James A. Lavorgna, J.D., LL.M, CWM, CTEP, CFP

Mr. Lavorgna has been in the financial services industry for 30 years, and currently has offices in Spencer, Virginia. He is the President and CEO of Business Services International, Inc. and Managing Partner of Mid-America Financial Services, LLC.   Mr. Lavorgna works directly with clients and their advisors to provide financial planning, pre-immigration planning, risk management, investment, retirement, tax, asset protection, and estate planning services in both domestic and international markets.  He has done extensive financial and estate planning for professional athletes, high net worth individuals and business owners.  He also works with non-profit organizations and clients that have an interest in charitable giving, family wealth planning, and asset protection.  Throughout his career, he has given many lectures and seminars on financial planning, asset protection and estate planning.  He was an adjunct professor for investments and financial planning at Sussex County Community College during the 1980’s.   He currently teaches accounting and computerized accounting for the Patrick Henry Community College distance-learning program and is developing the on-line business law course. Mr. Lavorgna is also a visiting professor teaching International Tax Credits and is a thesis promoter for St. Thomas University School of Law Masters of Laws Graduate International Taxation program.   He has been a radio talk-show guest, been quoted in and written articles for local newspapers, and has independently published numerous articles and two books.   Mr. Lavorgna has earned an Associates Degree In Business and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Upsala College, a Juris Doctor Degree from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and a Masters of Law (LL.M) with a concentration in International Taxation and Offshore Financial Centers from St. Thomas University School of Law, and a Certified Financial Planning (CFP)designation from the College for Financial Planning. He is also a Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) and a Chartered Trust and Estate Planner (CTEP). He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, National Association of Tax Practitioners, the American Bar Association, the American Academy of Financial Management and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal Society of Fellows for International Tax.   He is licensed to sell insurance and securities (Series 7, 24, 63), is a Registered Investment Advisor Associate, and a Registered Principal.   He has expertise in Trust Centered Estate Planning, Global Estate and Gift Tax Planning, Wealth Management, Charitable Planning, Personal Financial Planning, Asset Protection Planning, U.S. International Tax Planning, Pre-Immigration Planning, Offshore Tax Structures and Private Placement Life Insurance. Jim is the founder of our company.

J. Richard Duke, J.D., LL.M

Mr. Duke is a practicing attorney at the Duke Law Firm in Birmingham, Alabama. He works directly with select clients and their advisors and specializes in the areas of international and domestic taxation, estate and asset protection planning providing wealth preservation and wealth protection planning.   He has many years experience in these areas and consults with us as a member of our advisory board.  Mr. Duke lends his experience to help us construct and implement sophisticated tax and wealth transfer strategies. Throughout his career he has done extensive estate and international tax planning for high net worth individuals and business owners. Mr. Duke is also is a professor of law, an accomplished speaker and author.   He was also a member of the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Asset Protection Journal, A Panel Publication, Aspen Publishers, Inc., New York, (1999-2002), Offshore Finance, U.S.A., O.F.C. Publications, Inc., Canada (1998-2002), and Vault, O.F.C. Publications, Inc. Canada.   Mr. Duke is the co-author of the Offshore Strategies newsletter and was editorial advisor to “The Jacobs Report on Asset Protection Strategies and Asset Protection Forum.   He also is the co-author of "Offshore Tax Strategies" newsletter; and was editorial advisor to "The Jacobs Report on Asset Protection Strategies", and the "Asset Protection Forum." In 2002 he authored two chapters in Asset Protection Strategies, a publication of the Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law of the American Bar Association.   His teaching credits include him as a member of the Committee of Academic Advisors and a Visiting Professor of Law, LL.M. Program for International Taxation, St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, FL (2000-Present); Adjunct Professor of Law at the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University for International Tax and Asset Protection Planning (1983-1999);   He is also directly involved with the International Taxation & Offshore Financial Center at St. Thomas University School of Law and the Center for International Financial Crimes at the University of Florida College of Law.   Mr. Duke is also an accomplished public speaker. He has been a regular speaker at "The Annual Global Conference on Anti-Money Laundering, Compliance & Offshore Tax Planning," sponsored by The University of Florida’s College of Law’s Center for International Financial Crimes Studies, St. Thomas University School of Law (Miami, Florida), since its inception. He has also spoken before The Bahamas Bar Association, The Royal Society of Fellows (S-6), and numerous other engagements.   Born in Lineville, Alabama; Mr. Duke is admitted to Alabama State Bar and the Florida Bar. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Auburn University; a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law of Samford University; and an LL.M in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law. He is also "Of counsel" to The Kleinfeld Law Firm, Attorneys at Law, Miami, Florida.   Mr. Duke is a member of The Royal Society of Fellows. Other memberships include the International Tax Planning Association; Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners; The Offshore Institute (1994-1999); International Bar Association, Section on Business Law and the Committee on Taxes; International Business Law Consortium, Fellow and Honorary Legal Scholar and International Academy of Tax Advisors, Center for International Legal Studies, Salzburg, Austria (1996-1999); Inter-American Bar Association; Tax Section of the American Bar Association (Committee on Corporate Stockholders' Relationships, (1975-1977); Committee on Closely Held Corporations, (1977-1990); Committee on Individual Investments and Workouts, (1995); American Bar Association Committee on Asset Protection Planning, of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section (1997-Present); Committees on International Taxation and International Property, Estate & Trust Law of the International Law and Practice Section (1995); Tax Section and International Law Section of the Alabama State Bar and The Florida Bar; Samford University Professional Advisors Council (1996-Present).   Mr. Duke is a consultant to our advisory board.

Vickie R. York, J.D., CWM

Miss York is a practicing attorney at the York Law Firm in Statesville, North Carolina. She among her specialties is immigration law, estate administration and litigation, divorce financial analysis.   As a member of our advisory board she works directly with clients and their advisors providing immigration services in the areas of business and family immigration issues, helping clients obtain visas and permanent residency. She also works directly with pre-immigration issues and planning, as well as handling estate administration.   Her pre-immigration planning work consists of intra-company transfers, labor certification, family visas, professional work visas, treaty trader and investor visas, student and exchange visitor visas, permanent residence through investor visas, U.S. citizenship and naturalization matters.   She is a Chartered Wealth Manager and works in the area of financial analysis for couples planning to marry or divorce, including pre and post nuptial agreements for high-net worth individuals. She also is a candidate for the Certified Financial Divorce Analyst designation.   Ms. York is licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina and in the North Carolina Western District Federal Court. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Iredell County Bar Association, The American Academy of Financial Management and the Royal Society of Fellows.   She also was a Professor of American Government and Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC.   Miss York earned her Juris Doctor from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School where she received a Certificate of Achievement Award in Litigation. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lenoir-Rhyne College in  Hickory, NC.   She earned the Picket Award, which is an award for a student with a perfect 4.0 average for Social Science. She is also a lifetime member of the Kappa Omega Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, a national Political Science Honor Society and is also Phi Beta Kappa and a member Mu Sigma Epsilon Society.   Miss York is a member of our Advisory Board.