There is a moment in every career where success stops being enough. Not because the work changes, but because the purpose behind it does.
For Jacob Duffy and David Mathias, that moment came after years of building respected careers within a large, established platform. They had the infrastructure, the resources, the reputation, and the trust of the clients they had spent years advising. And still, something was pulling at them.
As we celebrate our Men’s Issue, we’re sharing the story behind their decision to leave the structure of a large firm and build Duffy Mathias Private Wealth.
“We set out to build an investment platform that truly works for clients, giving them access to more managers, more opportunities, and both private and public markets, while also creating an environment where our team thrives and partnering with a firm that could deliver on all of it,” says Jacob.
The decision that followed was not abrupt, and it was not reactionary. It was the result of years spent inside the industry, understanding what worked and what could be better. What they are building now would reflect that difference; not just in structure, but in how they think, how they advise, and how they show up for the people who trust them with some of the most important decisions of their lives.
For Jacob, that perspective was shaped long before his career formally began. He grew up around business, influenced heavily by his father, who introduced him to investing at a young age.
“It started with two simple rules,” Jacob says. “If you can’t explain what you own in less than 30 seconds, you shouldn’t own it. And more importantly, you need to actually understand it, not just buy something because someone else says it’s great.”
That philosophy wasn’t just talked about, it was lived.
At seven years old, whenever Jacob earned money, his father would set it aside in an investment account. As it grew, they would sit down together and choose a stock. But there was a catch.
“I had to do the research myself,” he says. “I had to be able to explain why we were buying it.”
The first was Disney. Then McDonald’s. Growing up in Seattle, Microsoft was always part of the conversation, but it went beyond familiarity.
“It wasn’t just about knowing the company,” he says. “It was about understanding how it made money, what it did, and why it mattered.”
At an age when most kids weren’t thinking about markets at all, Jacob was already learning how decisions made early could shape outcomes later.
“And that rule always stuck. If you can’t explain it, you don’t own it.”
By the time he entered the industry, first on the East Coast and ultimately in Scottsdale, he was not learning a language so much as continuing one. Over the next decade and a half, his work in investment and portfolio management became defined by discipline and consistency, an approach grounded in long-term thinking rather than short-term reaction.
“We’re students of the market, constantly paying attention to the smaller shifts that can impact the bigger picture. From there, it’s about building diversified portfolios, thinking ahead, and being proactive instead of reactive. Risk isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s unique to each client, so everything we do is tailored. We look at habits, savings, and goals to determine the right rate of return, then build a custom portfolio around that.”
Today, that same mindset extends beyond markets and into the life he has built with his wife Leslie and their two children, Landon and Ava. The idea of planning for the future is no longer theoretical. It is something he lives every day, shaped by the same sense of responsibility he now carries for the families he advises.
“Being a husband and father shapes how I think about advising clients every day. It reminds me that wealth is more than numbers on a statement, it is about protecting the people you love, creating security, and building opportunities that last for generations.”
David’s path into the industry brought a different kind of perspective. Before joining Jacob, he spent years working in a boutique wealth and estate planning environment, advising clients whose financial lives required a level of coordination and nuance that extended far beyond traditional investment management. Business owners, professional athletes, and individuals navigating complex financial structures required more than answers. They required a deep understanding of how each decision connected to the next.
“Working with a sophisticated clientele has set a high standard for how I approach every relationship. The level of service they expect has sharpened my attention to detail and reinforced that establishing trust is paramount,” he says.
That experience continues to shape how David approaches planning today. It is not about isolated strategies, but about building a cohesive structure that accounts for every moving part. His training, credentials, and recognition reinforce that expertise, but what defines his approach is his ability to step back and see the full picture.
“Every client’s financial situation is unique, and no single piece exists on its own. I believe in bringing it all together; investments, estate planning, tax strategy, and insurance; into a unified plan that reflects the full scope of who they are and where they want to go.”
Outside of the office, that perspective is reinforced by his own life. As a husband and father, the priorities shift, and the concept of legacy becomes more tangible. Decisions carry weight in a different way when they are tied to family and to what comes next.
“Fatherhood has a way of refocusing your priorities. Personally, it’s grounded me in what truly matters. Professionally, it deepened my empathy for the clients I serve because when someone sits across from me and talks about securing their family’s future, I understand that on a whole new level now.”
What connects Jacob and David is alignment. Despite different paths, they share the same view on responsibility, relationships, and their role in clients’ lives. That became the foundation for Duffy Mathias Private Wealth, built not to replicate what exists, but to prioritize relationships, flexibility, and true customization. Ask them what they’re seeing, and the answer is immediate.
“This is a moment to understand your exposures. Know the credit risk in your bonds, pay attention to dislocation in private debt, and be intentional about where you’re positioned, especially in energy, commodities, and software. Volatility should be planned for, not reacted to.”
Beyond their work with clients, Jacob and David are passionately involved in supporting youth, healthcare, and long-term development.
“Community is deeply important to us because we believe success comes with a responsibility to give back. Between both of us, we're involved in the BHHS Legacy Board, National Rotary Foundation, Executive Council (EC70), Childhelp, Amanda Hope, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Not My Kid and more. For us, it’s personal. Strong communities are built when families invest their time, resources, and care into the next generation,” they say.
Because in the end, this work is not simply about managing wealth. It's about helping people make decisions that last.
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