BURKETT FINANCIAL SERVICES - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Client Services Associate
• Member of the Boards of Town Theater

Helen was born in West Columbia, SC, and moved to Lexington, SC as a teenager, where she...Read More Helen was born in West Columbia, SC, and moved to Lexington, SC as a teenager, where she graduated from Lexington High School. Her career began after Helen earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Columbia College and an Associate's in Accounting from DeKalb College. From there, she went on to work for Lexington State Bank as a note teller, at TD Bank (FKA Carolina First), Anchor Bank, and Bank of Columbia as a commercial lender and portfolio manager from 1988 to 2015. In 2015, Helen started working at Security Federal Bank as a commercial lender until 2019, when she joined Burkett Financial Services, where she's been a great part of our team ever since. At BFS, Helen serves as a client services associate, assisting with various client needs as it relates to their investment accounts. She also attends client meetings, assists with the implementation of advisor strategies for clients, prepares reports for client meetings and advisors. Helen's favorite part of the job is the face-to-face client interaction in their meetings and being able to help them meet their retirement and investment goals. Outside of her professional life, Helen has been a member of the boards of Town Theater and Red Cross and has served as a treasurer for Community Assistance Provider and Lexington Area Tennis Association. Helen is married to her husband Kent Vickery. The two of them live on Lake Murray, with Kent being involved in real estate development and sales. Helen and Kent have two dogs, Brady the boykin spaniel and Henry the dachshund. Helen also has a son, Ross Sons, who lives in Asheville, NC, where he is the head coach for the women and men's tennis teams at Mars Hill University. Helen and her family enjoy boating, hunting, tennis, and travel.

Job Titles:

• CFP®, Financial Consultant
• Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Jana, a native of Great Falls, South Carolina, received a Bachelor of Science degree wit...Read More Jana, a native of Great Falls, South Carolina, received a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude from The University of South Carolina in May 1992. After graduation, she was employed by The Springs Company, a high-net-worth family office, for twenty-one years. While there, she held the position of Senior Tax Manager and Assistant Vice President of Tax. She became licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in 1994 and a Certified Financial Planner in 2009. In May 2013, Jana left The Springs Company to work with Founders Federal Credit Union as a Financial Advisor. During this employment, she passed the Series 7, Series 63 and SC Life and Health Insurance Exams. Jana joined Burkett Financial Services, LLC in September 2014. She primarily works in the Rock Hill office. Jana is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. She is a member of Crestview Baptist Church where she serves on the Finance Committee. Jana is married to Danny Morrison and they live in Lancaster, South Carolina. They have two children, Abby and Carrie.

Job Titles:

• CFP
• CFP®, Managing Partner
• Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Kevin was born in Blacksburg, South Carolina, and graduated from Winthrop University in December 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. Kevin became a certified public accountant in 1998. While attending Winthrop University, Kevin was employed at Geo. G. Scott & Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina, as an intern. After graduation, he was promoted to junior accountant. In May of 1997, Kevin joined Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A. in the Rock Hill office. He worked on audit engagements and tax preparation for individuals and small businesses. In November of 1999, Kevin left Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A. to work with Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc. During this employment, he passed the series 66 & series 7 exams to become licensed to sell securities. Kevin gained experience with investment strategies and financial planning until Legg Mason closed the Rock Hill office in July 2000. In July 2000, Kevin joined Burkett Financial Services, LLC. In September, 2003 he passed the series 24 General Securities Principal Examination. Kevin is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. He is a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he serves as Chairperson of the finance committee.

Job Titles:

• Financial Consultant
• Financial Planner

Lem, a native of Florence, SC, graduated from the University of South Carolina as a Busi...Read More Lem, a native of Florence, SC, graduated from the University of South Carolina as a Business Economics Major in 1972. Lem volunteered and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1969 as a NCO. During his service, he was part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, stationed in the Mediterranean Sea and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corp, he was employed with South Carolina National Bank (Wachovia) from 1972 through 1983 as a commercial/consumer lender and, for a period, primary Business Development Officer for all offices in Columbia, Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville. Following three years of preparation through the College of Financial Planning, Denver, Colorado, Lem became a financial planner in 1983 and began a fee only financial planning service as an employee of Burkett, Burkett & Burkett CPAs in 1984. For a period of ten years, Lem provided financial planning services for individuals, families, and businesses that addressed a full spectrum of financial issues from designing and implementing investment strategies to preparing estate planning designs. He also provided additional services including qualified retirement plan implementation to business valuations as well as investment and management critiques of third party providers. During a period from 1994-1999, Lem and his wife devoted their time and resources to develop, build, and operate a resort bed and breakfast inn on Bald Head Island in North Carolina. The operating inn was leased as a "turn-key" operation in 1999, at which time Lem returned to Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A. to assist in a growing financial planning practice to include an asset management service as a Registered Investment Advisor Representative.

Job Titles:

• Client Support Representative

Lora was born in Beckley, West Virginia. In August of 1984, newly married, she moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina and started a family. Lora spent her time as a stay at home mother until her children started school. While her children were young, Lora spent time volunteering at their school. She started coaching preschool/competitive gymnastics in 1994 and coached for 10 years. During this time, Lora also worked part time doing real estate research and got her Real Estate license. After she stopped coaching gymnastics, she left the real estate business and moved into the administrative field. She has experience in customer service, office management, and retail services. In 2011, she went to Southeastern Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, got her training, and is now a South Carolina licensed massage therapist. Lora joined Burkett Financial Services, LLC in October of 2013 as the Client Support Representative. Lora is married to Tim Jarrell, and they live in Rock Hill, South Carolina. They have a daughter Nikki, a son Michael and a grandson Gunnar. Lora was born in Beckley, West Virginia. In August of 1984, newly married, she moved t...Read More

Job Titles:

• CFP®, Financial Consultant

Neil received a Masters of Accountancy, magna cum laude, from The University of South Carolina in 1993 and Bachelors in Business, magna cum laude, from The University of South Carolina in 1992. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Neil has significant experience in financial planning and brings a wide variety of financial service and tax expertise to BFS. He advises clients on various personal financial planning issues including distribution, retirement, income tax, insurance, education, investment and estate tax. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the Columbia Estate Planning Council, the Columbia Tax Study Group and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. He is also the Program Coordinator for the CFP® Certification Education Programs at Midlands Technical College. He is also a national instructor for Keir Educational Resources' Review for the CFP® Certification Examination. He has also been quoted in and authored articles in Bloomberg Wealth Manager, Research Magazine, Midlands Woman, The State, Financial Advisor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance and Financial Planning. Prior to joining BFS, Neil headed the financial planning department at a large fee-only financial planning firm in Columbia. Prior to that, Neil was a senior consultant with the Carolinas Financial Counseling Services Practice of Deloitte & Touché in Charlotte, North Carolina where he spent the majority of his time advising executives and employees of a Fortune 500 company on retirement, insurance, investment, income and estate planning.