As I look back on my life and career, one thing has remained constant: I have always wanted to help people. Long before I became a financial advisor in Connecticut, I knew I wanted my work to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
That belief ultimately led me to financial planning—and years later, to create Bridgelight Financial Advisors. Today, our team works with individuals and families throughout Connecticut, especially people approaching or living in retirement, to help bring greater clarity and purpose to the financial decisions that shape their future.
From First Responder to Financial Advisor
My path into financial services was not a traditional one. I spent part of my early career working for my family’s ambulance company as a first responder. That experience gave me a close-up view of people at vulnerable and important moments in their lives.
I also saw how many older adults were reaching retirement without the financial preparation or guidance they needed. For me, that was an important realization. I already had an interest in investing and finance, and I enjoyed working with people. Becoming a financial advisor allowed me to bring those interests together.
I entered the financial services profession in 1993, and over the years I learned that good financial planning is about far more than investments. It is about understanding the person, family, goals and concerns behind the numbers.
Why I Founded Bridgelight Financial Advisors
After gaining experience at several financial firms, I wanted to build something more personal. In 2005, I founded Bridgelight Financial Advisors with a simple idea: help people bridge the gap between where they are today and where they want to be tomorrow.
I wanted Bridgelight to be a Connecticut-based financial advisory firm where conversations start with the client—not with a product. Retirement can bring together decisions about income, investments, Social Security, taxes, healthcare, long-term care and the legacy you want to leave your family. Those decisions are connected, so the planning should be connected too.
That is why our approach emphasizes comprehensive financial planning. We help clients look at the pieces of their financial lives together and build a strategy around their goals, priorities and the life they want to live.
What Should You Look for in a Financial Advisor in Connecticut?
Choosing a financial advisor is a personal decision. Experience and technical knowledge matter, but so do trust, communication and whether the advisor takes the time to understand what matters to you.
For pre-retirees and retirees, the conversation should extend beyond investment performance. A retirement-focused financial advisor should help you think through how your savings may support income, how taxes can affect withdrawals, when Social Security may fit into your plan, how investment risk may change as retirement approaches, and how healthcare and legacy goals fit into the bigger picture.
Retirement Planning Is More Than Managing Investments
Many people first contact a financial advisor because they have an investment question. But as retirement gets closer, the questions usually become broader: Will my money last? How much can I comfortably spend? What should I do with an old 401(k)? How could taxes affect my retirement income? Should I consider a Roth conversion? How should I prepare for long-term care or organize my legacy?
These are not isolated decisions. Retirement income planning, tax-efficient retirement strategies, investment management, Social Security, Medicare considerations and legacy planning can all affect one another. A comprehensive plan helps you see those connections before making major decisions.
Bridgelight does not provide tax or legal advice, so we encourage clients to work with their tax and legal professionals when those issues are involved. Our role is to help clients understand how those considerations may fit within their broader financial and retirement strategy.
A Connecticut Financial Advisor With a Local Perspective
Connecticut is home for me, and that local connection matters. Bridgelight Financial Advisors is based in Shelton and works with individuals and families across Connecticut, including communities throughout Fairfield County and New Haven County.
Retirement planning is personal. The best conversations often happen across a table, with time to talk about family, work, the community you live in, the lifestyle you hope to enjoy and the people you want to protect. That relationship-centered approach has been central to Bridgelight from the beginning.
The Most Rewarding Part of Being a Financial Advisor
Running an independent financial advisory firm comes with plenty of responsibilities. But the most important part of my work has never changed: helping people.
There is tremendous satisfaction in watching a client move from uncertainty to having a clearer plan. Sometimes that means helping someone prepare for retirement. Sometimes it means reviewing an income strategy, organizing investments, thinking through a legacy plan or simply helping a family understand the decisions in front of them.
Those conversations are why I created Bridgelight Financial Advisors, and they are what continue to motivate me today.
When Should You Talk With a Financial Advisor About Retirement?
You do not have to wait until the day you retire to begin retirement planning. In fact, the years leading up to retirement can be especially valuable because you may still have time to evaluate savings, retirement accounts, investment risk, Social Security timing, potential tax strategies and the income you may need after your paycheck stops.
If you are a pre-retiree or retiree in Connecticut and want a clearer view of how the pieces of your financial life fit together, a conversation with a financial advisor can be a useful place to start.
Ready to Start a Conversation?
At Bridgelight Financial Advisors, we help Connecticut individuals and families build personalized financial and retirement strategies around their goals. Whether retirement is several years away or you are already retired, we can help you look at where you are today, what matters most and the decisions ahead.
About Bill Leavitt
Bill Leavitt is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Bridgelight Financial Advisors, a Connecticut-based financial services firm. With more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and families plan for their financial future, Bill works with pre-retirees and retirees on comprehensive financial planning, retirement income, investment strategy and legacy planning. He is also the host of The Money Bridge: Your Road to Retirement on WICC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a financial advisor in Connecticut help with?
A financial advisor can help you organize and coordinate decisions involving retirement income, investments, Social Security, taxes, healthcare, long-term care and legacy goals. The specific services depend on the advisor and your individual needs.
How do I choose a financial advisor for retirement?
Look for an advisor who understands retirement planning, explains recommendations clearly, asks about your full financial picture and provides a planning process that aligns with your goals. Trust, communication and ongoing service are also important considerations.
What does a fiduciary financial advisor do?
A fiduciary investment advisor is required to act in a client’s best interest when providing investment advice. When evaluating an advisor, ask how the firm is compensated, what services it provides and what standards apply to the relationship.
When should I start planning for retirement?
Retirement planning can begin years before you expect to retire. Starting earlier gives you more time to evaluate savings, investment risk, retirement income needs, Social Security timing and potential tax considerations.
What is retirement income planning?
Retirement income planning is the process of determining how savings, investments, retirement accounts, Social Security and other income sources may work together to support spending throughout retirement.
How can taxes affect retirement planning?
Taxes can affect withdrawals from traditional retirement accounts, Social Security benefits, required minimum distributions and other sources of retirement income. Because tax decisions are individual, coordinate retirement planning with a qualified tax professional.