Our Team

Founder & Personal CFO Wealth Coach™

Ed is the founder of The Wealth Training Academy (WTA), a teaching, coaching, and marketing firm designed to guide pre- and post-retirees and business owners to and through their business of retirement. 

Along with the Tax, Investment, Insurance, Estate Planning, and Business Coaching divisions of WTA, the firm’s purpose is to identify, discuss, and solve the financial gaps. The gaps that are holding you back from finally having and the joy of knowing that you have the financial freedom you deserve. 

For the last 32 years Ed has had the pleasure of acting as a Personal CFO Wealth Coach™, Business Success Coach, and Wealth Advisor to those he serves. With special designations as a Certified Tax Coach, Retirement & Estate Planning Advisor, Certified Value Advisor (CVA®), and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®). 

Ed is also a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and a radio/podcast host. He is a proud husband of 30 years and father of two daughters.

Scott serves as a Personal CFO Wealth Coach™ at The Wealth Training Academy. He collaborates with the firm’s Investment Committee to design and manage several of WTA’s core investment strategies. These include the Growth & Dividend Growth Stock Portfolios, the Low Volatility Portfolio, and two Monthly Dividend-Paying Cashflow Portfolios created to meet the income needs of clients.

Scott has worked in financial services for the last 20 years and has been an advisor here at WTA for the last seven of those years. He meets regularly with clients to discuss their wealth planning strategies. He is passionate about helping families grow their assets ahead of taxes and inflation while preparing for a confident financial future.

Originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Scott graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Ashley, have been married for 19 years and are raising two sons together.

Personal CFO Wealth Coach™

Kirby Burnett serves as Tax Director and Personal CFO Wealth Coach™ for The Wealth Training Academy’s Tax Division and has been a trusted CPA and business advisor since 1986. With decades of experience in tax planning and preparation, he is dedicated to helping clients build efficient tax strategies that reduce taxes paid.

Kirby began his career with a “Big Eight” accounting firm before becoming a partner in his first local CPA firm. He later served as CFO for The Spinx Company, where he worked closely with leadership to acquire and manage approximately 150 convenience stores and quick-service restaurants. In 1999, Kirby earned the prestigious ABV (Accredited in Business Valuation) designation from the AICPA, recognizing his extensive expertise in business valuation.

Active in both professional associations and community service organizations, Kirby values building strong relationships and serving others. With his depth of knowledge and proven experience, he is committed to guiding clients toward achieving their financial and personal goals.

Personal CFO Wealth Coach™

Jamie Yarbrough serves as Personal CFO Wealth Coach™ at The Wealth Training Academy. He specializes in helping individuals and couples over 50 navigate the complexities of wealth management through comprehensive, integrated financial services. Working with a fractional family office model, he provides clients access to the sophisticated planning typically reserved for families, but in a more accessible and personalized approach. Jamie’s practice focuses on delivering seamless coordination across four critical areas: wealth management, tax planning, legal guidance, and estate planning. Rather than juggling multiple advisors across different firms, clients benefit from a unified service model where all aspects of their financial life work together strategically.

Jamie understands that individuals and couples in this life stage face unique challenges — from pre-retirement planning and legacy creation to navigating complex family dynamics and ensuring their wealth transfers efficiently to the next generation. His approach combines deep technical expertise with the personal attention that comes from working with a select group of clients.

The fractional family office model allows him to provide institutional-level resources and sophisticated planning strategies while maintaining the close relationships and customized service that successful families deserve. Whether you’re planning for retirement, optimizing your tax strategy, or creating a lasting legacy, Jamie is committed to helping you achieve your financial goals through truly integrated wealth management.

With a focus on pre-retirement planning, legacy creation, complex family dynamics, and efficient wealth transfer, Jamie combines deep technical expertise with the personal attention that comes from serving a select group of clients. His approach offers both institutional-level resources and customized service designed to help families achieve lasting financial success.

When Jamie isn’t working with clients, he enjoys playing golf and staying active outdoors. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, friends, and serving in various ways at his church.

Miriam serves as Financial Advisor for The Wealth Training Academy, specializing in tax reduction strategies and insurance planning. She has a passion for helping individuals and business owners design and implement the right life, health, and medical coverage to protect themselves and their families.

Miriam’s passion stems from her own experience of medical insurance professionals not being able to properly understand, design and help insure herself and her family. Once her family recovered from these insurance problems, Miriam decided to become a healthcare and life insurance specialist vowing, “I will not let what happened to my family happen to anyone else.”

Before joining The Wealth Training Academy, Miriam built a successful career in science and business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and has served as a chemist, manager, and Director of Sales & Marketing for leading companies including Dow Chemical, Hercules Aerospace, Zoltek, and Falcon Technologies.

Miriam and her husband have been married for 34 years and have two grown children.

Ken serves as Attorney for The Wealth Training Academy and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he earned a B.A. in Communication Studies & English. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1998.

Ken began his career with South Carolina Legal Services before becoming lead attorney for the Spartanburg County Department of Social Services, a role he held for more than five years. In 2006, he entered private practice, serving as a partner at Campbell & Shabel for a decade before joining Kennedy & Brannon in 2016.

Ken is a Certified Family Court Mediator and Guardian ad Litem. In addition to his family court practice, Ken maintains a robust probate and estate Planning practice.

Jessie T. Carroll is the CFO and practicing attorney at Truluck Thomason and partner attorney for The Wealth Training Academy. Mrs. Carroll attended Clemson University where she graduated cum laude. After graduation, she began her career as the Recruiting Operations Coordinator for Clemson Football. Clemson was ranked in the top 10 for recruiting classes each year of her tenure. In 2014, Mrs. Carroll was promoted to Player Relations Coordinator where she was responsible for managing life skills and community service for the football program. In 2017, she began the Paw Journey Worldwide program with Clemson great, Mr. Jeff Davis, expanding the reach of Clemson Football to impact those in need. Mrs. Carroll joined the firm in 2017 as Director of Operations, eventually taking over the role of CFO in 2019.

Mrs. Carroll graduated law school from the University of South Carolina and is admitted to practice law in South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as various other state and federal courts. Mrs. Carroll handles cases locally, domestically, and internationally, including partnership and shareholder disputes, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, negotiation of commercial leases, and estate litigation.

Mrs. Carroll is currently a member of the Greenville County Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association and Greenville Kiwanis. Mrs. Carroll and her husband, Tyler, have three daughters, Laney, Ellie, and Evelyn.

Jeannine serves as Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations for The Wealth Training Academy (WTA), and its affiliated companies. Jeannine also is the owner and operator of a real estate company, Poochanina Holdings LLC, and the co-owner of the Tax Advisory Group LLC.

Jeannine is originally from Northern California and moved to Connecticut where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business at Eastern Connecticut. Her work career has been with Consolidated Freight Ways, Dunlop Slazenger, Michelin, and John Hancock where she led the Client Service Division and Business Management Operations.

Jeannine is married to her husband of 30 years and is the proud mother of two daughters. Jeannine is active in playing pickleball and various community events, such as the Special Olympics where Jeannine has been a supporter for years.

“Our purpose in life should be to work with others to make the world a better place. That is why I am part of and support WTA’s mission to improve the quality of other’s financial lives.”

Pate serves as The Wealth Training Academy’s Chief Compliance Officer, where he ensures the firm’s commitment to fiduciary excellence and regulatory compliance. Pate joined the firm in 2018. His detail-oriented mindset helps keep the firm moving forward in a compliant, client-first manner.

Pate helps ensure clients are well-positioned for long-term success by identifying cost inefficiencies and implementing innovative, tax-efficient, and income-focused retirement and business planning strategies.

Shannon serves as the Director of Marketing for The Wealth Training Academy. She graduated from USC Upstate with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Art, Business, and Psychology, and later earned her MEd in Art Education from Converse University.

With a diverse background in teaching, communications, and design, Shannon brings a creative perspective to developing and managing marketing campaigns that welcome clients into a world where their financial lives can truly be transformed by the WTA team.

Outside of work, Shannon enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors, creating art, and spending time with her family.

Brittney has grown up in the financial services industry and has held a variety of roles within our team, including Event Coordinator, Director of First Impressions, and Tax Coordinator. She now serves as Administrative Client Service Specialist, overseeing the care and management of client accounts with precision and dedication.

Brittney’s strong organizational skills and commitment to excellence ensure that every detail behind the scenes contributes to an exceptional client experience. Her ability to anticipate needs and provide seamless support makes her an invaluable part of our team.

She holds an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Psychology from Greenville Technical College. Brittney lives by the philosophy: “Always put good thoughts and feelings out into the world.”

Annie serves as Client Service Specialist at The Wealth Training Academy. She works closely with Advisors and the Leadership Team to support client relationships and needs. Annie ensures seamless onboarding experience for clients and assists with service coordination across the board. She is diligent to prepare key documents and reports for client meetings, handle follow-ups, and support cross-team collaboration between our tax, investment, and insurance divisions.

Originally from Texas, Annie has always had a passion for helping people and being part of a team that makes a difference. She is the youngest and only girl in a family with four half-brothers, and proudly holds the title of dog mom. Her Aunt Miriam is her biggest role model, who’s strength and compassion inspire her every day, both personally and professionally.

Outside of work, Annie enjoys spending time with her pup, Pepper, connecting with family, and finding ways to support others whenever she can.

Jenn serves as a Tax Preparer and Staff Accountant at The Wealth Training Academy. She assists clients with tax preparation and the resolution of IRS notices and will soon expand her role to include bookkeeping and accounting services as part of the firm’s comprehensive financial planning approach.

Before joining WTA, Jenn spent seven years as a teacher. She holds two master’s degrees, two bachelor’s degrees, and is currently completing a third bachelor’s in Accounting, which she expects to finish by December. Jenn is also an Enrolled Agent (EA), a federally licensed tax professional authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

Jenn has lived in seven states and two foreign countries and brings a love of learning and adaptability to both her personal and professional life. Outside of work, she enjoys studying languages and balancing her analytical and creative sides with logic puzzles, crafting, and music.

Carolyn Moore serves as a Payroll & Bookkeeping Specialist for The Wealth Training Academy’s Tax Division. She graduated from Greenville Technical College with an Associate in Business in Accounting, and has 27+ years experience in bookkeeping and 15+ years experience in human resources and payroll.

Carolyn has two daughters, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.