Annmarie Bilger (CFP®, CRPS®) serves as a Financial Advisor for the Bluestone Planning Group.  Her extensive career has spanned over the course of two decades, specializing in assisting small business owners, nonprofits, and families. When initiating her career in 1997, Bilger had very few connections to other women in financial advisor roles, and even fewer in management positions. This lack of representation and vision from senior management, as well as difficulties networking with close-knit male counterparts, challenged Bilger to create her own career path.  Intensely studying the various roles in the financial sector and paying close attention to those successful in the industry, Bilger earned her master’s degree in Accountancy while working full time and raising three children. She later opened her own financial planning practice in 2017,  where she was able to meet Sue van der Linden, who became her mentor and partner. In 2019,  the two formed the Bluestone Planning Group at Morgan Stanley.  

“As I fulfill my goals, I keep creating new objectives and pushing out benchmarks, to continue to evolve and grow both professionally and personally.  I am proud that Sue and I can now represent what I was not able to see when I started in this business,” Bilger says.   

Senior Vice President Sue van der Linden (CFP®, ChFC®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CWS®) was initially  drawn to the financial industry through her love of helping others and solving complex problems.  Her major responsibilities include extensive education, for herself and her clientele. “A common  misconception about our role is that people think we trade stocks all day, but we don’t!” Van der Linden says. “We focus on the bigger picture, planning for things that won’t happen for many years, and helping clients accomplish their goals.”  

As a member of the MAKERS Class of 2021, Van der Linden has a platform to encourage women and girls to explore wealth management. MAKERS is a group dedicated to the advancement of women around the world, and Van der Linden is excited to work with others to dispel the urban myth that money is a man’s job. 

Continuing the momentum of inclusion in the financial sector, Bilger and Van der Linden assert that difficult conversations are necessary for growth. The Bluestone Planning Group is the manifestation of the dreams of marginalized communities, and a core part of their mission is to uplift others and support those who have been previously underrepresented. Van der Linden notes that it is through her relationships with other women that she has progressed to this point in her career. “One mentor encouraged me to stay true to the vision of a diverse team, doing meaningful work for clients who like us, and appreciate what we do for them. There were times it was tough to keep my eye on the ball, but it was a great touchstone to keep both the team and I on track.”  

In the future, The Bluestone Planning Group is working to have a larger team and the ability to help more families while encouraging more women to enter the financial industry. In a time where many people are counting pennies, receiving financial support just makes cents.