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).