OUR DIFFERENCE

The Importance of Financial Education Today

Today’s financial world is highly complex as compared with that of a generation ago. Twenty-five years ago, knowing how to maintain a checking and savings account at a local financial institution was sufficient for many Americans. Today’s consumers, however, must be able to differentiate among a wide range of products, services, and providers of financial products in order to manage their personal finances successfully.

Alan Greenspan
Trends in Consumer Finances

No one cares about your money as much as you do. That is a fact. There is no shortage of people and financial products in conflict with your best interest. If you want to protect, manage and control your assets, financial education can provide a solid basis for thoughtful, intelligent and wise decisions. We are living longer in retirement and the burden of managing finances and creating income for life has been placed with each of us. It is our responsibility to equip ourselves with the financial education needed to be the best possible steward of our assets.

This site is dedicated to providing resources to educate yourself with facts, research and some of the best thinking from academics and industry professionals. Our goal is to help you make better financial decisions.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ~Aristotle

McIlrath|Eck is dedicated to helping you achieve financial independence by developing a comprehensive financial relationship and ensuring your retirement plan works in concert with all pieces of your financial strategy.

We have helped many people from all walks of life make important financial decisions for themselves and their families. At McIlrath|Eck LLC we empower you to safely navigate today’s retirement and legacy planning path. As fee-only advisors, we work with you to identify your financial goals and implement a strategy to achieve your retirement plan.

So, how are we truly different than the many firms offering investment, retirement, and legacy planning advice? At McIlrath|Eck, we understand that entrusting a firm with your financial affairs is an extremely important decision—one that will impact you and your family for a lifetime. We take our responsibility to you seriously and treat it with the utmost respect, taking great pride in our role as stewards of your goals and objectives.

Unyielding Integrity, Independence & Objectivity

Since we are an independent investment advisory firm, we are committed to objectivity. We have no proprietary financial products or house brands. This allows us to avoid the conflict and bias that can exist when an advisor is bound to specific products or compensated preferentially for recommending certain investment or insurance vehicles over others. Our commitment to this level of client-centered advice is unwavering.

  • We commit to serve you according to a fiduciary standard of care.
  • We receive only fee-based compensation – not commissions or incentives for product sales./li>
  • We are accountable only to you—and provide you with independent, objective advice and service.
  • Our clients benefit from our team approach.
  • We forge a true partnership with our clients based on trust, honesty, integrity, and understanding.
  • Our success is measured by the realization of your goals.

Thor McIlrath and Sam Eck are independent retirement and estate planners whose advice is uncolored by sales considerations. As fee-only advisors, we have a fiduciary obligation to put your welfare first and to fully disclose our compensation and any potential conflicts of interest.

Thor and Sam have seen and solved many different retirement and estate planning issues. Through our educational classes and client relationships, we replace ambiguity and uncertainty with answers. You can depend on us to evaluate your goals and needs, explore your options, and plan for your best interests.

A Higher Standard of Care

We choose to work in a fiduciary capacity. As fiduciaries, we put your interests first. As a general rule, we work on a fee basis. However, there are occasions where the best planning solution requires a financial product which pays us a commission. We do not receive referral fees, or any other compensation, from other parties based upon our referral of you to other professionals.

Well Informed Guidance

We have a passion for assisting clients in achieving their vision of a great life and know that frequent, effective communications is key to a successful relationship. We talk ‘with you’ not ‘at you’ in plain English so when you leave our office you understand what we talked about, helping you make the tough decisions about your finances.


McIlrath & Eck is a Registered Investment Advisor specializing in comprehensive retirement and estate planning strategies. As fee-only advisors, our interests are aligned with those of our clients. We use a team approach which allows us to help you achieve your goals and dreams for today and tomorrow.
Thor and Sam are retirement and estate planning specialists who listen to you and learn about your unique needs. We develop and implement strategies to help you achieve your goals and dreams for today and tomorrow.
Thor McIlrath has been a financial advisor for more than 18 years. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. Sam Eck has practiced law for 39 years, the last 17 years exclusively in the area of estate planning.