Lem, a native of Florence, SC, graduated from the University of South Carolina as a Business Economics Major in 1972.

Lem volunteered and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1969 as a NCO. During his service, he was part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, stationed in the Mediterranean Sea and served a tour of duty in Vietnam.

After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corp, he was employed with South Carolina National Bank (Wachovia) from 1972 through 1983 as a commercial/consumer lender and, for a period, primary Business Development Officer for all offices in Columbia, Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville.

Following three years of preparation through the College of Financial Planning, Denver, Colorado, Lem became a financial planner in 1983 and began a fee only financial planning service as an employee of Burkett, Burkett & Burkett CPAs in 1984.

For a period of ten years, Lem provided financial planning services for individuals, families, and businesses that addressed a full spectrum of financial issues from designing and implementing investment strategies to preparing estate planning designs.

He also provided additional services including qualified retirement plan implementation to business valuations as well as investment and management critiques of third party providers.

During a period from 1994-1999, Lem and his wife devoted their time and resources to develop, build, and operate a resort bed and breakfast inn on Bald Head Island in North Carolina.

The operating inn was leased as a “turn-key” operation in 1999, at which time Lem returned to Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A. to assist in a growing financial planning practice to include an asset management service as a Registered Investment Advisor Representative.