Justin Nelson is the Managing Director and Head of the Asset Management and Financial Principals Coverage Team for J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Connecticut. That’s incredibly impressive, considering he worked his way up from being a post-grad intern to one of the bank’s top leadership roles.
Luck and his natural tenacity played significant roles in Nelson’s journey, but he also credits this success to his multidisciplinary interests. Justin Nelson explains how he built a career at J.P. Morgan thanks to his unique background and how his love of electric vehicles (EVs) affects his views on up-and-coming investment trends.
Justin Nelson’s Time At Tufts University
Nelson’s academic journey began at Tufts University, where he pursued a double major in Chemistry and Economics. Originally pre-med, he discovered that the sight of blood wasn’t for him. The young college student realized he needed to make a change, and fast. “I was originally pre-med, but I knew I liked finance,” Nelson recalls. This pivot from medicine to finance may seem drastic, but he always had a head for numbers. It didn’t hurt that many of Justin Nelson’s friends were also interested in economics.
However, Tufts wasn’t a finance school at the time. Nelson had to carve his own path. With the help of friends and mentors, he secured an internship at J.P. Morgan — a position that would lead to a lifelong career at the firm.
Looking back on changing his major, Justin Nelson believes understanding the basics of both chemistry and finance now serves him well at J.P. Morgan. The finance field is constantly changing, and being able to synthesize technical information from multiple fields is a tremendous asset.
Learning By Giving Back
Justin Nelson spends a lot of time researching charities for his clients, who often want to donate a portion of their wealth to non-profit organizations.
That’s how Justin Nelson discovered The Breast Cancer Alliance. He doesn’t have a personal tie to the non-profit’s mission, but its leaders impressed him so much that he regularly volunteers with the organization outside of work. “I’ve been involved there for about 15 years,” he says. Nelson served as a board member, fundraiser, treasurer, and event planner for the charity. “It’s super rewarding. It touches so many people. It’s an amazing organization” he says.
Giving back is gratifying, but Justin Nelson also believes it helped his work as a senior private banker. He’s frequently exposed to the world of charitable giving, as well as R&D efforts in the biomedical field for breast cancer research grants. Nelson sees volunteer work as another helpful avenue for expanding his horizons — and making the world a better place in the process.
The Road Less Traveled: Justin Nelson’s Love for Cars
Justin Nelson spends a lot of time behind a desk, but you’ll find the car aficionado behind the wheel outside of work. “I always liked cars,” he says. In fact, Nelson bought a 1967 Camaro as a young man and restored it to its original glory. “That set off my love of cars in general. I’m probably a car nut and spend too much time focused on it, but they make me very happy,” he adds.
For Justin Nelson, cars are more than a way to get around. He sees them as the embodiment of craftsmanship and innovation. In fact, his love of cars is what piqued his interest in EVs. Nelson revels in the visceral experience of driving a manual car but also recognizes the environmental drawbacks of older models. Embracing the cutting-edge performance and low maintenance of EVs, he notes, “The acceleration and performance are pretty insane.”
The technology rolled into EVs is impressive, and Nelson believes the EV boom will soon grow with mainstream consumers. Thanks to his love of cars, he’s well-versed in the complexities of the EV industry. This personal hobby serves Nelson well when it’s time to evaluate technologies and investments for his clients.
Embracing A Multidisciplinary Future
Many finance managers have a one-dimensional view of the industry. This deep expertise has its advantages, but Justin Nelson believes multidisciplinary approaches are essential in the future of finance. Justin Nelson encourages established leaders and young industry recruits to pursue seemingly unrelated studies and hobbies in an industry that rewards specialization. Multidisciplinary paths can lead not only to professional success but also to a deeply fulfilling life.