Meet your advisor
Tom Blower
Partner & Senior Financial Advisor · CFP®, CDFA®
With two decades of experience and a deep commitment to helping others, I chose this profession to make a real difference. What started as a hope has become my reality: helping clients achieve financial clarity, independence, and confidence in their futures.
- Certified Financial Planner™
- Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®
- 20+ years of experience
- Working with clients by referral
Who I work with
Forward-thinking people who want a clear path to financial independence
By referral onlyMy clients are individuals and families who want to reach financial independence on their own terms, and they want a partner to help them get there. True financial independence is rare, and helping clients achieve it is incredibly rewarding.
- Aim to reach financial independence well before traditional retirement age.
- Value a collaborative, personal relationship with their financial advisor.
- Seek simplicity in managing their complex financial lives.
Life transitions I help people navigate
I work with individuals and families through life’s transitions and challenges, including:
Widows
Supporting clients who’ve lost loved ones is a privilege I deeply value. I help them make informed financial decisions during emotionally challenging times and chart a new path forward.
Business Owners & Executives
From succession planning and exit strategies to managing concentrated stock, stock options, and tax planning, I help high-achieving professionals optimize their wealth.
Sudden Wealth
Whether from inheritance, legal settlements, or business sales, I guide clients in managing and growing unexpected financial windfalls.
Divorce Planning
As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), I provide expert guidance to those navigating the financial complexities of divorce, so they have clarity and confidence through a difficult time.
The clients I’m best able to help
- Are willing to delegate and collaborate with a professional.
- Care about their family and want to plan for them.
- Have a level of financial complexity in their lives, and strive for simplicity.
A note on minimums. I don’t have “investment minimums” in the traditional sense. Instead, I’m focused on pairing up with like-minded families and individuals who meet certain criteria, so I can help them for many years to come.
Start a conversationCommon questions
What clients ask me
Together, we craft strategies that align with their goals, allowing them to leverage their net worth and live life on their own terms. Here are the questions that usually start the conversation.
Who does Tom Blower work with?
I work by referral with forward-thinking individuals and families who want to reach financial independence well before traditional retirement age, value a collaborative relationship with their advisor, and want simplicity in managing a complex financial life. I have particular experience with widows, business owners and executives, people experiencing sudden wealth, and people going through divorce.
Does Tom Blower have investment minimums?
Not in the traditional sense. Instead, I focus on partnering with like-minded individuals and families who are willing to delegate and collaborate, care about planning for their family, and have a level of financial complexity they would like to simplify.
Do I have enough money to support my lifestyle throughout retirement?
Answering this starts with a retirement income projection built around your real spending, assets, taxes and goals, tested against market downturns, inflation and longer lifespans, so you can see where you stand and which levers you can adjust.
Are there planning strategies we have overlooked?
A comprehensive review looks across investments, taxes, insurance, estate planning, equity compensation and charitable giving together, which helps surface gaps and opportunities that are easy to miss when decisions are made one at a time.
Can you help me understand the big picture of my entire financial life?
Yes. I bring the pieces of your financial life into one coordinated plan, so you’re no longer making decisions on your own and in a vacuum.
How can I meet my income needs in retirement in a tax-efficient way?
Tax-efficient retirement income planning typically considers which accounts to draw from and in what order, when to claim Social Security, and how to manage taxes across multiple years, all matched to your income needs.
Do I need a trust, and if so, what type?
It depends on your family situation, assets, goals and state law. I help you think through the questions and work alongside your estate attorney to decide whether a trust makes sense and which type fits.
How do I become a client?
I work with new clients by referral only. If you were referred, or you’d like to start a conversation, send me an email.
In the news
Insights shared with leading publications
I’ve contributed to articles that help readers navigate financial challenges.
About me
Advisor, neighbor, marathoner, and a believer in investing in yourself
I graduated with a degree in Finance from Miami University (OH) in 2005 and earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation in 2010.
Giving back is a core value of mine. I’ve proudly served on the boards of the East Grand Rapids School Foundation and Coral Reef, a unique 28-unit living community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who want to live more independently.
I truly believe in investing in yourself, and over the years I’ve invested heavily in leadership training and coaching.
“Your health is your greatest wealth.”
Over the years, I’ve gradually embraced a healthy lifestyle.
What I bring to the relationship
As part of a recent leadership program, I completed a series of personal assessments. My Clifton StrengthsFinder® report shows my talents lie most heavily in these five areas:
Relator
I enjoy close relationships with others. I find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.Responsibility
I take psychological ownership of what I say I will do. I am committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.Developer
I recognize and cultivate the potential in others. I spot the signs of each small improvement and take satisfaction in evidence of progress.Context
I enjoy thinking about the past. I understand the present by researching its history.Activator
I make things happen by turning thoughts into action. I can even be impatient at times.Ready to simplify your financial life?
If you’re seeking a financial partner who values transparency, strategy, and a personal connection, let’s talk. Together, we can build a path toward financial independence and a future you’re excited to pursue.