Education

• BS, Business Administration - Nebraska Wesleyan University
• MBA, Business Administration, Operations Management - Regis University
• MS, Financial Services - The American College
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, administered by the CFP Board
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designation from The American College
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation from The American College
• Chartered Advisor for Senior Living designation from The American College
• One of two Estate and Business Planning Specialists in the State of Nebraska
• Securities licensed

Professional Background

David started his practice with Northwestern Mutual in 1996 and enjoys seeing the fruits of his almost 30 years of labor in the form of educations being funded, retirements being enjoyed, and wealth being passed to the next generation of families.

Personal

David has been married to Megan for more than 36 years. They love traveling the world and spending time with friends. David and Megan are both active in their church, Lincoln Berean. They have two grown children. Their son, Taylor, lives in Omaha with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter Elise lives in Memphis, TN, with her husband Trevor.

I began my journey with Northwestern Mutual as a client. That experience led me to start my financial planning career with Northwestern Mutual in 2014. I was introduced to Northwestern Mutual through my best friend and college teammate. It is also where I met my wife. Surrounding yourself with great people allows great things to happen. God certainly provides.

Each day I strive to give my clients that same experience of having a trusted advisor who listens and gathers a true understanding of their goals to create financial security. My clients are forward thinking and believe in creating a strong legacy for their families, businesses, and communities. Whether it’s planning for retirement, saving for their children’s future, building a dream home, or creating a legacy plan for your family or business, we work together to create and execute a strategy to help grow and protect your wealth and loved ones.

I was born and raised in O’Neill, Nebraska and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska for college where I attended Nebraska Wesleyan University to study Business and play football. I am married to my wife and best friend Caitlyn. Together we have one ornery and spirited son, Bowen. In our free time, we enjoy traveling, grilling, golfing, and cheering for our Nebraska Cornhuskers & Tennessee Titans!

Russell has been at Northwestern Mutual for more than 12 years, putting clients first and creating plans that allow them to build their best life. In addition to his personal practice, Russell serves as the Growth and Development Director for the Lincoln district office, coaching and developing new advisors who are just getting started. When he’s not in the office, Russell enjoys any reason to be on the golf course. He also coaches youth athletics, and loves to spend time with his wife, Alyssa, and kids Carter, Drew, and Miller.

I joined our team full-time in August 2018, and I bring a high-level skill set to our firm. Prior to joining the firm, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Nebraska Wesleyan University with an emphasis in finance. I prepare reports and assist in analyzing our clients' portfolios. I thrive on the highly analytical work that I do for our firm. I am FINRA registered Series 7 and 63 and currently a CFA Level 2 candidate.

John Ruhl is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor whose mission is to help individuals, families, and business owners have financial success. John and his wife Rosie live in Lincoln, NE.

Taylor Donovan is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor who serves as the support advisor for Russell Walton. With a passion for making a meaningful impact in clients' lives, Taylor brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her role. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she graduated as a Chancellor’s Scholar with minors in Business and Hospitality, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. Taylor began as an intern at Northwestern Mutual, advancing through various roles, including financial advisor and associate financial advisor in Omaha, before stepping into her current role.

Taylor is deeply committed to expanding her expertise. She has completed the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation through the American College of Financial Services and sat for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation in March 2024.

I joined Northwestern Mutual in 2019, and I bring a variety of skill sets to the team. I received my Applied Science degree in 2009, my Producers Life and Health license in 2020, my variable license in 2022, and the completion of my FINRA SIE, Series 6 and 63 exams in 2022. I am currently an Associate Financial Advisor and Director of Client Relations for the Darlington Team, and I bring over 15 years of client relations experience with me!

Taylor Adams is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor specializing in investment management and financial planning. Since joining the financial industry in 2019, he has been dedicated to helping clients build and secure their financial futures by reviewing and preparing comprehensive financial plans while managing investment processes from start to finish.

Motivated by a desire to focus more directly on financial planning, Taylor transitioned to Northwestern Mutual in January 2021, where he continues to help clients navigate complex financial landscapes. Taylor holds his Series 7 and Series 63 licenses and his Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC®) designation.

I joined the Darlington team in 2024 and bring a variety of skill sets to the firm. Prior to joining the team, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2022. I earned my Producers Life and Health license in 2024 and am currently an associate financial representative with the Darlington team.

I graduated in 2024 from Grand Canyon University. I am currently a master's student and am working to get my MBA with an emphasis in project management. I am a huge fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Green Bay Packers. I enjoy watching sports and just relaxing outside in my free time.

I joined the team in 2024 after spending nine years teaching high school math in Florida and Oklahoma. I graduated from Morningside University in 2014 with a bachelor of science in mathematics. I am a Client Relations Associate and look forward to connecting with you and assisting in any way possible.