Carter Ellis, CFP®, Founder

Having grown up in rural Virginia on over thirty acres, I spent many summers mowing grass and winters collecting firewood with my dad and brother. Early on, I learned the value of hard work and pride in a job well done. I developed a fascination with finance during the global economic crisis of 2008 as the real estate market crumbled and our family went through change.

I left the Blue Ridge mountains for the Bull City in 2014 after graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Finance and a concentration in Financial Planning. I spent over seven years as an investment research analyst and financial advisor at a Durham-based investment advisory firm, receiving the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation along the way. For three of those years, I was a partner of the firm. It was there that I learned the art of serving clients to help them achieve their specific goals.

In 2022, I founded Valley Peak Financial, LLC with a vision of creatively delivering a personalized client experience to achieve financial excellence. It is my privilege to share in people’s stories, helping them to walk through the valleys and reach for the peaks.

In our free time, my lovely wife Lindsay and I enjoy getting outside with our three kids, serving at our church, and daydreaming about our next family trip.

Matt James

As a Durham native, I grew up enjoying the local hotspots and various activities in the Research Triangle Park. After graduating from Riverside High School, I attended Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and graduated with degrees in Economics and Public Policy. 

In college, I developed a fascination with market functionality, economic forces, and how they impacted people’s lives. That fascination, combined with a passion of helping others and learning their stories, led me to business consulting before pursuing my passion for personal finance. I joined my first advisory company in Virginia and passed FINRA’s Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination in January of 2024 before beginning working with Valley Peak in 2025.

In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, exploring local restaurants, and playing pool at Greenroom.