Meet The Team

Stephen M. Thomas

President, Wealth Advisor

Phone: (828) 595-4045

Fax: (888) 890-8059

E-mail: stephen.thomas@lpl.com

Stephen Thomas
Founder & CEO, Valor Private Wealth

Stephen Thomas founded Valor Private Wealth with a vision: to build a firm grounded in clarity, courage, and connection — a place where meaningful financial conversations empower people to live fully and intentionally.

With over 15 years of experience in wealth management, Stephen partners with business owners, families, and individuals navigating pivotal life transitions — retirement, the sale of a business, inheritance, or major career shifts. His mission is to guide clients through complexity and deliver calm, grounded leadership when it matters most.

At the core of his work is a belief in financial freedom — whether that means living free from financial stress, or learning to use wealth on your own terms. He helps clients align their investments with their goals and values, and in many cases, helps them define a personal vision for their life that hadn’t yet come into focus.

Before launching Valor, Stephen served as a professional firefighter in Asheville, NC — an experience that honed his instincts under pressure and shaped his lifelong commitment to protection, service, and resilience.

He holds Series 7 and 66 securities registrations with LPL Financial, along with life and long-term care insurance licenses. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Outside of work, you’ll find Stephen trail running, mountain biking, surfing, enjoying live music, or trying to keep up with his energetic and adventurous son. He believes wealth is a tool for living well — not just in the future, but right now.

James Halsch

Wealth 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.

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 his Fisher Park home. 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! Affectionately referred to as “Music At Big Purple”, his home and concerts were featured in “Our State” Magazine in April, 2020.

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, held with LPL Financial. 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

James Halsch

Wealth Advisor

Dana Wilkinson

Client Operations Administrator

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Meet The Team

Stephen M. Thomas

President, Wealth Advisor

James Halsch

Wealth Advisor

Dana Wilkinson

Client Operations Administrator

What's your risk number?

Sign up for