Marissa Willis

Finance has been an interest and passion of mine as long as I can remember. As a child, my dad would teach me about investing and I was fascinated that I could earn a little bit of money and then it could grow on it’s own. Those simple principles were built on throughout my childhood and studying finance in college was a natural fit. I graduated from Texas A&M University with Bachelor degrees in both accounting and finance. Upon graduating, I limited my job search to my beloved hometown (Austin) where the woman I love (Kaimey) was living. I accepted an auditor position with the state government and traveled around Texas performing financial and compliance audits. Even though it wasn’t my dream job because everyone hates auditors, I took a lot of pride in working with my clients instead of against them. In those years while auditing, Kaimey and I were married, I obtained my CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) designations, and we added twins to our family, Hudson and Harper. When life settled down a bit after the twin infant/toddler years, I decided to shift careers and focus on my passion of personal financial planning. I was fortunate to join a fee-only financial planning company where I advised high net-worth clients and managed other planners. This was a good home to me for several years, and during that time I added my CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™) and LHIC (Life and Health Insurance Counselor) designations to my other credentials. In 2018 we felt God calling us to something new for our family. I took a leap of faith to leave my comfortable job and start my own business. And Avant Financial Advisors was born! We are excited to use this company to help others and make our clients’ dreams become financially possible. Hudson and Harper are teenagers now and keep our family’s free-time full! We love supporting them in their activities and being involved in their school. We spend lots of time outside: hiking, biking, being on the lake, and exploring around Austin. We love to travel and discover new-to-us places in this big, beautiful world, but coming home always feels great too.

Zachary Barton, CFP® is the Founder and Owner of Barton Financial Group LLC, where he operates as the lead CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. For over 10 years, Zach has helped clients find financial peace of mind by coaching clients through the process of organizing and simplifying their finances. Zach specializes in working with Attorneys, though his clients also include Tech Executives, Business Owners, Doctors, Engineers, and Retirees. Zach attended the University of Texas for Spanish and Plan II Honors and graduated as a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He later attended the American College of Financial Services. Zach and his wife, Carly, both began their careers in Lubbock, TX where Carly attended Law school. In the fall of 2017, Zach and Carly decided it was time to return home to Central Texas to be closer to the original Barton family land that has been in the family since 1854. Zach founded Barton Financial Group LLC so that he could focus on helping clients as a Fiduciary with Financial Planning and Investments. Carly works as an Attorney in nearby Dripping Springs. Zach and Carly Live in Kyle, Texas with their children Clark and Lexi. Zach is the fourth generation in his family to own a business on Center Street in Kyle. When not working with clients or chasing kids around, Zach volunteers frequently with the Lions Club, and plays soccer on the weekends. Zach is a member of XY Planning Network (XYPN), active in the Buda Lions Club, and Co-Owner of Word Place Properties mixed-use real estate development.

At Real Wealth Planning, we partner with families to create a foundation for lasting financial freedom. Through our comprehensive life planning process, we craft custom financial plans that prioritize clients’ best interest, ensuring a path that aligns their money with their vision for the future. We have a small team consisting of a lead financial planner (Sarah), two investment specialists, a real estate specialist, client service associate & bookkeeper. Building and maintaining wealth requires a values-driven plan that clients can commit to for the long haul. Through our collaborative four-part approach, we guide clients in discovering clarity around the ultimate driver of their financial plan—the passions and relationships that bring them joy. We then focus on educating clients on the financial topics that pertain to their unique circumstances, including money mindset, wealth-building principles, investment management, tax planning, cash flow planning, business planning and more. In uncovering what truly matters to our clients, we build a financial plan that they are inspired to see through. For busy individuals, we also offer Personal CFO solutions to help implement their financial plans. In an ongoing partnership, we seamlessly handle financial task-management, laying the groundwork for long-term success. For organizations and teams, we provide bookkeeping, payroll, and education offerings that foster and sustain business excellence. Whether in their business or personal lives, our straightforward educational approach empowers our clients to generate real wealth—the kind that isn’t defined by a number, but by their ability to wake up each morning and do what they love. Up-to-date fee schedules and services are on our website: https://www.realwealthplanning.com/individuals-families **Rebranded from Real Estate Wealth Planning to Real Wealth Planning in 2024**