Bridget Handke, CFP® CAP®, Principal

Bridget Handke, one of the owners of Birchwood Financial Partners, has a personal mission to help people thrive. She does this by developing long-term relationships with clients that enables her to understand what is most important to them. Bridget strives to give clients a sense of confidence. She is able to translate complex financial concepts into plain language so their finances are understandable, flexible and helps promote peace of mind.

Bridget understands that for many, success means going beyond oneself and family to help communities thrive as well. Bridget helps interested clients with sustainable, responsible, impact investing, a specialty at Birchwood. For others she helps them craft and implement a philanthropic giving strategy. Bridget believes philanthropic giving can have such a positive impact on communities that she earned the CAP® designation – Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy.

Bridget has been quoted in publications such as the Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal and has spoken on personal and women’s finance topics. She has developed a specialty in working with widows, who tend to have unique financial circumstances, and wrote the book Finances for One, a New Widow’s Guide to Managing Money. For over twenty years Bridget has lived in Apple Valley with her husband, Dan. She has two wonderful daughters who inspire her to continue mentoring young people. During her off hours she enjoys the gym, hiking, reading and searching for the area’s best hot and sour soup.

2024 Selected as a Five Star Professional

Five Star Wealth Manager Program
The Five Star program is the largest and most widely published financial services award program in North America. Award candidates are evaluated against 10 objective criteria to determine the Five Star Wealth Managers in more than 40 major markets. The Five Star Wealth Manager award process includes:

Nominations by peers and firms:
Wealth managers, including SEC- and state-registered investment advisory representatives and registered investment advisors, are nominated by their firm or a peer to be considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Objective selection process:
Award candidates are evaluated against 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria: 1) Credentialed as an investment advisory representative (IAR) or a registered investment advisor; 2) Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years; 3) Favorable regulatory and complaint history review; 4) Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards; 5) Accepting new clients; 6) One-year client retention rate; 7) Five-year client retention rate; 8) Non-institutionalized discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9) Number of client households served; 10) Educational and professional designations.

Regulatory and consumer complaint process:
Feedback from consumer surveys will augment a regulatory history review.

Firm review:
Firms will have the option to provide input on award candidates from their firm, regardless of the nomination source.

Click here for detailed information on the Five Star Wealth Manager research methodology.
To learn more about Five Star Professional visit fivestarprofessional.com.

Aug 8, 2024

Simplify Your Financial Life

Written by: Bridget Handke, CFP®, CAP®

Whatever your age or stage in life, managing your finances can often feel overwhelming. Whether you...

May 23, 2024

Financial Surprises in Retirement and How to Manage Them

Written by: Bridget Handke, CFP®, CAP®

Many people dream of retiring for years. As you approach this significant milestone in life, it's...

Mar 14, 2024

Why You Need a Financial Advisor

Written by: Bridget Handke, CFP®, CAP®

If you have lived for several decades, your personal finances have likely become more complex. You...

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