Financial Advisor Corvallis
Meet Ellen Johnson
My Connection To Finance Didn’t Start In Adulthood
It was passed down from my mother.
Throughout my childhood, she told me, “You need to understand how money works. You need to be able to support yourself fully and independently.”
She had watched a woman she loved suddenly lose her husband. And with that, their income. The woman was then left to carry a family, a business, and a life she hadn’t been prepared to manage alone.
That experience shaped my mother. And in turn, it shaped me.
It’s a big part of why this work feels like more than a career to me. What I want is for the women I serve to have choices. To feel confident, capable, and independent because they understand their finances and have the structure in place to support themselves.
Financial independence was passed to me. Now I get to pass it on.
The turning point
Early in 2022…
I owned and ran a consulting engineering firm. Because I grew up on a farm, I loved solving complex problems and working hard. But during that time, I was also living the kind of life many of you know well. I was running a company, raising two young daughters, managing a household, and trying to make sound financial decisions.
Like a lot of you, I handled most of it myself. I felt responsible for my family (and still do). But even people who are comfortable with numbers and big decisions still need someone they trust when it comes to money.
So I started looking for someone who could help me with wealth management in retirement.. But something about the finance industry kept bothering me. Most wealth management Corvallis advisors I came across were focused on helping people build wealth. They delivered a solution for growth and accumulation, then moved on. But the questions many of us are asking are different….
How do we use what we’ve built to support the retirement I want for the rest of my life? How do we support family without jeopardizing our own future?
Those are questions no one is answering. And they require a different mindset entirely. So I sold my engineering firm and spent two years learning everything I could about wealth management. Then I built the firm I had been looking for all along.
The Result
Thistle Wealth® Today
People choose us when their finances have become complicated, and they’re mentally overextended. When they’re nervous that they’ll run out of money. When they can no longer avoid making decisions for their retirement. The complexity has grown to the point where managing it alone feels uncomfortable.
Thistle Wealth® helps you step into retirement knowing you have enough. Enough money, enough flexibility, and enough understanding to live well. We turn years of savings into a reliable income using a research-based plan. It consistently supports your spending and allows you to enjoy retirement without worrying about money. And unlike most wealth management firms, we intentionally take on a small, limited number of clients. We are deeply detail-oriented and look at every part of your financial life before making any recommendations.
With a Thistle Plan, you protect your family and support a vibrant, meaningful retirement.
Things You Won’t Find On Ellen’s Resume
On my desk:
A decaf soymilk latte, extra hot. (If you don’t have to be careful not to burn your tongue, it’s not hot enough.)
The engineer in me still loves:
Neat and tidy everything. My office and desk must be clean, or I can’t think clearly.
My family teases me about:
Turning into my mother. Whether that’s rearranging the dishes on the table to be neat, gasping when startled, or waking up at 4:30 am when I have work to do.
On my bookshelf:
Historical fiction or Romantasy books.
Overflowing with love for:
My husband and two daughters.
The hill I’ll die on:
Planning ahead isn’t overthinking. It’s how you take care of future you.
Where you’ll find me outside of work:
Showing up for this community. I’m an active member of the Rotary Club and the Oregon State Women’s Giving Circle (an organization that’s close to my heart, given the women I get to serve every day). I also sit on the board of Ashbrook Independent School, where I recently stepped into the role of Treasurer. If you hand me a set of books to keep in order, I’m genuinely happy.
Who we serve
You might be the right fit if you’re:
- Within 5–8 years of retirement or already retired
- Managing investments across multiple accounts and general retirement accounts
- Starting to think seriously about taxes in retirement
- Wondering how your savings will become a reliable income
- Looking for a long-term financial partner who knows your family, not just your numbers
Retirement Planning Corvallis
The Standard We Hold Ourselves To
Make the complicated simple
Financial planning doesn’t have to feel like a foreign language. We take the time to explain the why behind every decision and focus on what matters for you. You’ll always know exactly where you stand and what comes next in retirement.
Care for the people you love
Good wealth management retirement planning is an act of care. We prepare ahead, coordinate details, and plan for life’s “what ifs.” All to help protect spouses, children, and future generations from unnecessary burden.
Integrity through evidence
We give you advice we’d give our own family. As a fee-only fiduciary, every recommendation we make is backed by research. We deliberately structured how we earn money so that our success depends on yours.
We are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) a group dedicated to the highest standards since 1983. Our membership also includes the Fee-Only Network and XYPN.
What you’re investing in
- Direct access to Ellen, always
- Advisor who specializes in retirement
- Fee-only. No commissions, ever
- Sustainable withdrawal strategies
- A plan to use your wealth
- Tax-smart retirement income
- Relationship-driven continuity
What you won’t get
- Passed off to a junior advisor
- Commission-driven recommendations
- Generic advice about building wealth
Total value:
- Retirement done right
