I’m currently working on making the leap from professional writer to financial advisor, a transition I decided to make when I saw firsthand how much of a positive impact I could have on people’s lives by helping them reach their goals. |
MISSION
To help people realize their life goals by making their money work harder.
KEY ASSETS
- An ability to build close-knit relationships with clients.
- New angles and out-of-the-box thinking from years of working on creative teams in advertising to help solve clients’ problems.
- Experience in giving presentations to clients, potential clients, management and large audiences – live and online.
- An in-depth knowledge of how to use social media to develop thought leaders and create brand awareness.
- A history of ghosting-writing for executives in dozens of industries.
- An insatiable curiosity about economics.
WORK HISTORY
2009 to the present
Freelance Writer, Self-employed
For more than ten years, I have developed a freelance business based entirely on referrals. I have written both for agencies and directly for corporate clients, almost all of whom are located in Sweden. From website copy to app design, social media campaigns, newsletters, film scripts, press releases – if it has words in it, I’ve tried my hand at it. I have also ghost-written multiple LinkedIn profiles, articles, and social media posts. In 2019, I edited a book called Megadeals, which gave me the opportunity to interview high-profile deal makers at large companies.
November 2006 – May 2009
New York, NY
Communications/Brand Manager, Skanska US
I supported the U.S. EVP by consolidating 13 brands and coordinating the communication staffs of three different divisions. With a budget of $1.2 million and a team of two, I created and executed a national communications plan that included internal communications, branding and P.R. The biggest challenges included overseeing the migration to a single intranet and website, and getting the different teams to put aside their animosity and work together.
October 2000 – October 2006
Stockholm, Sweden
Open Communications
At the request of a former classmate, I moved to Stockholm to help start this communications and branding firm. Early on, when there were only three of us, we were all project/account managers as well as writers and we worked together to pitch new work. When I left in 2006, we had a staff of 13 with annual revenue of roughly $1 million. Our clients included: Brio, Oriflame, Absolut Vin och Sprit, Vattenfall, Saab, Electrolux, DeLaval, Ericsson, IKEA, iittala, SAS, Diesel Jeans, Atlas Copco, Gant, OMX, and Skanska.
July 1999 – October 2000
Grand Rapids, MI
Writer, Pine Rest
January 1999 – July 1999
Grand Rapids, MI
Web Editor, Sweets McGraw-Hill
January 1998 – June 1998
Berkeley, CA
Assistant, College of Natural Resources, UC Berkeley
EDUCATION
2022
Series 65: Passed the test
2021/22
College for Financial Planning (Kaplan)
FP512: Risk Management, Insurance and Employee Benefits Planning
FP513: Investment Planning
FP514: Tax Planning
2020
Florida State University
Intro to Financial Planning FT-6
1997-2000
Bennington College, Bennington, VT
M.F.A. in Creative Writing
1995-1996
Duke University, Durham, NC
Continuing education courses in art, French and literature
1991 – 1995
Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI
B.A., with a double major in English Literature and Religion; minor in German; and editor of my college paper, The Chimes.
LANGUAGES
- Fluent in Swedish
- Proficient in German, formerly fluent
- Basic Spanish
- Travel French
ORGANIZATIONS/ACCOLADES
- From 2007-2008, I was a mentee in the Women in Leadership mentorship program through the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.
- From 2008-2009 I served as a mentor in the above program (along with the head of H&M for North America, the head of IKEA in North America and a partner at Accenture).
- In 2008, the employee newsletter I developed for Skanska USA won a bronze Astrid Award from MerComm, Inc.
- In 2003, I was the copywriter when my team won a coveted “Gold Egg” from the Swedish Advertising Association for the development of Absolut Vodka’s first Flash web site.
- Fun fact: In 2010 I wrote an album of songs for a Swedish friend (you can listen to the first single, “For Life Tonight” at www.tomlevin.com).