The Elephant in the Room: Sharing the Secrets for Pursuing Real Financial Success

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barry Bridger represents the many First Command financial advisers, employees, and clients who provided the inspiration that led to this book. Barry is a distinguished former military officer who was piloting an F4 Phantom when he was hit by a surface-to-air missile while on a combat mission over North Vietnam in 1967. Barry ejected and parachuted to the ground, where he was captured as a POW.

He spent the following six years in a Communist prison camp, where he was regularly subjected to physical and psychological punishment. Hanoi did not acknowledge they were holding him until May 1970 when his family received their first letter from him. Barry learned to mentally cope and maintain his physical condition in his six by eight foot cell, where he endured long periods of solitary confinement. As an example, at one point when the guards manacled his wrists together for two months, Barry taught himself to juggle as a way to keep control over his hands and arms. He practiced in the dark so the guards wouldn't see what he was doing and impose more punishment. He was released in March 1973 after 2,232 days of captivity and resumed his duties as an Air Force officer.

Barry retired from the Air Force in 1984 and soon thereafter began his 25-year association with First Command Financial Services. Barry has served as a highly successful agent, Financial Advisor, and registered representative for First Command. He currently serves as First Command's ambassador at large and a ...