EARLE GARVIN, E.A., M.A.A.A., M.S.P.A., AIFA®: Founder
Earle Garvin, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, is the Founder of Pension Financial Services, Inc., and has been its President since the firm's inception in 1982. He holds a Master's Degree in Actuarial Science and a Master's Degree in Insurance from Georgia State University. Mr. Garvin is an Enrolled Actuary certified by the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and a Member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA). Additionally, he previously served as the Chairperson of the ASPPA Benefits Council of Atlanta. Mr. Garvin is a frequent keynote speaker at regional seminars across the Southeast and has participated as a panelist at various national pension conferences.
DONALD J. FLOWER: President
Don Flower serves as the President of Pension Financial Services, Inc., overseeing the daily operations of the firm. He directly manages the consulting and plan administration services provided by the client servicing and consulting teams. Don Flower specializes in plan design and consulting on matters related to qualified plan compliance. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Actuarial Science from Georgia State University in 1985.
JAMES W. ENGLAND: Vice President Information Technology
Jim England serves as the Vice-President of Information Technology at PFS, overseeing the company's advanced data and voice technologies. He is the mastermind behind our client/participant support system and oversees managing our intricate multi-server network and communication systems. With more than 40 years of experience in data processing, Mr. England has designed systems for pensions, trust accounting, general ledger, financial modeling, and process control, in addition to creating a comprehensive relational database system.
CHERYL BOWNESS, QKA, QKC, QPA: Vice President of New Business and Compliance
Cheryl Bowness, who joined PFS in 2020, serves as the Vice-President of New Business and Compliance. She is an experienced Corporate Services Manager with a proven track record in the financial services industry, specializing in Corporate Qualified Retirement Plan Services. Her expertise lies in ERISA Compliance Testing, Plan Design, Management, Business Relationship Management, and Financial Services. Cheryl is a skilled consulting professional, a graduate of Regis University, and holds credentials as a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) from the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), an affiliate of the American Retirement Association (ARA).
DESTENI LAWHORN, MBA, CRPC®, AIF®, CPFA®: Director of Marketing and Sales
Desteni Lawhorn, the Director of Marketing and Sales, joined the PFS team in 2024. Holding an LSU MBA degree, she brings over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a focus on the retirement plan sector for more than a decade. Her diverse background includes roles at a leading national recordkeeper, providing plan education to participants and sponsors, comprehensive retirement planning as an advisor, DCIO sales for an asset management firm, and supporting advisors in expanding their retirement plan business at a major broker-dealer/RIA firm. Desteni oversees marketing the firm's products and services, guiding advisors and business owners in achieving their tailored plan solutions. She currently holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designations.
