A Promise that Endures

Honoring Tom Brennan's Legacy and the Importance of Disability Insurance

On September 27, 2024 — his 52nd birthday — financial planner, U.S. Army veteran, and beloved friend Tom Brennan made his final stand after a fierce, remarkably long war against multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer. Known to those closest to him as “Titanium Tom,” he approached life’s toughest battles with grit, humor, and relentless courage.

In 2009, cancer challenged Tom to what he described as “a sprint for my life.” He continued, “It gave me no option but to compete. I was not interested in a one- to three-year race, so I stretched that sprint into a 15-year marathon. I intended to run my opponent into the ground. Even when taking hit after hit, I continued to stare my enemy down. I was never going to be a victim.”

A fighter in every sense, Tom credited his Army training for shaping his resilience: “Just like my Army training taught me, I continually found my enemy, fixed my enemy in place, and claimed victory upon victory. I may have lost in the end, but I was never beaten.”

Through relentless rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeries, Tom prioritized what mattered most — his wife, Whitney, and their children, Reese and Max. “I was not surrendering my time with my toddler daughter, Reese. She gave me the strength to go on. She saw firsthand what it meant to be a fighter.” And later, with the arrival of their son Max: “He is proof that the most amazing things can happen in the face of adversity.”

One decision Tom made years before his diagnosis gave him peace of mind throughout his fight: disability income insurance. He said, “I took on the responsibility of father, husband, and provider, and when I told my wife she would be okay it was the first time that the insurance policies I owned became the fulfillment of my obligation—a promise without an asterisk.”

That promise allowed Tom to focus on what truly mattered: his family, his fight, and his purpose. “My goal was to keep my tormentor at bay long enough to be around to guide my children toward adulthood. The life lessons my enemy attempted to prevent me from teaching my children have been instilled with care. My fight rewarded me with the distinct pleasure of catching a glimpse of the wonderful adults Reese and Max are destined to be.”

And through it all, Tom’s enduring strength came from his wife. “The greatest [lesson] is, I never felt my full purpose in the world until I married my wife, Whitney. I was her provider and protector, and, in turn, she took care of me beyond measure. She gave me my purpose.”

As we recognize Disability Insurance Awareness Month this May, we remember Tom’s extraordinary life and his belief in preparing for the unexpected. His words and his example remind us that while we can’t control what life brings, we can control how we protect the people and futures we hold dear.

Learn more about protecting your future – contact us.