WHO WE ARE

Richard Williamson began his career as a software developer in the 1980s, leaving college to join his father’s small software firm in central Texas. After his father passed away, he managed the company until the Telecoms crash influenced him to pursue a new career in finance.

“One of the most important lessons I took with me from those years was that helping people means making information accessible to them,” says Richard. “If you just want to sound smart to people, you’ll limit how much you can help them.” 

Richard got his start in the finance industry at New York Life and then at a North Texas bank in the early 2000s. He learned about banking, finance, and how products were delivered, became an investment officer, and looked at how financial tools fit into client portfolios. He first obtained his general lines insurance license and then became a registered representative as a Series 6 and 63 securities advisor in 2002.

In early 2012, Richard became an independent advisor with a broker dealer, and went fully independent in 2014. He now concentrates specifically on retirement planning but, in obtaining his Series 65 in 2021, offers the full spectrum of financial services to his clients, regardless of whether they are still in their growth years or inching toward their golden years.

“Going back to my time at the bank,” says Richard, “I have always tried to convey that I view my connection to a client as a personal relationship. I want my expertise to always be accessible in that context. It’s very important to me that people always understand what we’re doing. I’m not trying to impress anyone, it’s always about the clients—they have to come first.”

As we continue in our professional lives, it is only natural to develop stress over the idea of retirement. We’re not used to trying to predict the future in so specific terms as whether we will have enough monthly income in later years.

“Once I do research and run data for people, it can really open up their future for them,” says Richard.“I formulate a plan and address that plan when financial stress arrives, especially as people approach retirement. Lifting this fear or anxiety from people is gratifying. I love being able to help them accomplish tasks that might seem new or complex to them but which I’ve encountered many times before. This is very powerful for them, and very satisfying to me.”

Richard’s professional commitment is to understand each client’s unique goals and circumstances. This allows him to help clients with sensible and customized financial solutions. He partners with clients in long-term relationships to develop plans that marry common-sense strategies with sound financial products. Knowing trust and commitment are key, he values integrity, great communication, eager responsiveness, and expert knowledge and advice in all his client relationships and interactions.

Away from the office, Richard loves to spend time with his five adult children and five grandchildren (aged infant to 14), all who live close by in the Dallas/Fort Worth sector. He has been active in community organizations like the Kiwanis Club, which performed outreach to veterans and nursing home residents, making life a bit easier for them via accessible options, as well as providing school supplies for children.

In his free time, Richard and his wife enjoy seeing live music, primarily country music, and he also enjoys golfing, boating, camping, hiking, walking and, recently, getting back into running.