James Brost

After graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Finance in 1985, I worked in myriad roles before founding Opus Financial Solutions, including securities compliance, investment analysis, institutional portfolio management, and teaching investments and financial planning topics at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Those roles and hard-earned education and financial designations converged to ultimately building a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm. My objective as an advisor is to help my clients improve and/or be aware of the implications of the financial choices they make. That requires me to listen and truly understand my client's past, present, and anticipated journey before offering strategies and solutions. For some of my clients, that means helping them attain the financial freedom and peace of mind to live as they choose. For others who have accumulated significant wealth, it is helping them with portfolio optimization and management, taxes, distribution planning, and estate matters. In addition to my Finance degree from Illinois, I obtained my MBA in International Business from DePaul’s Graduate School of Business. I later attained my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations in order to provide the highest level of financial and investment counsel. Along the way, I also developed an expertise in divorce financial planning in order to help people make more informed financial decisions in divorce matters and make the process of divorce less painful and less expensive. I've served as a divorce advisor, financial neutral and mediator for individuals and/or divorcing couples (Refer to “Pre-Divorce Planning” for more detail). I grew up in the Chicago area, now live in Denver, and serve clients across the United States. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in natural settings hiking, camping, mountain-biking, skiing, playing with my pups, or whatever the weather dictates. I have served in many volunteer roles over the course of my life, mostly relating to educating and mentoring the underprivileged. Thus far, one of my greatest joys has been watching my children—now both young independent adults--evolve into kind, smart, empathetic human beings who I believe will change the world for the better.

Christiane Copeland is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She joined the firm in 1996 and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, Christiane offers clients personalized investment strategies that may include individual securities, Merrill Lynch model portfolios, and third-party investment options. She services clients through the firm’s Investment Advisory Program, where she can manage portfolios on a discretionary basis. Christiane earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona following two years of collegiate basketball at Cochise College. Her advisory expertise covers areas such as college education planning, family wealth management, retirement income, tax minimization, legacy planning, and investment strategy for individuals and corporations. Recognized for her professional achievements, she has been named to Forbes' "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list from 2019 through 2022. Outside of her professional work, Christiane resides in Bellaire with her husband and family. She enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, jogging, cycling, and attending Houston Texans football games. Her client approach emphasizes understanding individual priorities to create adaptive wealth management strategies aligned with clients’ life goals.