Our DFW Team

With more than 30 years of combined experience, the advisors of Bisdorf Palmer, LLC, serve specialized roles regarding the planning process. This unique ensemble practice is a team-based approach to delivering superior wealth management, which enables us to identify the totality of client needs with greater precision and deliver more thoroughgoing advice than any one of us could accomplish alone.

The Financial Planning Coordinator - Bridget's Unique Role

The chief role of the financial planning coordinator is to start the onboarding process for new clients and the annual review process for existing clients by helping them articulate their vision of all that they want to accomplish with regard to their financial lives; creating or updating their net worth and cash flow statements; and recording their observations for the wealth planner to consider and integrate into their financial plan. Taking time to listen to what is most important to clients is the beginning of the process of discovery that culminates in a plan precisely tailored to your goals.

The Wealth Planner, CFP® - Luke's Unique Role

The wealth planner's chief role is to coordinate with the advisor team by ensuring that we have accurately captured the client’s complete financial data, necessary for accurate diagnoses; drafting a financial plan with recommendations optimized to the client’s goals and needs; and communicating his findings and recommendations to the client and wealth coach, who will partner together to further refine those recommendations—to make them their own—and take the actions necessary to accumulate, grow, enjoy, protect, give, and, eventually, transfer as much wealth as they are able.

The Wealth Coach - Brian's Unique Role

Of the three members of the advisory team, the role of the wealth coach is truly innovative. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “A plan is meaningless, but planning is essential.” The wealth coach’s chief role is to help clients translate their plan into action—to bridge the gap between planning and achievement. Helping clients find joy in their journey, identifying small changes that produce large benefits, and doing that which their plan requires are the benchmarks of the wealth coach’s success.

Together, it is our hope that clients achieve all that is within them, enjoy the confidence of knowing they’re on the right path, and master the art of the good life.

Brian C. Bisdorf, CRPC®

Owner, Wealth Coach

[email protected]

Brian Bisdorf (MBTI: ESFP) grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana. His parents divorced when he was young, and coming from a split family, while not poor, he learned the lessons of sacrifice and setting priorities. With a deep interest in computer technology, Brian earned a degree in computer programming from a local community college but discovered instead that helping people find solutions to real-world problems was his real passion.

Continuing his education through work, Brian sought mentors among the most influential and successful people he encountered. He studied the books they’d recommend, learn from their combined experience, and adopt new habits that eventually led him to a career in finance.

Becoming a financial advisor amid the Great Recession, Brian discovered his gift for helping people manage their emotions, maintain a long-term focus on their goals, and take full advantage of the recovery that was underway. Wanting to help clients prepare for retirement and navigate major life changes, especially divorce, Brian became a Certified Retirement Planning Consultant™ (CRPC®).

Aspiring to create a new type of firm where planning is properly viewed as a foundation for action and the degree to which clients fulfill their aspirations is the measure of success, Brian co-founded Bisdorf Palmer, LLC. With a gift for getting others enthused and energized around any project, and good at identifying small changes that bring large benefits, Brian makes an ideal wealth coach. In this capacity, it is his chief aim to help clients understand the actions their plan requires, prioritize their decisions, act, and find joy in the process.

Brian and his wife, Liana, share three children and live in Fort Worth, Texas. He enjoys cooking, excellent scotch and bourbon, being physically fit, reading, attending pinball shows, the Indy 500 (an annual tradition with family and friends), and watching e-sports.

“Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you meet and the books you read.” — John Wooden

Professional Designations and Registrations

CRPC®
FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC

Luke A. Palmer, CFP®, AAMS®, CRPS®

Owner, Wealth Planner

[email protected]

Luke Palmer (MBTI: INTJ) recalls being interested in how money and business work at an early age. His father’s career as an accountant, comptroller, vice president, and CFO took him and his family from Chicago to Alabama, Kansas, and Washington. His father taught him to read 10-k filings and EBITDAs and would occasionally discuss business matters with him while in high school. But with a talent for music and an interest in theology, Luke chose to pursue a career in music.

He earned his bachelor of arts degree (in music composition) from Western Washington University, where he met and married his wife of 28 years, Bridget. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he earned his master of music and doctor of music degree (also both in music composition) from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship.

When Luke’s father was diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia, the Palmers moved to Pennsylvania to help his mother with caregiving. Luke secured a position teaching at Penn State Berks. Several years later, having received a couple of offers from universities, Luke realized that being a college professor would not be financially feasible and took a position as a Kantor (music director) at Peace Lutheran Church in Hurst, Texas. Quickly realizing this path also was not financially feasible, he became a financial advisor with Edward Jones.

After 11 years working as a solo advisor, Luke, with Brian Bisdorf, developed a conceptual framework for an ensemble advisory firm operating as a multi-professional practice where advisors share stewardship over client relationships and leverage the collective talent of the team to deliver the full scope of services, offered by a CFP® certificant, to clients in a fiduciary capacity, and they founded Bisdorf Palmer, LLC.

Being a natural leader, gifted at solving complex problems, and possessing an exceptional ability to see the structural problems and anomalies in a complex system (such as a financial plan), Luke comes to his role as a wealth planner quite naturally. As a thought leader with atypically high conscientiousness, Luke is responsible for ensuring that financial plans help clients accumulate, grow, enjoy, protect, and, eventually, transfer as much wealth as they are able.

Luke and his wife, Bridget, live in Fort Worth, Texas. He enjoys reading books on a wide range of topics, podcasts, exercising (best medicine in the world), quality time with family, and travel. Despite having lived throughout the country (in Illinois, Alabama, Kansas, Washington, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania), they consider Texas home.

“I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act.” — Bill Gates

Professional Designations and Registrations

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
AAMS®
FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC

Bridget E. Palmer, CRPC®

Financial Planning Coordinator

[email protected]

Growing up in a military family, Bridget’s (MBTI: ISFJ) early interests were her academics and all things equestrian. Bridget earned her bachelor of music degree in opera performance from Western Washington University (Bellingham, Washington) in 1991. It was there that she met her future husband, Luke Palmer, and the two were married on August 10, 1991.

In the subsequent years, she had three children and held varying positions in administration, management, and bookkeeping to support the family while Luke pursued his education. Through her life journey, she discovered that her true calling and her source of joy in life lie in helping others, deriving satisfaction in doing things for others, her employer, her team, and their clients. In November 2014, she transitioned to become a financial advisor and helped launch Bisdorf Palmer in 2019.

Bridget enjoys singing (whether it be at church, her music club, or karaoke), hiking, pets, reading, gardening, crafts, travel, and spending quality time with family.

Finances can be very complicated, and Bridget’s genuine caring for others, attention to detail, and attentiveness to people’s personal needs make her an ideal paraplanner. By helping people simplify this aspect of life and focus on living their life to the fullest, she liberates them from their anxiety about their money.

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.” — Rosa Parks

Professional Designations and Registrations

CRPC®
FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations
Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC

Ryan Stephens

Business Development Specialist

[email protected]

Ryan Stephens (MBTI: ENFP) spent his childhood in the nature and beauty of East Texas near Longview. With a diverse set of passions and interests growing up, the only constant was Ryan's desire to be surrounded by friends and family. Always enjoying the spotlight, he was involved in music through school and church and loved public speaking when opportunities presented themselves.

His passion for the liberal arts and music led Ryan to earn a bachelor of arts degree in history, with nearly enough hours for a music minor, from John Brown University, where he also met his wife, Amanda. She also studied history, and a love of the arts and culture continue to serve as a strong source of common interest.

Ryan's career might best be described as a series of opportunities to explore his ability to grab on to great ideas and bringing them to the people who most want them. Years of nonprofit fundraising helped him develop the ability to speak to people across all walks of life and provided education on executing successful events and campaigns. Leaping into the business world, Ryan led business development for a team of wealth advisors in Fort Worth, gaining firsthand experience in the financial planning industry. A unique opportunity presented him the chance to grow his own mortgage business the last three years, using all of his skills and ability to help Texans purchase homes. His work with Bisdorf Palmer is a homecoming of sorts to a great passion, helping to grow a great business by making sure marketing activities are delivered excellently.

Ryan and Amanda, along with their daughter, live in Fort Worth, Texas. He loves cycling and photography, great food and wine, fast cars, and travel.

"Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't." — Jerry Rice

Beth Gatlin

Client Service Manager

[email protected]

Beth Gatlin (MBTI: ISFJ) was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas to an Air Force family which is where her love for travel began. By the time she reached age 11, she and her family had lived in Arkansas, Florida, Germany, and Minnesota, eventually settling in Fort Worth, Texas.

Throughout Beth’s professional career, she has held positions in business administration and management. She met her future husband, Vernon, while working for the Benbrook Area Chamber of Commerce in 1987. After numerous twists and turns, they married on March 3, 2017. They share three grown children, two of whom are engaged to be wed in 2020.

Working at the chamber, Beth discovered her love for volunteerism and giving back to others. In 1987, she started volunteering with the charity Benbrook Spirit of Christmas and has been chairperson since 2004.

Beth is the go-to person for almost everything at Bisdorf Palmer; account service, processing transfers, registration changes, mailings, scheduling appointments, to name a few. She is our gatekeeper, and chief cat-herder. If we gave out gold stars for kindness and professionalism, Beth would win them all! With 11 years in the financial industry, she has the experience to keep Bisdorf Palmer an industry leader by providing a first-rate client experience.

When not, working, Beth enjoys reading, photography, crafts, travel, her precious dog, Harper, spending quality time with family and friends, and helping plan weddings!

"Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” — Erma Bombeck