Welcome To
Retirement Renegade
Strategic Partners
Retirement Renegade works with strategic partners and referral relationships in areas that may support retirement-related planning needs, such as legal, tax, estate, and other professional services. These relationships help clients identify additional resources when specialized expertise is needed.
Partner relationships are independent and may vary by service, engagement, and client needs. Any professional services are provided directly by the partner organization under their own terms and agreements.
Strategic Partners
Michael S. Goode, shareholder in the Lewis Thomason, P.C.’s Nashville office, focuses his practice on the estate planning needs of families and businesses, as well as providing tax, business, and international law advice. Michael has extensive experience in preparing estate and business succession plans for a variety of clients, including those with closely held family businesses, large retirement accounts, and complex legal issues. He works directly with advisors, banks, and trust companies to provide innovative solutions to clients’ wealth preservation needs.
Michael frequently speaks at conferences and conventions for state and national audiences on tax, business, and estate planning issues, as well as on international topics.
AFFILIATIONS
- American Bar Association, member
- Georgia Bar Association, member
- Harry Phillips American Inn of Court
- Nashville Bar Association
- Nashville No Name Tax Group, Member
- Member, Tennessee Probate Study Group (assists in the writing of Tennessee Estate Planning and Probate laws)
PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
- Past Chair of the Estate Planning & Probate Section of the Tennessee Bar Association
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Tax Law
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated
- Georgia Super Lawyers®, Rising Star (2009, 2011-14)
- Author, Revocable Trusts: Tennessee State Q&A for Revocable Trusts and Power of Attorney, Practical Law
- Author, Trusts, Tennessee Alimony Bench Book
Michael received his JD from William and Mary, and his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.
Disclaimer
- Neither Michael S. Goode, Esq. nor Lewis Thomason, P.C. provides investment or insurance advice.
- Neither Michael S. Goode, Esq. nor Lewis Thomason, P.C. advises on the suitability or appropriateness of any investment, insurance product, or any similar items.
- We do not vet or recommend any particular advisor, advisory firm, or investment or insurance advice, or any similar advice, and listing or links on any website do not imply endorsement of any advisory, firm, plan, or product.
- We solely accept referrals for legal services only, and not for investment or insurance advice. In this case, we are providing independent legal services for estate planning, such as preparing trust agreements.
- We are an independent law firm and are not partners with any investment advisory or insurance agency or agents.
- Any reference to “partners” simply means that we accept referrals, and we are in no way a partner or agent of any investment or insurance advisor.
- Legal services are provided only by a written and signed engagement letter with Lewis Thomason, P.C., and otherwise, there is no attorney/client relationship.
- The investment or insurance advisor is not responsible for the legal services provided by Michael S. Goode, Esq. or Lewis Thomason, P.C.
- Pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Professional Conduct 7.3, neither Michael S. Goode, Esq. nor Lewis Thomason, P.C. has paid any fee to an advisor or advisory firm for any referral.
Martin Ruby is founder and CEO of Stonewood Financial. A seasoned financial industry executive, Martin has decades of experience developing, pricing and selling insurance products, and managing strategic corporate growth. A nationally-recognized public speaker and trainer, Martin is author of industry-leading books The No-Compromise Retirement Plan and The New Rules of Retirement Saving.
An actuary by background, Martin wanted to use his actuarial expertise to help American savers. In 2001, he founded a retail annuity and insurance practice and began marketing Indexed Universal Life insurance solutions. His strategies proved so popular that other financial advisors began asking Marty to help them as they added IUL to their practices.
In response, Martin founded Stonewood Financial in 2013 to help advisors grow their practices with innovative marketing strategies, customized proposal tools, and software that helps clients better understand the value of their strategies.
Prior to founding Stonewood, Martin served as CEO of Integrity Life Insurance Companies, where he led the growth of a successful retail annuity business, cutting-edge technology platforms, and innovative product development. He has also served as head of the Life and Annuity Industry Group for Channel Point Technology, and in several senior executive positions for Capital Holding Corporation (now part of AEGON).
Martin is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA). He holds an MBA from Bellarmine College and a B.S. from Purdue University.
A dedicated community leader, Martin has served on numerous boards in the Greater Louisville region. His service includes Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Jewish Hospital, and President of the Board of Trustees for both the Temple Adath Israel Brith Sholom and the Louisville Jewish Community Center. Martin has also served on the boards of the Louisville Fund for the Arts and Louisville Metro United Way.
Becky Ruby Swansburg is Partner & Chief Marketing Officer for Stonewood Financial, and co-author of the industry-leading books The No-Compromise Retirement Plan and The New Rules of Retirement Saving. A nationally-recognized public speaker, Becky has trained advisors across the country on incorporating tax-efficient income planning and new holistic strategies into their practices.
Becky has more than a decade of experience in marketing, public relations and communications across a range of industries in the for-profit, non-profit and government sectors.
Prior to joining Stonewood, Becky served as Director of Communication and Public Affairs for Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce, where she directed the chamber’s communications and government relations. Becky has also handled marketing and communications for several U.S. Congressmen and government agencies, and has worked in the White House Press Office in Washington, D.C.
Becky holds a B.S. in Political Science from Middlebury College and an M.S. in Public Relations from Boston University. An active community member, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Community of Louisville and the Jewish Community Relations Council. Becky is chair of the Board of Directors for Louisville Classical Academy, and has prior service on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Louisville and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Becky was named to Business First’s prestigious ‘Forty Under 40’ list of community leaders, and is a Bingham Fellow through the Leadership Louisville Center.
Neil Wilding is Partner & Chief Development Officer for Stonewood Financial, and co-author of the industry-leading books The No-Compromise Retirement Plan and The New Rules of Retirement Saving. A noted trainer and public speaker, Neil helps advisors incorporate new holistic strategies and tax-efficient income planning into their practices, and connects leading industry institutions with innovative, growth-oriented approaches to IUL.
Prior to joining Stonewood, Neil led sales, business development and operations for Aria, running their National Sales Office. He has also served as the National Sales Manager for the Institutional Retirement Group of Genworth Financial, leading sales and business development efforts for the advisor market. Neil’s career has included time wholesaling annuities, mutual funds, and managed money in all channels of distribution.
Neil holds a BS in Marketing from the University of Louisville. He is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He lives in Louisville with his wife and children.
What are Retirement Renegade’s strategic partners?
Strategic partners are independent professionals or organizations that may provide services related to retirement planning needs, such as legal, tax, estate, or other specialized support.
Are Retirement Renegade strategic partners part of Retirement Renegade?
No. Strategic partners are independent professionals or firms. They are not employees of Retirement Renegade unless explicitly stated.
Why does Retirement Renegade list strategic partners?
Retirement Renegade lists strategic partners to help clients identify additional professional resources that may be relevant to their situation when specialized expertise is needed.
Does Retirement Renegade endorse every service offered by a strategic partner?
Partner relationships and referrals should be reviewed based on the client’s needs and the partner’s scope of services. Any engagement is handled directly with the partner organization.
Do strategic partners provide financial, legal, or tax advice through Retirement Renegade?
Professional advice and services are provided directly by the partner (when engaged), not through this page itself. Clients should review the partner’s credentials, disclosures, and engagement terms.
Is there an attorney-client or advisory relationship from visiting this page?
No. Viewing this page or reading partner information does not create an attorney-client, tax-advisor, or other professional relationship.