Meet The Team

Stephen M. Thomas

President, Wealth Advisor

Phone: (828) 595-4045

Fax: (888) 890-8059

E-mail: stephen.thomas@lpl.com

As an LPL Wealth Advisor, Stephen has over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. He holds a series 7 and 66 securities registration with LPL Financial along with life insurance and long term care insurance licenses. Focusing on business owners and individuals in all stages of retirement, he specializes in creating financial plans that help manage his clients’ financial goals and needs. He offers independent, objective advice and meets regularly with his clients to review their needs, strategies and investments performance. Stephen proudly provides this valuable service by communicating frequently with his clients and monitoring investment performance making appropriate portfolio adjustments as changes happen in the marketplace.

Stephen attended the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Before he began growing relationships as a financial advisor, Stephen worked as a professional firefighter in Asheville NC, which provided him valuable life lessons. From this experience he learned how to lead in stressful environments. Stephen enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids grow and playing a supportive role in their growth. You might find him on the trails in WNC running, mountain biking, or exploring waterfalls with his kids. He is also an avid ballroom dancer participating in competition all over the country.

Justin W. Powell

Wealth Advisor

Phone: 828.558.9891

Mobile: 828.400.1971

E-mail: justin.powell@lpl.com

As a Wealth Advisor, Justin seeks deep and meaningful multi-generational relationships with a select group of successful families in our area. His practice provides financial planning by putting what's important to his clients first by getting to know them on a personal level, and providing a bespoke experience tailored just for them. Justin has 7 years’ experience in banking and finance, and holds his Series 7, 66, and Insurance licenses.

A 2010 graduate of Western Carolina University, Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in music/jazz piano with a minor in business administration. One of his great joys is that he is still regularly performing live music to large crowds in Asheville. Be sure to ask Justin how a well-balanced portfolio is just like a beautifully written piece of music.

Justin has been married to his wife Tiffany (also an accomplished musician) for the last 12 years. They have two lovely children ages 3 and 7 and have lived in Haywood County since 1997. They are members of FUMC of Waynesville and are involved with many of the community ministries there. The health of Justin’s community is incredibly important to him. He is an active member of the Waynesville Rotary Club and chairs the fundraising committee for the annual Haywood Christian Ministries Golf Tournament. Justin seeks to live a life of service to the people of his community, and he aims to teach his children the same values. His wife and he enjoy practicing Yoga, walks around Lake Junaluska with their children, camping, travel, live music, and cooking.

James Halsch

LPL Financial Advisor

Phone: 336-338-7530

E-mail: james.halsch@lpl.com

Jim Halsch, an LPL Wealth Advisor, has over 16 years in the financial services industry. He holds a Series 66 and Series 7 securities registrations with LPL Financial and also holds insurance licenses for long term care, life insurance, annuities and is a LPL Registered Investment Advisor Representative. Individuals who are planning for retirement or are already in retirement comprise the majority of Jim’s clients. Yet, as a SmartVestor Pro* advisor, Jim enjoys working with both new and seasoned investors.

Jim’s favorite part of serving his clients is getting to know them and understanding their family and financial needs and then creating a strategic plan to help them work to pursue their financial and retirement goals. Jim values creating long-term relationships with his clients, developing a high level of trust with them, communicating with them consistently, and keeping them in-the-know about their investment portfolios and changes in the market. He is known to meet his clients virtually, in person, at their homes, in his office or wherever is convenient for his clients – and is open to meet their schedules, working evenings and weekends as needed.

As a cycling fan, and long-time runner, Jim enjoys keeping in shape and has even cycled up Alpe d’Huez in France, one of the Tour de France’s most iconic mountain climbs. An Iowa native who grew up on a 1000-acre farm with his 8 siblings, Jim now enjoys gardening at the Fisher Park home he shares with his wife, Sue, an estate planning and elder law attorney. Jim loves to share his farming and finance analogies with everyone he meets. Ask him about the “grain bins” picture when you talk with him! He and Sue also host house concerts and invite singer-songwriters from around the world to their backyard to perform for the local community. Affectionately referred to as “Music At Big Purple”, their home and concerts were featured in “Our State” Magazine in April, 2020.

*The SmartVestor program is a directory of investment professionals. Neither Dave Ramsey nor SmartVestor are affiliates of Valor Private Wealth, LLC or LPL Financial.

Dana Wilkinson

Client Operations Administrator

Phone: 8285954045

Fax: 8888908059

Dana is here to help with our account administrative needs and manage a wide array of services including but not limited to fulfilling trades, handling a wide variety of paperwork, and helping to garner a better understanding of your unique situation. While not here to offer financial advice, her licenses will allow her to better support me and continue to provide our focused level of individualized service.

Dana Wilkinson comes to Valor Private Wealth with over 28 years of experience in the brokerage industry, 23 years of those years with LPL Financial. Prior to joining Valor Private Wealth, Dana served as Branch Operations Manager supporting a small brokerage office in a multiple broker environments over the years. She has gained operational knowledge in a wide variety of financial areas and has earned her Series 7, 53, and 63 securities licenses. Dana is devoted to providing the best possible support to the advisors she works with and to offering assistance with a spirit of professionalism and excellence to the clients we are privileged to serve.

Dana graduated from Lynchburg College with a B.A. degree in Marketing. She was born and raised in Virginia where her family still resides. Dana enjoys reading and creating art with her daughter, Analyn.

Meet The Team

Stephen M. Thomas

President, Wealth Advisor

Justin W. Powell

Wealth Advisor

James Halsch

LPL Financial Advisor

Dana Wilkinson

Client Operations Administrator

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Meet The Team

Stephen M. Thomas

President, Wealth Advisor

Justin W. Powell

Wealth Advisor

James Halsch

LPL Financial Advisor

Dana Wilkinson

Client Operations Administrator

What's your risk number?

Sign up for