James, he was a senior vice president and wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch for nearly two decades.
On a daily basis, Jeff strategizes with his clients, ensuring that they are consistently mindful of their long-term financial plan, and he works with them to close possible gaps that may exist. Jeff is proud to be “brutally honest” with clients, telling them what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear. A self-described “helpful nag,” Jeff keeps in frequent contact with clients – reminding them (perhaps more frequently than they’d like) to do what they need to, whether it’s talking to their attorney or accountant about an outstanding issue, like creating a will or trust, or looking into long-term care insurance.
Outside the office, Jeff is a fitness buff, spending his Saturday mornings on San Francisco East Bay running trails and his Sunday mornings playing basketball. He is also a husband to Kate. They are proud parents of four adult children.
Originally from Chicago, Jeff currently resides in Alamo, California, with his wife. They both enjoy traveling and recently toured Burgundy, France, on bicycles.
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.
