About Sparta Wealth Partners

Blair Thompson serves as Founder and President of Sparta Wealth Partners. Employing his strategic background, Blair has assembled a wealth of business and financial resource specialists to meet the full spectrum of client needs all in one place. As both an adviser and leader of Sparta, helping others be successful is truly Blair's passion. Formerly a Senior Vice President and HNW Relationship Manager with private banks, Blair delivered a full suite of private banking, investment management, wealth planning, trust, insurance and estate services to high net worth individuals and companies across the country. Prior to the private banking roles, Blair owned and operated his own firm, Thompson Financial Partners, that evolved from a career adviser to a fully independent model in the late 2000’s prior to being rolled into the bank channel. Blair is extremely bullish on the future of independent advisory and the customization and flexibility it offers sophisticated clients and fellow advisers. He brings a rare skillset for having demonstrated success in multiple approaches within the industry as a whole. This experience serves as a tremendous basis for helping successful business owners evaluate what banking products, offerings and services best meet their needs from an agnostic advocate or personal CFO type lens. Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Million Dollar Round Table, MDRT®, qualifying member, holds the Certified Wealth Strategist, CWS®, Accredited Asset Management Specialist, AAMS, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, CRPC, designations and is a perennial Chairman’s Council and Leaders Club qualifier with several institutions. Additionally, he qualified and was nominated for the Prestigious Top 100 Financial Advisers in the USA by Financial Planning magazine in 2017. He has also served on the boards of the Society of Financial Services Professionals, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers, Special Operator Transition Foundation, The Rosie Network and the SEAL Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation and is a member of Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, NC. While Blair is a civilian, he has served on a National Innovation Council with the Department of Defense and is a uniquely positioned strategic adviser to companies in the US Special Operations Command Network. Blair was also appointed as a Private Capital Adviser with NavalX, a government organization focused on connecting the US Navy with private sector companies, entrepreneurs and disruptive technology. He truly enjoys connecting clients and prospective clients to each other for helpful synergies and believes this adds tremendous value for a Sparta style community of trusted advocacy. Blair maintains his Series 7, 63, and 65 registrations along with life, health, disability and long term care insurance licenses. Blair’s motto is: “One Day or Day One. You Choose.”

Lori Copeland serves as Senior Advisor for Sparta Wealth Partners. Lori began her investment advisory career at SilverRock Wealth Partners as Director of Operations and Office Manager. Lori graduated Summa Cum Laude from the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina with a Finance degree from the Darla Moore School of Business in 1996. She began her career with Accenture as a management, process and technology consultant and finished her career there as a Senior Manager. She worked with Fortune 500 clients in the Financial Services and Energy sectors across North America, Europe and South America. Her consulting experience built an ideal foundation for her work as a financial advisor. Lori’s attention to detail, strong listening skills and commitment to excellence are just a few of the attributes her clients appreciate most. Lori strives for success in all that she does. She is supported by a team of investment management and product specialists whose expertise and depth of knowledge provides clients with the highest level of service. Lori and her husband live in Charlotte and share 4 children – 2 girls and 2 boys. When she isn’t supporting her clients, Lori can be found spending time with her family and friends, traveling, enjoying the outdoors and playing mahjong.

Andrew Burquest serves as a Partner and Advisor of Sparta Wealth Partners. He is passionate about building strong relationships and providing holistic solutions to the challenges faced by individuals and families. Every client is unique, and Andrew incorporates their priorities and objectives into each bespoke plan. Andrew leverages his distinctive background, and the specialist resources of Sparta Wealth Partners, to singularly fulfill client needs. Formerly a National Account Manager with TIAA, Andrew worked with large and boutique institutional investment managers across retirement plan, managed account, brokerage, and 529 plan businesses. He experienced customized investments solutions tailored to the requirements of sophisticated institutional clients and observed the inadequacy of investment opportunities offered to successful individuals. Prior to his institutional role, Andrew began his financial services career in private client advisory with Defender Capital. He developed comprehensive client-centric advisory experience and broad exposure to conventional equity and fixed income, as well as targeted private equity, alternative, and esoteric investment vehicles. Major Andrew Burquest is an Engineer Corp mustang in the North Carolina Army National Guard with over 20 years of military service. He has deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and mobilized near home to support North Carolina Emergency Management with hurricane and Covid-19 response missions. He has commanded at the Company level and served in key leader positions from platoon to Division/State. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has been a CFA® Charter holder since 2013 and maintains Series 7 and 66 licenses.

TJ Randt-Senior Advisor Sparta Wealth Partners currently holds Series 7/66/57 and AZ life and health insurance licenses. Born and raised in Mesa Arizona, I spent the first half of my career working in Sales and Finance in the Auto Industry. Early on in my tenure I was promoted to the Finance Department specializing in hard-to-get loans for clients with difficult credit circumstances. This is where I really developed a passion for helping others make the smartest financial decisions in life. Most days I felt more like a life coach or family counselor than a loan officer at a Car Dealership. In January of 2016 I made the best career decision of my life and took my Financial Coaching skills on the road and started my journey in Wealth Management at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I had the opportunity working with Merril Lynch 401K Participants guiding them through early stages of retirement or employment transitions. I recently spent the last few years at Charles Schwab as a VP, Financial Consultant offering High Net and Ultra High New Worth individuals portfolio advice, as well as Unique strategies such as NUA (Net Unrealized Appreciation), Executive Compensation, Stock Concentration strategies such as Hedging for protection or income, as well as Estate Planning. I am ecstatic for this new chapter in life with Sparta Wealth Partners as a Senior Advisor. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my Wife Mayra and three kids Trey, Hannah, and Jayden. Usually, you will find us cooling off in the backyard pool escaping from the Arizona heat. If you don’t catch us at the pool, you will probably find us in Disneyland, Jayden our youngest is on the Autism Spectrum and his favorite thing to do is go on the biggest and fastest rides available, currently Cars ride at California Adventures is a top choice! We find ourselves frequently making the short trip to Southern California to visit family and friends and seeking new adventures. Being a parent in the Autism Community has shown me how every individual in life is truly unique. Mayra and I enjoy giving back to the Autistic Community by helping families navigate needed services and resources. It takes a village! I welcome the opportunity to also call you family! Please call, text or email to schedule an appointment.

David Monk serves as Planning Coordinator and Advisor for Sparta Wealth Partners. David brings financial service experience gained during his prior work at Mass Mutual. While there, he served in Client Services and Comprehensive Financial Planning. David’s passion is ensuring clients maximize their financial potential, leaving no stone unturned. David earned a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a minor in Business from East Carolina University in 2018. Originally from Lexington, North Carolina. David grew up in his family’s restaurant, Lexington Barbecue. His background in hospitality and commitment to putting clients first have become fundamental aspects of his professional approach. Outside of the office, David can be found spending time with friends and family, traveling, being on the lake, and very avid golfer.