As a US Air Force Special Ops combat veteran, the owner of an award-winning tattoo studio, a former candidate for Congress and an ordained minister, Tommy Altman doesn’t have the background you might expect for a career in financial services.
Yet the common denominator in his unique and varied life experiences — helping people live their best lives possible — is an ideal foundation for his role as Freedom Street’s Client Relationship Manager. In this role, he directs all aspects of client service.
“I think having that diverse background really helps me identify with people in a lot of different avenues,” he says.
Recalling his combat duty, Tommy says, “One thing I learned on the battlefield is that times of chaos are great opportunities for advancement if you can recognize them and are brave enough to step into them. This is one of those times for our nation. There’s no doubt this is one of if not the most chaotic times in our nation and the world at large. But this is a great opportunity to gain traction to move forward in a positive financial direction, both as individuals and together.”
In 2022, Tommy was a candidate for Congress in Virginia’s 2nd district. “It was an eye-opening process,” he recalls. “Obviously, the economy was a topic at the forefront. I saw a clear divide between people who were financially knowledgeable and people who weren’t.”
Tommy firmly believes in the American dream, and he is passionate about removing the barriers that prevent people from achieving it. “To me, the American Dream, simply put, is to be financially independent,” he explains. “I believe this dream is available to anyone who desires it and is willing to have a little discipline over a period of time.”
One of Tommy’s core beliefs is that life is all about the relationships we have. “I truly enjoy helping others achieve their goals, both in and out of the financial arena,” he says. “If we simply value others and do our best to bring value to their lives, we can help make the world a better place. Then we all win.”
Freedom Street’s focus on Life, Wealth, Optimization resonates strongly with Tommy. “I love that our team has a great outlook, not just on finance, but on life. They lead with life,” he says. “Furthermore, I love that they give back to the community.”
Tommy grew up in the Tidewater area and has lived here most of his life. For five years, he served in the US Air Force Special Operations Command and completed ground combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. When he returned, he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After the military, Tommy graduated from Regent University with a degree in religious studies and was ordained as a minister. Afterward, he and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, for three years and helped establish a church there.
When Tommy and his family moved back home to the Tidewater area, they started a business. Since 2017, Tommy and his wife have owned Sandbridge Tattoo in Virginia Beach. For several years, it has been voted the best tattoo studio in the area. “It has been such an honor to walk through the highs and lows of life with people in our community,” he says.
When not at work, Tommy will almost certainly always be found spending time with his family, riding his motorcycles or enjoying a nice cigar. Since 2001, Tommy has been married to his high school sweetheart. They have two sons, ages 13 and 16 in 2023. Both sons are active in wrestling, so the family spends a lot of their off-time traveling to wrestling tournaments.