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We are the Answer to Your Financial Questions


A family oriented business helping families achieve financial goals and manage their wealth for over 25 years.

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Comprehensive Financial Planning

What does it all really mean?


Simply put, we believe every decision you make can either negatively or positively impact another. Comprehensive planning looks at your financial question as one part of your total financial picture to ensure that your overall plan aligns with your ideal vision for your life.

Our role as a fiduciary is to...


Guide Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Guide

you to the decisions that most benefit your future, as well as your family, so you build a strong foundation.

Challenge Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Challenge

any preconceived notions about finance and investing that will impede the success of your plan. 

Collaborate Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Collaborate

with you and your team to assure the integrity of all phases of your plan.


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And learn more about the ways we can help you.

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Who We Serve

Empowering Families

To make smart financial decisions that benefit their future.


At the heart of our firm is a passion for families — strengthening the bonds between your loved ones through proactive advice and strategies that keep your family’s core values in focus. In fact, our own president and founder and director of client services are father and daughter. This helps us to build strong, long-lasting relationships with everyone who walks through the door because we, too, believe in staying connected with the people we care about most.

While we’ve helped a variety of individuals over the years, we are best suited to work with:



Multi-Generational
Families


Multi-Generational Families Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

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Multi-Generational Family

From answering your questions to helping you create your financial plan, we can help you, your family and proceeding generations accumulate, manage and protect your hard-earned assets.

We’ll help you balance your needs and goals while making sure your wealth benefits the people and organizations that matter most to you.

We help multi-generational families:

  • More effectively manage cash flow.
  • Select the right investment mix for 401(k) assets.
  • Create an effective plan to help fund higher education.
  • Design investment strategies that are in-line with their goals.
  • Identify and manage relevant risks.
  • Manage their finances after the loss of a loved one.
  • Plan for a support obligation for an elderly parent.
  • Identify trust strategies to protect their estate from unnecessary fees and taxes.

Family Oriented
Business Owners


Family Oriented Business Owners Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

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Family Oriented Business Owner

We work with business owners who are looking to balance their business objectives with the needs of their families. As a business owner, it’s important for you to have a clear understanding of your personal financial goals and how your business can help you achieve them.

We can help answer the following questions:

  • Is there a better way to reduce my tax liability?
  • Do we have the best team of advisors in place?
  • How do we get the most value out of our employee benefits?
  • What’s the best way to grow and protect our non-business investments?
  • What’s the best way to help the kids/grandkids get a head start?
  • How will I know when it’s time to step away?
  • How can we make sure that our heirs receive fair value for our business?

Retiring
Couples


Retiring Couples Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

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Retiring Couple

Maybe you and your spouse have been thinking about retirement lately and have more questions than answers. Our expertise and resources will help guide you through your most difficult decisions so you are both able to build a clear vision for your retirement.

We can help answer questions such as:

  • When should we begin planning for retirement?
  • Can we afford to maintain our lifestyle?
  • How do we plan for ill-health or the dependency of a family member?
  • We’ve always wanted a second home — can we afford it now?
  • Should we take advantage of an employer retirement package?
  • What’s the best way to invest our retirement savings?
  • How do we get the most out of our Social Security/pension benefits?


Sound Like You?

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What We Offer

Our Wealth Management Services

And the benefits they can bring you.


At Acorn Consulting, our approach to wealth management is built on the holistic philosophy that your wealth should be aligned to enable your life — not the other way around.

As an independent wealth management firm, we'll work with you to discover how you can use your wealth to achieve greater fulfillment, security and integrity — both today and in the future. We'll take the time to examine not only your financial goals, but also your dreams and desires. Then, we’ll create a wealth management plan that integrates your financial resources with your life objectives. The result is not a single, rigid solution, but rather a vital, ongoing process that places your wealth at the service of your life. We call this financial wellness.

We strategically partner with SEI Investments, a leading global provider of outsourced asset management and investment solutions, to help our clients create and manage wealth.

Choose from Three Platforms

Designed according to your unique needs.


 

Goal Based Investment Management Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

 

Goal-Based
Investment Management

 
 

Comprehensive Planning Services Guide Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

 

Comprehensive Planning
Services

 
 

Wealth Management Services Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

 

Wealth Management
Services

 


Contact Us Today

And see which platform makes the most sense for you.

Meet Our Team

I am passionate about helping families resolve their most challenging financial questions and guiding them through life’s transitions.  

— Rick Russell

Our clients are very important to me and I enjoy acting as a resource to make sure all of their questions are answered.  

— Joanna Russell

Sharing Our Insight and Financial Expertise

SO YOU GAIN THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED.


Rick’s financial services career began in 1975 as an insurance agent at John Hancock. Early on, he realized that while insurance plays an important role in a family’s overall financial security, it’s only one small piece of their broader financial picture. This shared vision led to the establishment of Acorn Financial Services in 1984, where Rick served in a variety of management positions, including director of training, investment specialist and director of retirement and estate planning.

With an eagerness to provide comprehensive wealth management advice and services, Rick later established Acorn Consulting Services, Inc. in 1995 with the goal of delivering recommendations that purely serve his clients’ best interests. Since then, Rick and his team have helped a variety of individuals, families and small business owners through a variety of life transitions, such as a career change, the sale of a business, retirement, and the loss of a loved one.

Frederick J. (Rick) Russell, III, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC® Photo

Frederick J. (Rick) Russell, III, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®

President & Founder
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Frederick J. (Rick) Russell, III, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®

President & Founder



A dedicated financial services professional, Rick is a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®). As the former president of The Society of Financial Services Professionals (Northern New Jersey Chapter), he holds insurance and general securities licenses in several states.

Rick earned a bachelor's degree from Buffalo State College, followed by a master's degree in financial services from The American College where he was awarded graduate certificates in estate planning and taxation and financial asset management. To continue to provide clients with sound wealth management and investment solutions, Rick regularly attends top-level symposiums and focus workshops that cover a variety of financial fields.

Rick’s professional affiliations include the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Society of Financial Service Professionals. He has authored numerous articles on personal finance, including a bi-monthly column for the American Chemical Society.  

Rick believes in family and supporting the community. He and his wife, Gail, live in Norwood, NJ, where they raised their three children. He is a former member of the finance committee at Immaculate Conception Church, where he currently serves as Eucharistic Minister. He is a member of Old Tappan Golf Course, where he was the handicap chairman for 15 years. Additionally, Rick is a member of the Finance Advisory Committee for the board of directors at Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club Naples, Fl., where he and his wife reside during the winter months. 

Joanna Russell, CFP®, RICP® Photo

Joanna Russell, CFP®, RICP®

Director of Client Services
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Joanna Russell, CFP®, RICP®

Director of Client Services



Joanna joined Acorn Consulting in 2004 to assist with all areas of client service. Her careful attention to clients’ needs continues to strengthen our long-lasting client relationships. After earning an undergraduate degree in psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey, Joanna continued on to complete the financial planning certification program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She also holds insurance and general securities licenses.

Since becoming an Investment Advisor Representative in 2014, Joanna is an integral Acorn team member, focusing on planning and financial education for new and existing clients. Understanding that retirement planning is an important and complex issue, she earned the Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation from The American College in 2017 to help our clients achieve their individual retirement goals.

Later that year, Joanna went on to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional. As director of client services, Joanna is responsible for maintaining a high level of personalized advice and service for all of our clients.

What to Expect

Following a Step-by-Step Process

To help Make sure THAT your needs and goals are met.


As your dedicated financial advisor, simplifying your financial life is our goal. Through our process, we’ll walk you through the options and avenues available to you so you have a clear view of what opportunities your wealth can offer. Then, we’ll help you determine which ones suit your needs the best by providing detailed, objective insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Our process consists of five steps:


Discovery Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Discovery

During this meeting, we’ll discuss your financial history to gain a better understanding of where you’re coming from. Throughout this discussion, we’ll help you identify your goals, expectations and concerns,  as well as options that may better suit your needs. For any questions or concerns you have, we’ll provide you with an explanation of how we will address them to help put your mind at ease.

After your initial consultation, we’ll dive deeper into the details of your financial life to gain a clearer picture of your past, present and future. This assessment involves looking at a variety of factors — your spending habits, cash flow, taxes and more —  and challenging any assumptions that may not serve you well.

Assessment Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Assessment

Evaluation Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Evaluation

A collaborative process, this step involves making sure you understand your financial position, as well as all viable alternatives, so you can connect your resources with your ideal future. Through ongoing education, we’ll equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to make smart financial decisions. Throughout this review, we welcome any questions or concerns you may have. Your time is valuable to us, and we want to make sure you have a clear understanding of every one of our recommendations. 

Next, we’ll present your financial plan and create a road map for putting your plan into action. Before execution, we'll walk you through each next step to help make sure you have a clear understanding of our recommendations and we will educate you on each item so you are well aware of your individual responsibilities.

Implementation Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Implementation


Monitoring Paramus, NJ Acorn Consulting

Monitoring

Even after implementation, our work is never done. We’ll continue to monitor your progress and track your results to help make sure your financial plan is optimized and in-line with your current situation and resources. As things change, we’ll identify better-suited alternatives so you continue to be successful. Throughout this phase, we encourage you to ask questions and express your concerns.


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Providing Clarity and Confidence

As you face life’s unique challenges and significant transitions.


Your wealth is more than just numbers in a bank account — it carries the potential for a whole new way of living; with a clarity and confidence that you are on track to achieve your goals.

Acorn Consulting Services, Inc.
61 S. Paramus Rd. Suite 260
Paramus, NJ 07652

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Phone: 201-986-3980
Fax: 201-621-8600
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