Delivering the most innovative group benefits, wealth and financial planning and insurance solutions to our clients means staying a step ahead of industry developments, while also attracting and retaining the very best talent in our sector. It’s why we’ve worked to hire highly engaged and dedicated employees, while also collaborating with dynamic partners that can help us achieve our growth potential as an organization. Sometimes it involves bringing a professional on board and then allowing their relationship with Bridgewell to evolve—say, expanding from a full-time team member to an independent partner who maintains the same strong relationship with our firm.
That’s the case for our Advisor Matt Shechtman. When he joined Bridgewell in 2023, Matt brought extensive insurance industry expertise to the firm. He joined our team with the goal of one day becoming a full-fledged insurance advisor, giving him the opportunity to take everything he’d learned and apply it to his practice. That determination was informed by his experience in the industry, but also a personal belief that financial services firms should treat their clients with the utmost care and consideration, putting client needs above all else. In this latest Meet the Bridgewell Team blog, Matt takes us through his career journey, explains why he believed early on that Bridgewell’s core values aligned with his, and offers us a glimpse into his busy life outside of work.
Can you provide a few details about your professional background?
I graduated university in 2016 and was considering law school, but instead decided to pursue a career in insurance, specifically on the sales side. I met with several advisors and noticed how they were offering value to their clients and determined that was what I wanted to do. I obtained my insurance license in 2017 and spent a few years as an independent advisor, earning my CLU and CFP designations along the way.
I later took a job with a major national insurance firm as a life insurance wholesaler. I spent three years working with advisors learning their products and sales strategies inside out.
What brought you to Bridgewell?
I had been working with brokers and advisory groups on a daily basis and I knew the ones that were doing it well. Bridgewell stood out as one of those groups. After a few meetings I knew that our values aligned and that this was a firm I wanted to join. That was back in February 2023.
How do you support the Bridgewell team on a daily basis?
I spent most of the first two years learning how to operate in the Bridgewell environment, learning our systems and processes and how we operate in client meetings. That also involved supporting (Bridgewell Partner) Chad Tranter when there were client opportunities. In January 2025, I made the transition to full-time independent advisor. I still work with everyone on the Bridgewell team, but in a slightly different capacity.
I’ve since taken those years of experience from my initial stint as an independent advisor and used that as experience to better service our clients. Bridgewell is an amazing place for me because it provides resources from an administrative and marketing perspective and I can collaborate with the rest of our team to share ideas, learn, grow and review joint case work.
What do you think is unique about Bridgewell’s service offering and culture?
It can be challenging to find firms that service their clients well. Bridgewell has always valued delivering the best possible service experience to clients, providing as much value as possible. We focus on the best strategies and solutions for our clients’ needs. I value that approach because it ensures we always do the right thing and we’re focused on delivering solutions that are in the client’s best interests.
What do you like to do away from the office?
I spend a lot of my time in summer at the cottage, and I enjoy playing golf and hockey in my spare time. I have an 11-month old, so I’m a busy dad. I also have a two-year old rescue dog that was brought to Canada from the Bahamas.
The Bridgewell team
For assistance with your wealth and financial planning, insurance or group benefits planning needs, contact a member of our team today.
