There’s nothing better than knowing that you work with one of the best teams in the financial services industry—and we fully believe that’s the case here at Bridgewell Financial. We’re very proud of the commitment to excellence that our colleagues display every day. Their dedication to continuous learning, providing an exceptional client service experience and always going above and beyond, makes our clients’ financial lives better.
In this new series, we’d like you to get to know our amazing people, beginning with Teresa Garcia. As our Group Service Coordinator, Teresa has long been an integral member of our group benefits practice. We sat down to discuss her role, what she believes makes Bridgewell unique and how she spends time away from the office:
Can you provide a few details about your professional background and what brought you to Bridgewell?
I’ve been in the industry for more than 30 years. I started off with Zurich Life, then moved over to Manulife Financial. I left the workforce for almost a year, then took an opportunity to work with (Bridgewell Financial Group Benefits Partner) Michael Wortsman at Creative Planning Financial Group around 2005. It was a good fit for me. I was looking to get into the workforce on a part-time basis, I knew Michael, the team and their reputation. Then, when the partners made the decision to found Bridgewell Financial, it was a natural next step in my career.
Why did you choose to build a career in group benefits—and how do you think the industry has changed over the past 30 years?
It’s important to be able to support employers and employees, addressing their financial needs, their overall health and mental wellness. It feels good to be able to help people whenever I come to work.
I’d say the biggest shift is in technology. I think in the insurance and group benefits industry, things tend to move slowly in a lot of respects, but now there’s more momentum for change; we especially saw that during the pandemic. I can remember doing most of our administrative work using pen and paper. There’s been a lot of positive change in terms of service delivery using digital platforms.
How do you support Bridgewell on a daily basis?
I handle various inquiries related to claims, coverage and administrative processes. I also manage the carrier change and new issue process for clients. I try to find customized solutions to suit our clients’ unique needs whenever I can. It’s important for me to build and maintain relationships with our clients, our associates at Bridgewell and our industry partners.
What do you think is unique about Bridgewell’s service offering and culture?
I think we’re constantly expanding our offerings and I think that helps us deliver more customized group benefits solutions. Things have really progressed in a short period of time, and I think that goes back to the partners and all of the expertise they bring to the firm. Offering solutions that promote mental wellness has been a focus at Bridgewell. Expanding our relationships with other providers in that realm has been an example of one of the more significant changes to our service offerings.
What do you like to do away from the office?
I’m a new grandmother and love spending time with my family and my granddaughter. I like to get outside to garden—even though I don’t really know what I’m doing—and I’m a tennis fan. I always look forward to watching or going to the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Toronto.
The Bridgewell team
For assistance with your wealth and financial planning, insurance or group benefits planning needs, contact a member of our team today.
