About Our Management
Experience On Your Side
Our principals are both highly-educated, experienced professionals who are committed to continuous learning. We are dedicated to delivering you the highest quality financial advice and service possible.

Peter Thoms, CFA, MBA
Founder & Portfolio Manager
Jeff Rotherham, CFP®, MSAFP
Director of Financial Planning
Our management Team
Peter Thoms, CFA, MBA
Founder & Portfolio Manager
and
Jeff Rotherham, CFP®, MSAFP
Director of Financial Planning
Orion's Unique Culture
Orion’s unique culture has its roots in the prior military service of its two principals. Before embarking on their careers in finance, both Peter and Jeff serviced in the United States Navy as members of small, focused teams. They thrived in demanding, fast-paced environments where the costs of mistakes, inattention or poor judgement could be extraordinarily high.
As a Naval Flight Officer aboard the P-3 Orion, Peter worked as a member of a team for whom crisp, clear communication, decisiveness and rigorous attention to detail was essential to not only the success of the mission, but also the safety of the crew.
As a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician/Special Operations Operator, Jeff operated around the world in conflict zones where he needed to command the trust of not only fellow U.S. operators, but also foreign allied forces. Whether on missions with the Navy SEALS, U.S. Special Forces, or foreign allied bomb disposal units, Jeff operated, often with imperfect information, in fluid, rapidly evolving circumstances which required pro-active, clear thinking coupled with precise and decisive action.
The esprit du corps developed during Peter and Jeff’s military service is evident in Orion’s culture today in a positive, good-natured, can-do attitude that permeates our firm.
Our Team

Peter Thoms, CFA, MBA
Founder & Portfolio Manager
Peter Thoms founded Orion Capital Management LLC in Coronado, California in 2002. Prior to founding Orion, Peter worked in New York City in the investment management industry for PIMCO and Federated Investors.
Investment Career
PIMCO Equity Advisors. From 1999 to early 2002, Peter worked in New York City for PIMCO Equity Advisors, L.P., a unit of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO) of Newport Beach, California. He served a Research Analyst and Co-Portfolio Manager for several of the firm’s growth mutual funds.
Federated Global Investment Management. Before joining PIMCO, Peter served as Investment Analyst at Federated Global Investment Management, the New York City-based global investing unit of Pittsburgh-based Federated Investors.
International Perspective
Peter has lived outside the United States for a total of 13 years in Ethiopia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Austria, the United Kingdom and Oman and has traveled in more than 80 countries on six continents. In 1994, he completed a one-year, 24,000-mile solo overland journey across Africa.
U.S. Naval Career
From 1989 to 1993, Peter served as a U.S. Naval Flight Officer aboard the P-3 Orion, an anti-submarine warfare and surveillance aircraft. He was stationed at Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Hawaii.
Education
Peter holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia in 1998, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in International & Comparative Political Studies from Hamilton College in 1989.
Personal Interests
Peter lives in Coronado, CA with his wife Janet and their 4 children. Peter volunteers in the community with Boy Scouts and in the schools. He enjoys tennis, skiing, and watching his children play lacrosse and tennis

Jefferson Rotherham, CFP®, MSAFP
Director of Financial Planning
Jefferson Rotherham is Orion’s Director of Financial Planning. He earned his Certified Financial Planner® designation in 2015. Prior to joining Orion in April 2019, Jefferson was the Director of Financial Planning at a nationally recognized investment and planning firm in the San Diego area. Over the course of his career, Jefferson has developed and monitored hundreds of financial plans for clients in a wide range of circumstances.
U.S. Naval Career
Prior to embarking on his career in financial planning, Jefferson served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician/Special Operations Operator. He served in several combat theatres of operation to include Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He spent the majority of his Navy career in Special Operations, training and leading advanced EOD operational elements and teams. During his career, he was integrated into various operations with U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Special Forces, British bomb disposal units and the United States Secret Service. He also participated in bilateral MIA recovery operations in Laos.
While serving in the Navy, Jefferson was continually nominated as the Command Financial Specialist (CFS). In this role he counseled hundreds of service members and their families in financial management.
Education
Jefferson holds a Master of Science degree in Advanced Financial Planning from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University.
Personal Interests
Jefferson resides in Coronado, California, with his wife Sarah and their three children. He is a regular volunteer at Coronado schools and various athletic activities. He is an active supporter of the EOD Warrior Foundation and the Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation. In his free time, Jefferson enjoys time with family and friends, travel, wine tasting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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Case Studies
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About Us
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