George Barnes

Forest Dutton is a financial advisor at Brightworks Financial Planning LLC in Lexington, SC, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Northwestern Mutual and Prisma Health, as well as service with the United States Public Health Service. Outside of advisory duties, he occasionally sells life and disability insurance as a sole proprietor. Brightworks Financial Planning provides financial planning, investment management, and retirement consulting for individuals, businesses, and pension plans. The firm employs both passive and active investment strategies and uses third-party managers and model marketplaces to manage approximately $72.9 million in client assets.

Lisa Taylor is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. She has previously worked with LPL Financial and Crescent Financial Group for 15 years. Taylor serves as a nonprofit board member for The Library Village Office Condo Regime Association. Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise RIA that serves individuals, small businesses, retirement plans, pooled vehicles, charities, and estates. The firm provides asset management, financial planning, wealth coaching, and retirement plan consulting through a network of 219 advisors using model portfolios, third-party managers, and a combination of fundamental and quantitative analysis.

Brian Zarnick is a financial advisor with Truist Advisory Services in Lexington, SC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Truist Advisory Services and Truist Investment Services since 2021, as well as previous positions at BB&T Securities and BB&T Investment Services. Truist Advisory Services is a large SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions combining model portfolios, third-party managers, and advisor-led asset allocation, supported by research shared across affiliated channels.

Robert Blake is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Lexington, SC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations and bringing 18 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at National Life Group, Bankers Life Securities, Inc., ProEquities, Inc., and Bankers Life and Casualty Company. Outside of his advisory work, he owns RT Blake Financial Group, LLC, participates in a local lead sharing group through Business Network International, and serves as owner and managing director of Blake Insurance and Financial Group, LLC. Equity Services, Inc. serves individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans with financial planning, consulting, and asset management services. The firm employs a combination of proprietary and third-party investment platforms, emphasizing long-term manager-driven portfolios while offering both discretionary and non-discretionary trading options.

Douglas Bruner III is a financial advisor at &PARTNERS with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Bruner also serves as an officer in the US Army Reserve and is involved in a family-owned newspaper and advertising business. &PARTNERS serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and private business owners. The firm offers a wide range of services such as portfolio management, financial and tax planning, estate and trust consulting, and retirement plan education, combining platform technology with proprietary and third-party strategy models.

Elijah Harris is a Series 66 licensed advisor with Thrivent Investment Management, based in Lexington, SC, and has seven years of industry experience. He has been with Thrivent Financial and its affiliates since 2017 in various roles. Prior to his financial services career, Harris worked at Christian Builders and was involved with Sardis Baptist Church and Columbia International University. Thrivent Investment Management offers Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm provides holistic, goal-based financial planning that addresses a broad range of topics while keeping planning services separate from managed-account programs.