For Jim Foley with Wiland-Foley Wealth Advisory Group of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, financial planning isn’t just a career — it’s a calling. “I graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in accounting, and the Navy put me through school on a scholarship,” Jim recalls. “When I separated from the Navy in 1990, I wanted to use my education in a way that was meaningful. I was drawn to financial services.”
Today, Jim serves as the senior vice president of the Wiland-Foley Advisory Group and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, but this is very much a family practice. Jim’s business partner is also his son, Jimmy Foley, a financial advisor with the team.
Jimmy’s own path to financial services began after nearly a decade of serving as a Marine Corps officer. “When my first son was born, my wife and I were looking for a career for me with a more predictable schedule, but I didn’t want to lose that sense of purpose I had from leading Marines,” Jimmy explains. “A mentor once told me that the key to leadership is humility — putting others first and taking a genuine interest in their needs, wishes and goals. I realized then that financial planning is about service and making a meaningful difference. From that point, I was all in.”
In 2019, Jim was managing his firm’s western Pennsylvania offices but missed direct client work and, as he jokes, “had enough of Western PA winters.” His regional director introduced him to Kenny Wiland who was preparing for retirement and looking for someone to steward his practice. “We met and hit it off immediately,” Jim says. “Kenny was a terrific partner until he retired three years ago, and we remain good friends today.” Last year, Jimmy officially joined the practice, bringing his Marine Corps discipline and passion for service into the fold.
Both Jim and Jimmy agree that every client relationship begins with one essential step: a financial plan. “Our philosophy is to use planning as a roadmap,” Jim shares. “Once we identify our clients’ goals, we focus on quality and efficient and cost-effective strategies to align them with those goals.”
Jimmy adds, “There’s a reason behind every recommendation we make. By going through the planning process, we connect with our clients on a deeper level and help them achieve not just financial security but peace of mind.”
For the Foleys, a successful financial plan involves their clients sleeping well at night. “Success is about structuring things in a way that helps our clients feel confident, informed and at ease,” says Jimmy.
Both father and son emphasize education as part of their process. “All the women in my family — my mother, sister, wife and both grandmothers — were teachers,” Jim laughs. “It is about translating details into a language our clients understand. We don’t move forward unless they are comfortable with our advice.”
Jimmy agrees, “It’s normal to feel intimidated by investing or managing your money, but our goal is to make things clear and approachable.”
The Wiland-Foley Advisory Group works with clients through every major life transition: first jobs, home purchases, the birth of a child or grandchild, retirement or selling a business. “We spend much of our time on retirement and estate planning,” Jim explains. “But often, the most important milestone is simply the moment when someone isn’t sure what to do next and wants to talk it through.”
Both Foleys are quick to say that serving the Aiken community is one of the greatest rewards of their work. “This is a small town,” Jim notes. “We see our clients at church, at the grocery store, at community events. They become our friends.”
Jimmy adds, “Aiken embodies community in every sense of the word. I have witnessed it firsthand while being involved with organizations like the Aiken Rotary Club. I’ve always valued the opportunity to be involved in something bigger than myself, and Aiken is exactly that.”
Together, this father-son team has built a practice that combines discipline, service and genuine care, helping families in Aiken and beyond feel confident about their future.
A mentor once told me that the key to leadership is humility — putting others first and taking a genuine interest in their needs, wishes and goals. I realized then that financial planning is about service and making a meaningful difference. From that point, I was all in.