Welcome

Former musician, English teacher, turned CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & Certified Portfolio Manager. On top of Jim’s wide range of professions he has been in the financial industry for over 30 years. A teacher at heart, he focuses his business methods strongly on learning and relearning. As a Family Wealth Advisor Jim finds it extremely important that he help clients make the right decisions with their money, but also that they understand the terminology and WHY certain options are better than others, dependent upon that client’s unique situation. Jim has been included as a member of the Century Club at Morgan Stanley since 2017, and also named to the Best-in-State Wealth Advisor List by Forbes Magazine in 2022 for Kentucky.

When he’s not working you can find him at the theatre, skiing with family, performing at Henry Clay’s Public House, or spending quality time with his favorite girls, granddaughters Reese Catherine and Parker Elizabeth. Jim’s involvement extends to his community as well. Throughout his career he has dedicated time to the Kentucky Children’s Hospital where he is on the Development Council, and the UK Alumni Association. Fall 2014, Jim was nationally recognized as one of three finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation for his ongoing commitment to the Lexington Dream Factory; an organization he co-founded with his wife Stacey. NMLS#: 1255648

"​Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2022)
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Apr 2022) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21. "
Services Include
Securities Agent: MI, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, MD, NC, AL, AR, AZ, CA, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 1255648
Check the background of Our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck.*

Digital Tools

Our comprehensive suite of digital tools are designed to help enhance every aspect of your financial life. Below are a few of the technologies we have available for our clients. We have also included resources meant to transform complex financial analysis and research into concise and easily digestible content.
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    Total Wealth View
    Complete your financial picture with Total Wealth View. By linking your account information, you will benefit from more informed wealth planning, more secure data access, and convenient connectivity.
    Get Started Here
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    Morgan Stanley Online
    Morgan Stanley Online digital capabilities and the Morgan Stanley Mobile App provide clients with access to their account information, enriched reporting tools, several cash management solutions and robust market research.
    Learn More About MSO
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    Online Security Center
    At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our security measures and use our resources and ideas to help protect yourself online.
    Learn More Here
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    Cybersecurity
    At Morgan Stanley, safeguarding your assets and personal information is among our highest priorities. Learn about our security measures and use our resources and ideas to help protect yourself online.
    Learn More About Your Online Security

Individual Plans Built For Individuals Like You

Chances are, that the goals you set today will evolve over time. Our process is designed to evolve with your goals - and with the changing circumstances of your life. Holistic in its approach, our planning process may encompass all the elements of your financial and personal life, making sure they align with your current goals and wealth management plan.
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    Life View and Intelligent Planning
    LifeView is a suite of planning tools that includes goal-specific analysis that we can use with our clients to create a realistic, holistic strategy that integrates the various aspects of an individual’s financial life, including investments and cash management needs.

    The questionnaire to get started talking with us about creating a personalized strategy for your long-term goals.
    View The Questionnaire Here
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    Goals Planning System (GPS)
    Goals Planning System (GPS) is Morgan Stanley’s own integrated planning tool. Built on the Firm’s intellectual capital and capabilities, GPS is an intuitive and efficient platform used to quickly assess whether a client is “On Track” to achieving their financial goals.
    Learn More Today
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    Intelligent Withdrawals
    Building wealth is a means to an end. Taxes can eat up a significant portion of your assets upon withdrawal. This is why it's vital to look at your entire portfolio and coordinate liquidation to help reduce the impact of taxes. We are backed by sophisticated technology that enables us to look across multiple accounts and products to determine the right combination of securities and positions to sell for client needs.
    Learn More Here
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    Aladdin - Portfolio Risk Platform
    Morgan Stanley's Portfolio Risk Platform analyzes over 3,000 risk factors, and models what-if scenarios so you can see the potential impact of hypothetical market shocks. The Portfolio Risk Platform integrates the leading risk analytics engine into Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s platform to improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of the end to end risk management processes for the Firm and our Clients.
    Learn More About Aladdin

Retirement Planning Resources

No matter the stage in life, it is important to be aware of where you stand financially, related to your retirement plan. These resources below will help you assess where you stand, or assist you in getting started. Jim Richardson and his Service Team can help have these meaningful conversations with you, today.
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    A Simple Six-Step Retirement Checkup
    Given recent market volatility, checking in on your retirement plan may make a lot of sense.
    Click Here to Learn More
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    You're Ready for Retirement. Is Your Portfolio?
    The market can influence your decision of when to retire. Learn how to help protect your nest egg, including the potential role of annuities in retirement.
    Click Here to Learn More
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    Making the Most of Your Retirement Savings
    Carefully managing distributions from your portfolio during retirement can help you save on taxes, leaving you more money to spend and enjoy.
    Click Here to Learn More
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    Why Your Home Can Be a Retirement Asset
    If you're willing to consider drawing down home equity-either by selling your home or borrowing against its value-it can dramatically change your retirement outlook.
    Click Here to Learn More

Upcoming Firm Events

We hope you will join us for this upcoming event.

U.S. Policy Pulse: Trump 2.0 and the Markets

DATE: February 25, 2025 at 4:15 p.m. ET

Join Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett, on Tuesday, February 25, for a conversation with Chief Economic Strategist and Global Head of Thematic and Macro Investing, Ellen Zentner, and Head of U.S. Public Policy, Monica Guerra, on the top policy and regulatory actions that could impact investors in the months ahead.

CRC4192005 02/2025
Online

Location

444 East Main St
Ste 111
Lexington, KY 40507
US
Direct:
(859) 231-9527(859) 231-9527
Toll-Free:
(800) 354-9559(800) 354-9559
Fax:
(859) 231-9567(859) 231-9567

Meet My Team

About Walker Borders

Finding strategies for business owners and aspiring professionals is what excites Walker on his way to work each day. As a recent graduate of Columbia University with his Masters in Wealth Management, Walker relies on his robust educational background to provide high quality advice to the Commonwealth and beyond. He is a staunch believer that thorough Financial Planning is directly correlated to building healthy communities and strengthening familial bonds.

Growing up in Bowling Green, KY, Walker always had an interest in finance and helping others. Working in a service role at a large financial institution was the perfect fit. Walker attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with honors in both Finance and Accounting. During his senior year, he interned at Morgan Stanley and after earning his degree, joined the firm full-time. Walker holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses, as well as his life and health insurance licenses.

Today, Walker calls Lexington his home. He volunteers as a mentor for Amachi Central Kentucky and is a member of the Rotaract Club of Lexington. Outside of the office, Walker loves to be outside. He enjoys running, playing golf and attending concerts, but his favorite activity is spending time with his large extended family.
Securities Agent: IL, ID, CO, WI, VT, SD, MS, MN, WY, VI, PR, OR, NM, MD, DC, AR, VA, PA, OH, NY, NE, DE, CT, AK, IA, AZ, TN, KY, IN, HI, CA, UT, ND, MI, GA, WV, TX, NC, MA, LA, FL, AL, WA, SC, NV, NH, ME, KS, RI, OK, NJ, MT, MO; General Securities Representative; Investment Advisor Representative
NMLS#: 2509754
Wealth Management
Global Investment Office

Portfolio Insights

Mosaic

Explore ideas and inspiration with captivating, original lifestyle stories created exclusively for Morgan Stanley clients.
A Change of Greenery
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A Change of Greenery

Houseplants add oxygen, flair, and warmth year-round, and the right one in the right space can do just as much for a room as any painting or side table.
Ready to start a conversation? Contact Jim Richardson today.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

1Morgan Stanley offers a wide array of brokerage and advisory services to its clients, each of which may create a different type of relationship with different obligations to you. Please consult with your Financial Advisor to understand these differences or review our Understanding Your Brokerage and Investment Advisory Relationships brochure available at www.morganstanley.com/wealth-relationshipwithms/pdfs/understandingyourrelationship.pdf.

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2Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC’s licensed insurance agency affiliates.

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3Products and services are provided by third party service providers, not Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). Morgan Stanley may not receive a referral fee or have any input concerning such products or services. There may be additional service providers for comparative purposes. Please perform a thorough due diligence and make your own independent decision.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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4When Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors (collectively, “Morgan Stanley”) provide “investment advice” regarding a retirement or welfare benefit plan account, an individual retirement account or a Coverdell education savings account (“Retirement Account”), Morgan Stanley is a “fiduciary” as those terms are defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as applicable. When Morgan Stanley provides investment education, takes orders on an unsolicited basis or otherwise does not provide “investment advice”, Morgan Stanley will not be considered a “fiduciary” under ERISA and/or the Code. For more information regarding Morgan Stanley’s role with respect to a Retirement Account, please visit www.morganstanley.com/disclosures/dol. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley does not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their tax and legal advisors (a) before establishing a Retirement Account, and (b) regarding any potential tax, ERISA and related consequences of any investments or other transactions made with respect to a Retirement Account. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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5The returns on a portfolio consisting primarily of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aware investments may be lower or higher than a portfolio that is more diversified or where decisions are based solely on investment considerations. Because ESG criteria exclude some investments, investors may not be able to take advantage of the same opportunities or market trends as investors that do not use such criteria. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining financial market.

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6Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.

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7Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

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8Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

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9Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

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10Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is the trade name of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, a registered broker-dealer in the United States.

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Check the background of our Firm and Investment Professionals on FINRA's BrokerCheck*.

The information, products and services described here are intended only for individuals residing in states where this Financial Advisor is properly registered as described in this site.

Morgan Stanley reserves the right, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to retain and monitor all electronic communications. Morgan Stanley will not accept purchase or sale orders via any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. Morgan Stanley does not endorse and is not responsible and assumes no liability for content, products or services posted by third-parties on any Internet site, social media site and/or its messaging systems. All electronic communications are subject to terms available at the following link:
https://www.morganstanley.com/disclaimers/mswm-email.html. Any profiles and associated content are for U.S. residents only.

The securities/instruments, services, investments and investment strategies discussed in this material may not be appropriate for all investors. The appropriateness of a particular investment, investment strategy or service will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments, strategies and services, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor or Private Wealth Advisor. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for legal matters.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the website. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third-party website or the use of or inability to use such site. Nor do we guarantee their accuracy or completeness.

The views, opinions or advice contained within third party websites or materials are solely those of the author, who is not a Morgan Stanley employee, and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, or its affiliates. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives.

*References to length of service at Morgan Stanley include years at Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney.  The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

Awards Disclosures
CRC 6491812 (04/2024)