Our Team

As a wealth management advisor for Northwestern Mutual, Aaron feels blessed to have a career that he has loved since day one. Aaron started as an intern with Northwestern Mutual and never left. “We believe in helping people find a way to make sense of their financial picture. We believe in ongoing education to be better versions of ourselves, so that we can continue to bring value to our clients and their financial plans,” says Aaron about their team.

With 10 plus years of experience, Aaron specializes in working with current and pre-retirees in retirement income and distribution planning, physicians and small business owners. His team also focuses on helping Louisville and Kentucky businesses attract and maintain employees by helping them develop employer sponsored retirement benefit programs, such as 401(k) or 403(b) programs.

In Aaron’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Christine, two boys Lincoln and Walker, and their daughter Carson. With two young boys and a new baby girl, it doesn’t leave a lot of additional free time but on that rare occasion, he enjoys golfing, carpentry and helping others, specifically serving on the Louisville Metro Police Department Foundation Board.

Education: Bachelor of Arts Economics/Political Science from Western Kentucky University

Designations: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®)™, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®)

With over thirty years of experience with Northwestern Mutual, there is little Mitch Barnes feels he has not seen. Yet, that does not stop him from continuing to grow to prepare for the future. He’s an avid believer in continuing education for both himself and his team. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree with an eventual goal of obtaining his PhD in finance.

Mitch’s personal life mirrors his professional life. His devotion to his church, family foundation (DREAM Foundation) and other charitable organizations provides him with experience to understand the charitable needs for his clients. It’s encouraging to many clients to know that Mitch practices what he preaches. His team firmly believes in giving back to the community both with their time and their money. His team has been a four-time recipient of Northwestern Mutual’s Community Service Award.

In addition to helping affluent clients with their financial planning, as well as charitable giving, Mitch is motivated to helping families with special needs plan for their future. Nearly 20 years ago, Mitch’s son Mitchell was diagnosed with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy and he quickly learned the unique financial planning challenges that needed to be addressed. Since that time, he has helped countless families navigate the process.

Mitch and wife Meredith have two sons – Mitchell and Marshall. In his spare time, he enjoys UNC sports, spending time with his family, hunting and motocross.

Education: Bachelors of Science from University of North Carolina

Designations: Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC^®), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP^®),  Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU^®), and Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS®)

Greg knew from a young age that he would make a career out of finance. He joined the Barnes Young team shortly after obtaining his finance degree and has spent every working day since helping clients turn their financial dreams into reality. Greg works with Mitch and Aaron to assist clients in designing and tailoring smart financial plans that are custom-fit to suit their needs.

When he is out of the office, Greg enjoys spending time with his friends, playing ice hockey, or volunteering.

Education: Bachelors of Arts in Finance from the University of Louisville

Caitlyn was born in Louisville and graduated from Indiana University Southeast in 2015. Caitlyn spent 6 years working as a third party administrator, focusing on defined contribution plan administration, compliance testing, and plan design. She joined Barnes Young Wealth Advisors in 2021, leading the team on all things retirement plans. 

Caitlyn enjoys spending her free time with her husband, cooking, and running outdoors.  

For questions regarding your 401(k) plan, reach out to the team at by-401k@nm.com.

As a Relationship Manager for Barnes Young Wealth Advisors, Conrad feels honored to start a new chapter of his financial career.  As a lifelong Kentuckian and resident of Louisville since 2009, he believes in growing and supporting the financial wellbeing of the people and place that will always be home. 

With over seven years of experience in the financial industry, Conrad has had the opportunity to work in multiple capacities.  His tenure at PNC Bank helped integrate an understanding of the value and necessity of lending to maximize investment portfolios.  Time spent as a financial advisor at Edward Jones and PNC Investments allowed him to develop financial strategies for both individuals and small businesses.  Whether you are a pre-retiree looking to prepare for the future, or someone trying to make the most of a successful career in retirement, he has the experience and drive to research and execute customized planning for clients. 

In his spare time he enjoys playing a round of golf and the occasional fly-fishing excursion.  He is also a lover of theatre and sometimes pursues performance roles in the area.  The strength of the Louisville arts scene inspires him, and he hopes to find additional ways to support that community as he develops his career at Barnes Young Wealth Advisors. 

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Kentucky / Master of Fine Arts in Performance from the University of Louisville.

Chris has always had a passion for personal finance and enjoys having a career that provides daily opportunities to make a positive impact on client’s lives. Chris’ prior experience with Northwestern Mutual has provided him with extensive knowledge in the insurance and investment planning that we help our clients with.

When he is away from the office Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Kaitlan, their daughters, Sydney and Mckenzie, and their dog Walter.

Education: MBA and Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Bellarmine University

Lauren grew up in Louisville but moved to Cincinnati to attend Xavier University. In 2011, she started her career at Northwestern Mutual on the Beshear Financial team of Cincinnati. She moved back to Louisville in 2013 and was recruiting new advisors until she transitioned into training and development. She became Director of New Representative Development in 2015 and obtained her Certified Coach and Certified Master Trainer certifications, which contributed to her transition to Director of Training and Development, coaching new advisors to success in their first few years in the business.

In 2018, Lauren became a Financial Advisor. This is where Lauren found her passion for strategic planning, being an advocate for our planning philosophy, connecting people to our mission and delivering an amazing experience while working with us. Lauren joined the Barnes Young team as Director of Client Experience in 2020, where she can focus on doing the things she loves; delivering a unique, personalized, and efficient client experience to the clients of the firm.

Her passion is helping others and connecting people. In her free time, she’s involved in the community and spending time with her husband, Adam, their son Connor, and their dog, Buck. She currently sits on the Young Professional Opera Patrons Board, the UL Ulmer Advisory Board, the Sacred Heart Academy Alumni Board, and she is Chair of the Family & Children's Place Ambassador Program.

Jeanna joined Barnes Young Wealth Advisors in 2020, bringing over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry.  She is dedicated to serving our clients while ensuring the upmost integrity.  She works alongside Mitch Barnes and Aaron Young to coordinate all aspects of the business, with a focus on the firm’s Insurance Operations.   Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, anything outdoors, and watching Louisville sports. 

Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing from the University of Louisville. 

Taylor enjoys working closely with clients to make each individual feel like they are part of our team. She works alongside Aaron and Chris to integrate all parts of the team. As the Senior Client Service Administrator, she ensures all clients’ needs are met and completed in a timely manner. In her free time, she enjoys almost anything outdoors with her dog Molly.

Education: Associates Degree from Jefferson Community & Technical College

Erin grew up in Louisville, KY with her family, and currently resides in Shelbyville, KY. Before coming to work for the Barnes Young firm, Erin spent five years in multiple capacities working for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As Office Coordinator, she works closely with Mitch and Aaron to ensure all client, marketing, and office needs are met. Erin is passionate about her work and is committed to excellence. She enjoys connecting with clients to ensure they have a positive and meaningful experience. In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Louisville.