I’m Deaton Smith and I am the founder of Thayer Financial, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a West Point graduate and OEF Veteran. I named Thayer Financial after the founding father of West Point because I envision my company as something bigger than me. It embodies the same values and principles of my time at West Point and in the Army: Duty, Honor, Integrity, and Loyalty. These values are at the very core of everything I do and stand for. The existing business model is drowning in a sea of “trust me” salespeople all riddled with major conflicts of interest and complicated financial products that pay exorbitant commissions. This is why I created my own firm. My values and beliefs did not line up with any of these major firms and I knew that there had to be a better way to serve my clients. That’s why I launched a fee-only Registered Investment Adviser that is legally obligated to work as a fiduciary 100% of the time. I don’t accept commissions, referral fees, kickbacks, free vacations, or marketing dollars from insurance companies or investment companies. The only way I get paid is directly from my clients for the services that I provide, which allows my clients to weigh the true cost of the advice they are receiving.

Mark Coffey is the sole advisor at Hickory Financial Group, LLC in Hickory, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Avenir Private Advisors LLC and Kovack Securities Inc. Outside of advisory work, he owns a duck hunting guide service and a marine construction company. Hickory Financial Group is an independent investment adviser serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm primarily employs an equity-oriented strategy using sector- and factor-weighted ETFs and individual stocks, combining fundamental and technical analysis with ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing.

Herman Brunson Jr. is the sole advisor at Balance Investments in Statesville, NC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 designations with 14 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Balance Investments in 2014, he worked at Edward Jones from 2009 to 2011. Balance Investments provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses, using a core-satellite strategic allocation tailored to client-specific factors and combining fundamental and technical analysis. The firm also offers public educational seminars and a modular financial planning process alongside its portfolio management services.

Jacob Hoheisel is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license, currently serving as the sole advisor at Autumn Branch Capital, LLC with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Robert W. Baird & Co., PYA Waltman Capital, LLC, and Comprehensive Wealth Management. Autumn Branch Capital, LLC is a fee-only independent registered investment adviser that offers wealth management and limited-scope financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm employs a tailored asset-allocation strategy combining passive and active investment approaches, conducts quarterly account reviews, and supports client-directed brokerage and reasonable investment restrictions.

Michael Loeb is a financial advisor at Argosy Investors with eight years of industry experience and a Series 65 credential. He has worked at several firms, including Magnolia Wash Holdings, von Drehle Corporation, Ally Financial, and Broyhill Asset Management. Outside of advisory work, he serves as M&A Director for Whistle Express, a privately held car wash company. Argosy Investors provides discretionary investment management through separately managed accounts, focusing on a value-oriented strategy with a bottom-up fundamental analysis approach. The firm typically manages a concentrated portfolio aimed at long-term growth and special-situation opportunities, serving qualifying individuals and entities.

Shawn Fleming is a financial advisor with Professional Wealth Management Services LLC in Statesville, NC, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 65 license. He has 18 years of industry experience and has been with Professional Wealth Management Services since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, Shawn is independently licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and provides limited insurance agent services as part of comprehensive financial planning. He is also engaged in general business and management consulting. Professional Wealth Management Services LLC serves individuals and trusts with fee-only financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm emphasizes suitability and tailored strategies, managing approximately $136 million for about 60 clients through a two-advisor team.

William Kearney is a financial advisor at Crown Private Wealth, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at firms including Virtue Capital Management, Horter Investment Management, and Integrated Financial Concepts LLC, where he is also the owner. Kearney is a co-founder and insurance agent at Crown Insurance Advisors, a fixed insurance agency serving retail clients. Crown Private Wealth, LLC provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm manages approximately $47.7 million in discretionary assets for about 133 clients and employs both fundamental and technical analysis, including option strategies and the use of margin, to guide portfolio management.

Marc Wulf is a financial advisor with Castle Wealth Group in Mooresville, NC. He holds a Series 66 designation and has nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Castle Wealth Group, his career included roles at Centaurus Financial, Advice and Planning Services, TIAA-CREF, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Outside of financial advising, he works as a fueler for a NASCAR pit crew in the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity series. Castle Wealth Group provides discretionary asset management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and financial planning to individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm uses fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis for portfolio management and offers a defined service menu that includes ERISA plan services and ongoing client portfolio reviews.

John Foard III is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience and is a managing partner at Crown Private Wealth, LLC in Mooresville, NC. He co-founded Crown Advisors, LLC and Crown Insurance Advisors, LLC, where he is involved in managing operations and providing insurance and risk management services. He also owns Foard Wealth Management, LLC, a financial industry consulting business. Crown Private Wealth offers discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans under ERISA. The firm’s investment approach integrates both fundamental and technical analysis and employs strategies including options writing and the use of margin and derivatives within separately managed accounts.

John Stevenson is a financial advisor with Professional Wealth Management Services LLC in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Professional Wealth Management Services since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, John is independently licensed in life, accident, and health insurance and also engages in general business and management consulting. Professional Wealth Management Services LLC provides fee-only financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals and trusts. The firm emphasizes tailored investment strategies based on detailed risk assessments and offers a wrap fee program that includes bundled asset allocation and trade execution services.

James Deporre Jr. is a financial advisor with Hammerhead Financial Strategies, LLC and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 21 years of industry experience, including roles at Shark Investing, Inc. and Shark Asset Management, Inc. Since 2005, he has been president of Shark Investing, Inc., which operates a subscription-based website providing daily stock market articles and other content to subscribers. Hammerhead Financial Strategies offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting primarily to high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an active, opportunistic investment approach using proprietary trading methods that incorporate fundamental, technical, and behavioral analysis, with a focus on higher-beta equities and risk controls such as diversification and hedging strategies.

Michael Mcfadden is a financial advisor with Castle Wealth Group in Mooresville, NC, holding a Series 66 designation and 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Centaurus Financial, Woodbury Financial Services, Questar Capital Corporation, and GCG Wealth Management. He serves as a committee member of the Davidson Public Arts Committee and is a board member of the Davidson Farmer's Market. Castle Wealth Group provides discretionary asset management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and financial planning to advisory clients, including employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm applies fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analyses to portfolio management and offers ERISA plan services and participant education as part of its comprehensive service model.

Jonathan Malone is a financial advisor at Castle Wealth Group with 18 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at several firms, including Questar Capital Corporation and Woodbury Financial Services. Malone is also involved in tax return preparation services. Castle Wealth Group provides discretionary asset management, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and financial planning to individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs fundamental, quantitative, and qualitative analysis to manage portfolios and offers participant education as part of its ERISA services.

Timothy Bain is a financial advisor with Spark Asset Management Group in Statesville, NC, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Spark Asset Management Group and StoneX Securities Inc. since 2010. Outside of finance, Bain is involved in MUSIC 49 INC., where he teaches music lessons and assists with marketing and bookkeeping. Spark Asset Management Group is a state-registered investment adviser offering discretionary asset management, retirement advice, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs tactical asset allocation using trend-following models combined with technical and fundamental research and manages a range of portfolios, including specialty accounts utilizing derivatives and leveraged products.

Adam Smith is a financial advisor at Fortress Private Ledger, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch from 2018 to 2024. Fortress Private Ledger advises individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and specialized Qualified Opportunity Zone advisory services. The firm employs a dynamic investment approach combining trend identification, technical and fundamental analysis, and utilizes a mix of ETFs, individual securities, and mutual funds.

Brittany Macchia is a financial advisor at Sollinda Capital Management LLC with a Series 65 designation and ten years of experience from her time at Mumy Financial. She is based in Hickory, NC. Sollinda Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement/profit-sharing plans, as well as sub-advisory services to other registered investment advisers. The firm uses a combination of systematic, rules-based and discretionary strategies, incorporating quantitative, technical, fundamental, charting, and cyclical analysis.

Janette Jolly is a financial advisor at Apollon Financial, LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked with firms including Good Life Advisors, LPL Financial, and Waddell & Reed. Outside of her advisory role, she is also registered as a solicitor in Hickory, NC. Apollon Financial is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $1.45 billion and serving a variety of clients including individuals, families, and businesses. The firm combines centrally managed model strategies with advisor-led portfolios and offers a broad range of investment options and technologies, including ESG models, Direct Indexing, and tax-aware techniques.

Matthew Ellis is a financial advisor at Fidelis Capital with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Merrill, Wells Fargo Bank, and Citigroup Global Markets. Ellis serves on the board of Centerstone Military Services, a nonprofit organization based in Nashville. Fidelis Capital Partners provides investment advisory and related services to individuals, family offices, trusts, estates, philanthropic organizations, and other entities. The firm combines quantitative, fundamental, technical, and economic analysis to guide portfolio management and also plays a sub-advisory role to a private fund, serving both retail and institutional clients.

Andrew Rader is a financial advisor at Sollinda Capital Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at firms including Capital Investment Group, Inc. and PNC Wealth Management. Sollinda Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement/profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a combination of systematic and discretionary strategies, uses a range of analytical methods, and also offers sub-advisory services and private investment funds for eligible investors.

Nina Lloyd is President and CEO of Opus Financial Advisors, Inc. She holds the CFP® designation and has 15 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at FSC Securities Corporation and LPL Financial LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she is the owner and president of Lloyd Grading and Utilities, Inc. Opus Financial Advisors is a team-based firm serving individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing a range of sponsored and third-party investment programs primarily on the LPL platform.