Thomas Signer completed undergraduate and graduate studies in the United States, concluding them with a Master of Science degree in Industrial Administration (MBA) at Carnegie Mellon University in 1990. Following business school he joined Nomura Securities in New York, working in the firm's structured finance department for nearly four years. After returning to Europe, Signer was employed in Morgan Stanley's equity derivatives department for three and half years mostly based in London. In 1998 Signer founded SIGNER Management, an investment advisory boutique in Switzerland. He also teaches finance courses to Executive MBA students at SBS Swiss Business School. Signer is a co-owner and member of the board of Heliobus AG, a Swiss firm providing innovative daylight technology solutions.

Thomas Signer is a member of the Swiss federally approved self-regulating organization VQF.