About the Founder:
Dr. Erick G. Burton is the CEO, founder and Principle Lecturer of The Lumen Group and The Lumen Group Foundation, Incorporated based in the southern California area. Under the direction of Dr. Burton, The Lumen Group and Foundation helps families apply the principles of wealth creation to produce, maintain and preserve generational wealth.
In the mid 1990’s Dr. Burton was destitute, near bankrupt and in dire need of sound financial advice. To his dismay, he found that without having any money to invest, the financial advice he so desperately needed could not be found. During Dr. Burton’s quest for information, he realized the reason for his lack of financial success was that he was financially illiterate. In an attempt to educate himself, he bought and read numerous self help books and courses. The major problem he found was after he had gone through the information and was trying to apply it, there was no support. Also, during his quest to become financially literate, he couldn’t find a company that would give him the necessary information, prepare a sound financial plan and services him as a client in executing all phases of his financial plan. So, out of his frustration he founded 1st Financial Services, Inc which evolved into The Lumen Group. Through this organization Dr. Burton has made it his personal and professional mission in life to eradicating poverty and financial illiteracy, being a conduit to the masses on basic financial matters and servicing the client in the execution of their financial plan.
Dr. Burton is also the CEO, founder and Chairman of the Light House-Housing and Community Development Corporation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization established to assist in the economic development disadvantaged inner city communities. Light House Housing & CDC provides these communities with job training, internships, discounted financial products, family endowments, educational certificate and degree programs and affordable homes.
During the past ten years, Dr. Burton has helped more than 25,000 families build more than $145 million in wealth through his seminars and network of Lumen Advisors.
Prior to The Lumen Group. Dr. Burton served as the president of 1st Financial Services, Inc, where he directed the day to day operations of a national mortgage company. He also served as a Marketing Director and Corporate Trainer with The Financial Independence Group, in Fayetteville, NC. While with The Financial Independence Group Dr. Burton developed and implemented a strategic marketing plan, referral and client retention programs and oversaw regional training.
Dr. Burton also served as a Paratrooper and Biomedical Engineer in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. During his stellar military career, he rapidly excelled through the enlisted ranks; he received numerous awards including the Meritorious Service Medal (the highest peace time award) and was awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge.
Dr. Burton is a graduate of Global Evangelical Christian College & Seminary where he received Doctor of Ministry Degree in Faith Based Management, Christian Community and Economic Development, Wetumpka, Alabama, 2006.
Dr. Burton currently holds the following licenses and designations: California Real Estate Broker, California Mortgage Broker, California Public Notary, Master of Estate Preservation, and Certified Cash Flow Consultant.