Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
For more than three decades, Thomas Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®, founder and CEO of Destiny Family Office and Destiny Wealth Partners, has built his career on a balance of vision and discipline, which have been key to his long-term success.
“I’ve always approached wealth management with a builder’s mindset that is entrepreneurial yet disciplined, innovative yet grounded in service. I’m constantly looking for innovative ways to create value while doing what’s right for our clients, whether by expanding the services we offer or expanding access to privileged investment opportunities to meet their evolving needs,” he says.
Ruggie describes his professional ethos simply: “Every decision begins with one question: If I were the client, what would I want? That question shapes everything we do.”
From launching his first office four years after college to leading one of the nation’s top wealth management organizations, which today includes a family office, several wealth management firms, and alternative, direct and target outcome funds, Ruggie’s path has been defined by a relentless drive to never be complacent.
While that drive has earned him numerous recognitions from the industry’s elite, including 2025 InvestmentNews Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments and 2024 InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year, Ruggie defines success in something more enduring: a 99% client retention rate.
He has emerged as a thought leader in redefining the contours of modern wealth management through three key lenses: alternative, direct, and co-investments, collectibles as an asset class, and the rise of AI.
“There’s a growing appetite for alternative investments as investors seek to diversify beyond traditional portfolios. I educate clients on the opportunities and complexities within this space, from private equity to structured credit and niche alternatives,” he says. “The goal has been to help them access institutional-quality opportunities with a focus on due diligence, transparency, and alignment with personal values.”
A passionate collector, Ruggie also leads industry discussions on the convergence of passion and portfolio. “Collectibles such as fine art, sports memorabilia, or vintage cars have both emotional and financial value,” he says. “When treated with the same analytical rigor as traditional investments, they should become part of a client’s broader wealth narrative.”
Ruggie, who has published numerous articles in industry-leading publications, was early in weighing in on AI’s impact. “AI is quickly moving from relative obscurity toward total ubiquity. Integrating AI challenges firms to marry the efficiency of intelligent systems with the authenticity of human connection. The demand to invest in AI is overwhelming. For investors, it feels like a rare moment of excitement and opportunity.”
Honing his leadership skills as a member of Strategic Coach and TIGER 21, Ruggie shares insights on innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship with future leaders through ventures such as the University of Central Florida’s Blackstone LaunchPad Speakers’ Series and as a board member of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
“I hope to inspire and equip the next generation of professionals to shape the future of the financial industry and beyond,” he says.
2100 Lake Eustis Dr., Tavares, FL 32778
352 255 9731
truggie@destinyfamilyoffice.com
linkedin.com/in/tomruggie
destinywealthpartners.com
Thomas Ruggie
Founder and CEO Destiny Wealth Partners
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Bio
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
1991
1995
2014
2016–2017
2020–Present
Began his financial advisory career
1991
Founded Ruggie Wealth Management
1995
Established an independent RIA that would become Destiny Wealth Partners, which currently manages $1.5B of assets
2014
2016: Began his membership in the Forbes Finance Council
2017: Founded Destiny Family Office, which is experiencing its best year asset wise and percentage wise
2016–2017
2020: Established Destiny Alternative Fund
2023: InvestmentNews Top 75 Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAs, USA Today Best Financial Advisory Firms
2024: Hot List – 100 Top Financial Professionals in the US, InvestmentNews RIA Team of the Year, Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors – 2024 (#1 Florida – North)
2025: InvestmentNews Advisor of the Year – Alternative Investments (#2 Florida – North)
13x Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors
Newsweek America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms
Forbes Top 250 RIA Firms (#6 Florida) 13x Financial Advisor Magazine America’s Top RIAs
2020–Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
