Jacob Malina

St. Louis, Missouri

Advisor who builds multi-generational plans that reflect each family’s unique complexity. 

Certifications: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) • Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) • Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®)

Specialties: Ultra-High-Net-Worth Families • Corporate Executives • Physicians & Dentists

My path to this career started with a presentation from a financial advisor in my high school investments class. That led me to pursue additional accounting courses, business school in college, and ultimately brought me to the career I’m in today.

I really enjoy the multi-generational aspects of what we do. I love putting together a plan that can benefit multiple generations, getting to know and work with multiple branches of a single family, and seeing that planning work pay off for all of them.

How I work with clients

My approach centers on three things: collaborative coordination with attorneys, CPAs, and family office professionals; a multi-generational, long-term perspective; and making advice as personalized as possible since every family’s complexity is unique.

Complex challenges and the ability to make a meaningful impact on clients’ lives are what excite me most. Many of the families I work with are navigating decisions that affect not just their own future, but also future generations. Being a trusted advisor who helps them reach clarity and confidence is incredibly rewarding. Every client has a unique set of goals, opportunities, and challenges, so no two days look the same.

One past experience that stands out involved an ultra-high-net-worth, multi-generational family with a sophisticated estate plan built around numerous trusts and entities. One of the adult children felt they’d been treated unfairly compared to their sibling. What appeared to be a financial issue at surface level turned out to be rooted in differing family circumstances and a difference in understanding their parents’ intentions. We facilitated thoughtful conversations to help everyone understand each other’s perspective, worked with the family’s estate planning attorney to execute solutions that honored the parents’ objectives, and ultimately helped implement modifications that reflected the entire family’s goals. The outcome restored confidence in the planning process, eased tension between family members, and let the children hear their parents’ intentions directly, avoiding potential animosity down the road. It reinforced for me that our greatest value isn’t investment performance, it’s serving as a trusted advisor who can navigate complex family dynamics and help families find solutions that balance financial and personal priorities.

Jacob outside the office

I’m a board member of the Indiana University Alumni Association’s St. Louis Chapter, and I am the Membership Chair for the Lafayette Square Neighborhood Association – the neighborhood where I live. Outside of that, I enjoy golf, snowboarding, hiking, reading, and traveling to new countries and states with my wife. We love an adventurous trip!

I also love trying new restaurants and exploring the food scene here in St. Louis. I’m always good for a restaurant recommendation here in town.

Favorite quote

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”