I'M TOM
Pathfinder, Listener, Collaborator
Welcome! Thank you for taking a moment to learn a bit about me. Feel free to browse my professional experience and what I'm currently spending my time on outside of work. Each step of my journey has taught me something valuable which I seek to share whenever possible (take a look below). I make a point of seeking out new challenges as it is my firm belief they are the best way to learn and improve. Don't hesitate to contact me directly to learn more.
ABOUT ME
An engineer who's good with people :)
I’m an experienced professional with an analytical mind who's always seeking out the next technical challenge or problem that needs solving. My career has taken me around the world providing solutions to leading tech companies like Alphabet, Facebook, Cisco, Huawei, HP, Dell, IBM, and Raphael. More recently I've been engaged in helping people find clarity and security in a complex financial environment. Going forward, my focus and passion are aligned with finding solutions to level the financial playing field for everyone.
PAST EXPERIENCE
Things I've done and what I learned
2019 - Present
CENTERLINE WEALTH ADVISORS- FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Registered Independent Advisor with $250M in Assets Under Management (AUM). Personally responsible for holistic financial planning and helping client execute on their goals.
What I've Learned
Balance "enjoying today" with "preparing for tomorrow"
Simplicity and transparency helps build client trust
Embrace volatility as an opportunity
2019 - 2022
THE GLEASON GROUP - FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Registered Independent Advisor with $600M in Assets Under Management (AUM). Personally responsible for client financial planning, business development, and operational oversight.
What I Learned
Empathy and transparency are keys to building trust
Money is tied to emotion which can lead to irrational decisions
The financial system benefits high net worth individuals
More financial education for kids and young adults is critical
2018 - 2019
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL (BARNES YOUNG WEALTH MANAGEMENT) - ASSOCIATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
Financial services organization providing wealth management, investment services, and retirement planning. Responsible for client financial planning and operational oversight. Implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System.
What I Learned
Seek to be a resource to others
Provide clarity and accountability
Team success is more fulfilling than individual achievement
Stick to your values
2016 - Present
SEEK&BEE - FOUNDER
BACKFORTY AQUAPONICS - FOUNDER
Seek&Bee is an eCommerce business specializing in honey, skincare products, and bee education. It's also given me a tremendous opportunity to teach about the connection between humanity and our environment. seekandbee.com
Backforty was an effort to build a commercial-scale aquaponics-based vertical farming facility, which never launched.
What I Learned
Entrepreneurship is hard, find a good partner
Building takes time, but if you have a good product people will find you
20% of the work gets you 80% of the result
2012- 2015
AMPHENOL - GLOBAL PRODUCT MANAGER MEZZANINE PRODUCTS
Established a new product development team, product portfolio, and business development plan. Complete ownership of product family and P&L. Reported to CEO and VP.
What I Learned
Do whatever it takes to get talented people on your team
M&A and how to successfully integrate a new company
It's important to manage up as well as across and down
Managing a P&L in a public company
2009 - 2012
SAMTEC INC - ADVANCED PRODUCTS MANAGER
High-speed interconnect products focused on data network infrastructure. Owned a $60M P&L and reported to both the CEO and VP of Sales.
What I Learned
The importance of cross-functional teams to the success of a product
How to use customer input to identify high margin opportunities in the market
Compensation structure directly impacts culture
OUTSIDE INTERESTS
What I'm working on in my free time
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Always seeking opportunities to teach high school and college kids as well as those struggling economically about personal finance.
CRYPTOCURRENCY AND CODING - SOLIDITY
Cryptocurrency and DeFi applications have the potential to revolutionize the financial system. I'm fascinated with smart contracts and constantly looking to learn more about software especially as it applies to FinTech. Currently working on Solidity through both free courses and Udemy with my son.
NO CODE APP DEVELOPMENT
Students struggle to find the best college fit for their needs and interests. So I figured I would start building a product to help make the college application process more effective and enjoyable for students. Also working on fun financial tools.
Technical and Fundamental Analysis
Technical analysis is an interesting look into the impact of trends and momentum on markets. It also gives tremendous insight into the behavior of retail investors versus institutions. I also find chart analysis and predicting trends to be a fun challenge.
EDUCATION
My Studies
VIRGINIA TECH - BACHELOR’S OF SCIENCE, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
I was a member of the Corps of Cadets and my area of study was digital signal processing
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Studied and passed while working full time. This certification covers all aspects of financial planning
SERIES 7, SERIES 66 LICENSES, &CSLP
I'm always looking for new opportunities to learn new skills and apply them to providing the best financial outcome for clients
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you."
Walt Whitman
REACH OUT!
Thanks for visiting! If you're interested in learning more, don't hesitate to reach out.
Anchorage, KY
502-908-8282