What clients say

After my divorce, I needed good financial advice.

My ex-husband had always handled our more complicated financial matters. As a newly-single woman in my 60s, I had no idea how to manage all of the accounts. My forensic divorce CPA suggested I call Russ Thornton. I'm so glad I did. I told Russ that I knew nothing about high finance and would, therefore, be asking dumb questions. He never made me feel uncomfortable. Russ is so good at explaining high finance in layman's terms. Within just a matter of days, Russ had mapped out a financial plan to carry me for the rest of my life. He is helping me out of a bad annuity and has already saved me quite a bit of money by doing so. I needed to buy a house for myself, and Russ helped me every step of the way, advising on what I could afford and how much I could spend on remodeling. I then came into a large inheritance, and Russ advised me to pay off my mortgage rather than invest so that I'm not carrying any debt. He has advised me on where to do my banking, which CPA to hire, which estate attorney to hire, and more. He has been like my guardian angel. I have never worked with anyone that has better communication skills than Russ. I always receive a reply the very same day, if not within minutes. Russ has become like family to me.

Meeting with Russ Thornton gave me immediate confidence and peace of mind about my upcoming retirement. As a woman preparing for this next chapter, I felt truly seen, supported and encouraged. Russ is so knowledgeable, sharing his screen a couple times to help me better grasp how my investments will hold out over the years. I felt excited and grateful to have found such an advisor. I highly recommend him!

Knowledgeable, great communicator and very personable

My husband and I have utilized many different financial advisors during our careers but I think we have finally found THE ONE! After Russ had very successfully assisted my sister and brother-in-law with their investments, he then took over my mother's inheritance after my father's death. We heard such good things about what Russ was doing for our other family members and this was just not happening for us with our advisor in Nashville or in our hometown. So, we started moving our funds to Russ and he was so impressive that he now handles all of our investments — and has done so for about the past 4–5 years. Best financial decision we ever made! One of the most impressive things to me is the communication Russ has provided throughout this time that we had never experienced before. He even communicates with me, not just my husband, because he realizes that I too worked and need to know this information. He makes me feel as equally important as my husband who is now the only one generating income. Often times the wife is overlooked in these situations but not with Russ. I highly recommend Russ Thornton!

Gain confidence about being 'in' the market

During my divorce in 2017, all of our shared assets were liquidated and I was in an 'all cash' position at a time when interest rates were around 1%. Having experienced big losses in the 2000 bust and again in the 2008 housing bust, 10 years later I did not have the confidence to make a move back into the market. Russ came highly recommended to me by another financial consultant as a person ideal for my situation. He got to know my goals and values, guided me through his plan to reinvest me into the markets, created an investment model and retirement path. He regularly checked up with me and we would discuss any updates for the model. It was all easily understood and mapped out the risks and rewards with clear charts and graphs. He's always been very responsive and easy to reach. Exactly what I needed!

Integrity & Trust

I have worked with Russ since 2016 when I needed to take control of my financial future. Working with Russ from the very beginning, I feel heard. Russ asks intelligent yet empathetic questions to ensure that he understands my goals and motivations behind them. Russ will help you achieve your goals, and he will also challenge you appropriately if you are thinking too small. I trust Russ implicitly and fully recommend him and his services to anyone who needs a partner for their financial future.

Early Retirement

Russ is a wonderful advisor. My husband and I decided to retire early… but only after speaking with Russ. He was all in even before our actual funds were available. He helped us in setting up Social Security and when my husband turned 65 with Medicare. He put us in touch with folks who do the leg work for you which in turn gave us both peace of mind. He's very personable and makes you feel like you're a friend, not a customer. He works hard to make sure we are OK with future life changes. You can discuss what your goals are and he will do the numbers and tell you what he thinks is best to make sure you reach those goals. When you achieve your goals he will be the first to congratulate you. Speaking as someone who had no clue how to obtain this information on my own… he had the patience and explained it in layman's terms. You cannot go wrong using Russ.

In it for the long haul

Russ has been our financial advisor since his early days at Merrill Lynch and continued to help and advise us through our careers and now into our retirement years. One of the hardest decisions I made was to retire early. Russ helped me understand the financial consequences of that decision by clearly explaining the big picture of our finances at the time and projecting scenarios of what things might look like in the future. That was 11 years ago, and I have never regretted my decision to retire early. Russ has been a partner in our lives by having us focus on what's truly important to us and how that will lead to achieving our best lives. Russ is a thoughtful listener, a gifted communicator, and an expert financial and personal advisor. We would not be where we are today without his guidance and friendship.

My wife and I have worked with Russ Thornton for several years now. Russ is an exceptional financial advisor. His personal attention and sincere interest in our interests, goals, and needs is rare in today's financial services world. Russ admits he isn't a fit for everyone but if you are looking for someone to truly understand your situation and goals, how to live a life that you want and not focus on the latest stock fad, then you need to have a conversation with Russ. He will open your mind and heart to what drives you, where you want to get to, and how to get there on your time table.

Maneuvering through the scary stuff

My husband and I have been with Russ for a number of years now. We have maneuvered through many life changes including jobs, college tuition for kids, and now, moving to what will be our retirement home. We chose Russ because he was the first financial planner that took the time to know who we were before making recommendations. It is great to call him — even on a Saturday before you make an offer on a house — to get confirmation that the plan will work!

Trust

Russ Thornton has been our family advisor for years. We trust him to help us manage our money. He is knowledgeable about the markets and also with the laws concerning taxes among other issues. But what is also important to me is when I was managing my parents' estate. I knew that he understood the importance of being able to take care of my Mom after my Father passed away. I asked a million questions and not once did he make me feel bad about it. I trusted him and he was available and willing to help. It doesn't get more important than having a person to help through those 7 years. Emotions are high during those times and the responsibility can be overwhelming. Thank you Russ.

Regularly recommend Russ and his newsletter

I subscribed to Russ' Wealthcare for Women newsletter 3 years ago after divorcing at 57. I took seriously his prompt to write with questions. When I did, he decided my question merited a phone conversation. Because he consistently focuses on the lifestyle and values of his clients, he is well-practiced at listening carefully and asking the sorts of incisive questions that help to clarify my motives and objectives. I recently worked through mortgage refinance options with him, and believe I've made the best decision for the present largely because I knew my options. He's very personable and easy going, and regarded as a family friend at my house though we've never met. His business phone is in the contacts on the house phone, and I've told my daughters to call him with money questions if something happens to me and they need help. I ran that past him first — he was okay with it.

Independent, Professional, Comprehensive

I have been a client of Russ for several years and am very satisfied with his advice and support. Russ is an independent, fee-based adviser. He focuses on conservative and low-cost investment options. He worked with me to design a comprehensive financial plan with an investment portfolio constructed based upon available financial assets, investment goals and investment risk tolerance. I take comfort from the fact that as an independent adviser, Russ does not build portfolios with his own firm's proprietary investment products. His investment style is long-term and avoids fads. Russ also provides me with advice and assistance on other important matters, including lifestyle and 'next chapter' planning. He likewise works with third-party experts on matters such as planning for Medicare. Russ has strong communication skills and is always responsive when I have a question, and is also proactive on reaching out to me as a client.