Financial Security

One of the ways that I try to assure the success of my clients is providing them access to Business Planning Group. Business Planning Group provides case management, review, preparation and technical support for my clients in the areas of retirement, estate and estate tax reduction, reduction of social security taxation, and the business continuation and restructuring. Business Plannign Group has specialists, advanced underwriters, and attorneys exclusively available to my clients.

Who is the Business Planning Group?

Transparency, service and integrity are the building blocks for the principals and staff, who have 40-plus years of experience in financial planning and more than 150 years of combined practical experience. The owners of the Group—Phil Drake, Frank DeArmond and Troy Burns—are committed to your success.

Troy Burns joined the Business Planning Group in 2008 as a principal partner and helped initiate Business Planning Group in 2009. Burns is an experienced small business owner and a founding member of the successful gospel singing group The Inspirations. He serves as U.S. Congressman Heath Shuler’s campaign treasurer and as Chair of the Planning Board of Bryson City, NC. He is also a member of the New Century Scholars committee and the Strategic Planning committee for Swain County Schools. Burns’ considerable civic involvement includes experience as a little league baseball coach; an Ambassador of Good Will for Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and North Carolina; an Honorary Colonel for New Mexico, Kentucky and Alabama; a Member of the International Executives Guild; and a two-term member of Swain County’s Board of Education. Troy Burns is a graduate of Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College and lives in Bryson City, NC with his wife, Tammy.

Frank DeArmond has been in financial services for 40 years, with specialties in estate and estate tax planning, privately held corporation planning and retirement planning. DeArmond was also a founding principal in The Business Planning Group, Inc., and served on product development boards with two large insurance companies. He has published articles in financial publications and periodicals, and has spoken at numerous forums and symposia on estate, business and tax-related areas. He has been active in Rotary International, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, American Cancer Society, and various other church and community organizations. An Ohio native and graduate of Wright State University, DeArmond lives in Bryson City, NC with his wife, Trudy.