If our first year in business was about establishing processes, delivering high-value financial solutions and growing our firm, the second has been about taking it to the next level and continuing to enhance a client service experience built around delivering financial wellness.
We’re especially proud that we’ve been able to expand what it means to help our clients achieve financial wellness. We’ve worked hard to promote the idea that building wealth, mitigating risk using effective insurance products or delivering transformative benefits to employees is about helping people live better, more fulfilling lives. It’s about identifying and bridging gaps in their financial infrastructure to ensure they can live life on their terms.
You—our clients, team and industry partners—have been our greatest supporters and advocates in sharing this message and conveying its many benefits. None of our growth and success would be possible without your backing, so we thank you for being at our side at every step in this journey.
Expanding our team and suite of solutions
We welcomed a new member to the team in February when Matt Shechtman joined Bridgewell in an Associate Advisor role. Matt’s experience includes tenures with some of Canada’s largest insurers and notable mid-sized brokerages, where he built expertise in everything from insurance sales and advisory to financial and estate planning. Matt has proven a great fit for the team and has brought new perspectives and insights to our clients—helping them find the right insurance solutions for their needs.
We also took steps to address the unique needs of our many executive clients and their employers with the launch of our Executive Planning and Group Benefits solutions. They include comprehensive executive healthcare, executive benefits, enhanced income protection and global medical plan offerings—all innovative options designed to help organizations better support their leadership teams. Our flexible and customizable packages are built to provide timely global coverage and concierge services to help them access and leverage robust diagnostic and preventative healthcare offerings. They’re also designed to help employers mitigate health-related risks that could impact organizational continuity and success, ensuring their key executives remain healthy and productive.
This year we also debuted Bridgewell Health Lab, a user-friendly hub for health and wellness group benefits. Think of Health Lab as a platform to explore our virtual health and lifestyle-related programs such as financial support and educational resources.
Lastly, we introduced a new dedicated tax review service for our corporate clients in partnership with tax strategist James MacGowan. James specializes in providing advanced tax planning for private companies and their shareholders, along with tax and estate planning for high net-worth clients. The service has proven popular, and it’s one we encourage all of our corporate clients to utilize. On that note, we’ve also continued to enhance our annual insurance, group benefits and financial planning reviews—especially for clients at or nearing retirement, or considering a significant business move such as an exit. By understanding your near- and longer-term goals, we can offer proactive advice that positions you to achieve financial wellness. Contact us to book your review.
Networking and giving back
Our partners have long been members of a number of industry associations, and this year we added to that roster after being accepted as a member firm with Benefits Alliance—a leading voice in the group benefits sector across Canada. Our goal with this membership is to create new opportunities for our team to provide an enhanced experience to Bridgewell clients through Benefits Alliance’s preferred group benefits solutions and pricing, along with in-depth thought leadership through their extensive Knowledge Library.
While growing our membership presence, we also took time to catch up with old colleagues and contacts. In May, Bridgewell partners Mike and Chad Tranter once again attended the annual Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) AGM in Ottawa. The three-day event not only brings together some of the best and brightest minds in the North American insurance, tax and group benefits industry, but offers an opportunity to share ideas and glean insights, while building new connections that we can use to bolster our service experience. Mike and Chad are already planning for next year’s event.
In September, we had the pleasure of once again sponsoring DisruptHR Vaughan 3.0 at Vaughan Studios and Event Space. Incredible speakers and networking opportunities with top human resources talent make this a can’t-miss event on our calendar.
And this was another year that we worked to give back to the community in a variety of ways.
First, Bridgewell Partner Chad Tranter joined the judging panel for the 2023 Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program. The scholarship program supports students in Canada who have lost a parent—but have little or no life insurance—manage the cost of paying for their post-secondary education.
We once again fundraised and rode in the annual JackRide: Canada’s Ride for Youth Mental Health in support of Jack.org, an organization that provides mental health training and support to young Canadians. It’s a very special cause and one of our favourite annual events. We’re very proud to announce that after cycling a combined team total of more than 1,100 km, we far exceeded our goal with $7,800 raised for the organization. We also woke up (literally) at the crack of dawn for a week in June as part of the CAMH Sunrise Challenge. Our team members photographed some spectacular sunrises over five mornings to help raise more than $3,050 in support of mental health research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In addition, our annual Client Appreciation Day—a curling extravaganza at the Leaside Curling Club—brought in a hefty load of non-perishable food items for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
This summer we took the opportunity to host two golf foursomes and to sponsor a hole at the Youth Unlimited Golf Tournament at Emerald Hills Golf Course. The tournament raises funds to support youth initiatives across the Greater Toronto Area. And, as always, we took a bit of time to nurture our own well-being while working to make a positive impact. Specifically, we held our second annual Wellness Day, complete with a barbecue and some highly competitive disc golf at Toronto’s Wilket Creek Park, followed by time spent tidying litter across the park.
With that we’d like to thank you once again for being an integral part of our growth and success. We wish you safe and happy holidays and hope you enjoy some well-deserved downtime with family and friends as we look towards the New Year.
The Bridgewell team
For assistance with your group benefits, wealth and financial planning, corporate or personal insurance needs, contact a member of our team today.
