Tim Ward, LUTCF, RICP®
Founder, Financial Advisor
Ph: (217) 322-4969
Email: timward@onesco.net
Tim Ward, founder of Cornerstone Financial Benefits, has more than 40 years of experience which he uses to help his clients with their finances. He is a securities-registered advisor who is also licensed in life insurance, and he has been an independent financial services professional since 1986. He is licensed to do business with clients in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Florida, Missouri, Texas, Ohio, Nevada, and Minnesota.
Tim holds the RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional®) designation from The American College of Financial Services. This credential signifies advanced knowledge in key areas of retirement income planning, including strategies for managing Social Security, income distribution, long-term care, and estate planning. The RICP® program is designed to help financial professional support clients as they shift from saving for retirement to creating reliable income throughout retirement.
Additionally, Tim has earned the LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow) designation and is a proud member of the MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table), a global, independent association of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct, and outstanding client service.
Tim enjoys working with families to plan for their financial futures, helping them create a strategy to pursue a comfortable retirement. He can help people plan and implement strategies to address various life events, including college funding and preparing for retirement.
A lifelong resident of Rushville, Illinois, Tim and his wife, Shiela, recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. They have two grown sons, Chris who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and Brad, who lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.
Tim and Shiela love being grandparents, and they are active in their church, Rushville Church of Christ. The couple supports many community organizations and activities. Tim currently serves as president of the Rushville Fitness and Community Center and president of the Schuyler County Economic Development Commission. Previously, Tim also served as the foundation director for the Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation from 2006 to 2021. He was also active in Little League for 34 years, serving as a district administrator, Central region umpire consultant, and he umpired in two Little League World Series.
In his free time, Tim’s favorite hobbies include cycling and traveling to various destinations with his wife, Shiela, in their motorhome.
Planning for life in retirement can be complex—but you don’t have to do it alone. You need an advisor with specialized knowledge to build a plan covering all aspects of your retirement.
An RICP® specializes in the complexities of:
- Income planning
- Social Security claiming
- Asset management and wealth transfer
- Long-term care planning
- Life insurance
- Business succession planning
Watch this quick video to learn how a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) can help you build a personalized retirement plan meant just for you.
How We Help
Services to Help You Prepare for and Enjoy Retirement
Whether you are preparing for retirement, transitioning into retirement, or already retired, having a comprehensive financial plan provides the foundation for making life’s most important financial decisions. At Cornerstone Financial Benefits, our advisors work closely with clients to develop personalized strategies designed around their goals, priorities, and vision for the future.
As an independent financial services firm, we have access to a wide range of investment, insurance, and retirement planning solutions. This flexibility allows us to focus on what matters most—helping clients make informed decisions that align with their unique circumstances and objectives.
We believe successful retirement planning is about more than accumulating assets. It requires a thoughtful strategy for generating income, managing risk, addressing taxes, and adapting to life’s unexpected changes. Because retirement can last 20, 30, or even 40 years, having a plan in place is essential.
Our process begins by getting to know you—your goals, concerns, family, and financial situation. From there, we develop customized strategies designed to help you build wealth, create sustainable retirement income, protect what you’ve worked hard to earn, and pursue long-term financial confidence.
Our mission is simple: to help clients create clarity, confidence, and control as they prepare for and navigate retirement.
Contact UsContact Us
