Thomas Bridgman
Thomas Bridgman | Financial Advisor | Creator of the BRIDGE™ Process | Divorce, Retirement & Business Transitions
Major life transitions have a way of making financial decisions more complicated at exactly the moment clarity matters most.
I work with individuals, families, and business owners navigating those crossroads, particularly retirement, divorce, widowhood, business transitions, and other significant financial turning points. Many are first-generation, self-made people who have spent decades building what they have and have reached a point where their financial lives have become increasingly complex.
My role starts with listening.
I often tell clients, “I don't know your internal map yet. We'll discover it together and create a path forward.”
That philosophy comes from my own story.
Before becoming a financial advisor, I spent 30 years in the movie theater industry, starting as a janitor and eventually becoming Vice President of Operations for the fourth-largest theater chain in the country. It was a career built around people, experiences, and stories. Those lessons still shape how I work today.
My transition into financial advising followed the loss of a career I had tied much of my identity to. It caused me to reevaluate my work, marriage, priorities, and purpose. I also knew firsthand how financial decisions can affect a family during difficult seasons. My father passed away at 51, and I saw the challenges my mother faced afterward.
Those experiences ultimately changed the direction of my life.
They also helped shape the BRIDGE™ Process, my framework for helping clients navigate significant financial decisions.
The idea behind BRIDGE™ came from a moment with my daughter in the Smoky Mountains. She was hesitant to cross a weathered bridge, so I said, “Hold my hand.”
She answered, “No, Daddy. You hold mine. If I'm holding yours, I might get scared and let go. But if you're holding mine, I know you won't.”
I've never forgotten it.
Today, BRIDGE™ gives structure to the work I do with clients: Begin with your story. Reveal your reality. Identify what matters most. Design the path forward. Guide each step. Establish & Evolve.
The objective is simple: understand where you are, identify what matters most, and develop a thoughtful path forward as life changes.
I'm committed to lifelong learning and hold the ChFC®, CDFA®, CPFA®, AAMS®, CRPC™, and CRPS™ designations. I'm also the creator and host of Thursdays with Thomas, my LinkedIn financial education series built around stories, questions, and financial concepts that matter in real life.
And despite what someone's first impression might suggest, I'm not quite as intimidating as I look. My family would tell you I'm really a teddy bear.
Outside the office, I'm a husband, father, film buff, avid reader, church volunteer, golfer, and enthusiastic brisket smoker.
Ultimately, I believe financial advice begins with understanding the person behind the numbers. If you're approaching a major transition and the financial decisions ahead feel increasingly complex, I'd welcome the opportunity to hear your story.
📩 thomas.bridgman@ml.com
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn
Placing the investor at the center of the planning process—while maintaining a market focus — is my goal in helping you work through difficult financial transitions and decisions that can occur in your life. The process begins by getting to know you, your family and financial situation, understanding your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, goals, priorities and unique financial concerns. From there, a personalized financial strategy is designed, drawing upon the investment insights of Merrill and accessing the credit, lending and banking solutions available from Bank of America. As your needs or market conditions change, I will meet with you to track and adjust your approach, as necessary.
Bringing fresh perspectives to your financial life
The financial decisions you make today can help determine the future you build for yourself and your family. Carving a clear path forward starts with connecting your life and finances. A Merrill advisor provides access to the investing insights of Merrill and banking capabilities of Bank of America to help you make informed decisions as you pursue your goals.
