:: Lucien, Stirling & Gray ::

Bleckley Dobbs joined Lucien, Stirling & Gray in the summer of 2004, after a 20-year career with 3M Company. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Certificate in Financial Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, the NASD Series 7 and 66 licenses, the Group 1 Life, Health & Disability insurance license. He obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in July, 2007, from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and is on the Board of Directors of the Austin Chapter of The Financial Planning Association.

“I have been actively involved in investing all my life”, Bleckley says. “Even as far back as high school I was fascinated with making money grow. I've learned a lot on my own because of this interest. I know the value of receiving (and following) good financial advice, as well as the pain and disappointment of making some poor decisions.”

“I also love working with other people to set and accomplish goals. I have experienced the power of following a systematic, long-term financial plan, and I enjoy helping others share the benefits of a long-range view, and a consistent, steady approach.”

One of the most valuable pieces of “advice” Bleckley ever got was from his first supervisor out of college. “He basically insisted that I save money in the company's new 401(k) plan. This was when they were brand new, and I had never heard of them. At first it seemed difficult to take a reduction in take-home pay, but after a couple of months I didn't even miss it.”

When Bleckley decided to pursue financial advice as a career, the engineer in him chose a thorough, methodical approach. “I started by enrolling in UT's Financial Planning Certificate Program, which gave me a strong technical foundation in taxes, estate planning, insurance, and financial planning principles,” he says. “In joining Lucien, Stirling & Gray I have found a firm that shares my philosophy of client service, and a group of professionals that is very experienced and supportive.”

Bleckley is married, and enjoys spending time away from the office with his two active daughters, who love to ride bikes and participate in other activities. He is on the Vestry at St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church, where he also teaches children's Sunday school. For “alone time” he and his yellow lab go for long runs to keep them both in shape.