Michael V. DiNuzzo

Michael V. DiNuzzo is the Senior Vice President (SVP), Principal, and Risk Management Team Leader of DiNuzzo Private Wealth, Inc., d/b/a DiNuzzo Wealth Management which has operated as an SEC Registered Investment Advisor since 1989 and currently manages $899 million in assets under management as of June 30, 2023.  Michael (Mike) joined DiNuzzo Wealth Management in 2007 serving in the Financial Planning department as an intern until 2010 when he joined the firm full-time and was promoted to Financial Wellness LifeCoach. 

Mike has been awarded the prestigious multi-year designation as a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager. The award is given to wealth managers in Pittsburgh and across the U.S. who satisfy key client criteria and score the highest in overall client satisfaction.

Mike’s objective was to join a firm that uses a ‘team’ approach in making recommendations to solve for what lies in the best interest of its clients.  Mike firmly believes that investment philosophy, world class research, disciplined asset allocation models, and especially fiduciary responsibility are necessary for a successful client relationship.  Mike continuously demonstrates the critical elements for client satisfaction and success in the fields of Wealth and Risk Management.

Mike received his BA (Bachelor of Arts Degree) from Duquesne University and is a member of the Duquesne University Alumni Association.  In 2016, Mike successfully completed his Master of Science Degree in Financial Planning (MSFP) from Bentley University in Boston, MA.

In addition, Mike has held his Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation through The American College of Financial Services since 2013.  ChFC® is a financial planning designation conferred by The American College. Candidates must meet education, experience, examination, and continuing ethical requirements. Candidates must have at least three years of experience in the financial industry, or an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university and two years of experience in the financial industry. Candidates are required to take nine academic courses each followed by an exam.

Michael has earned the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional CFP® designation granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 2013.  The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification.  No federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold CFP® certification.  CFP® professionals have met CFP Board’s high standards for education, examination, experience, and ethics.  You may find out more information about the CFP® certification at www.cfp.net.

In 2014, Mike was awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies™, the standards-setting body for fi360.  The AIF® Designation certifies that the recipient has demonstrated specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. To receive the AIF® Designation, the individual must meet prerequisite criteria based on a combination of education, relevant industry experience, and/or ongoing professional development, complete a training program, successfully pass a comprehensive, closed‐book final examination under the supervision of a proctor and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards. In order to maintain the AIF® Designation, the individual must annually attest to the Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards and accrue and report a minimum of six hours of continuing education. The Designation is administered by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the certification division of Fi360 that is responsible for ongoing management of the program.

Fi360 is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board for the AIF® Designation, making it one of few independently accredited designations recognized by FINRA.

Mike is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Mike has been interviewed and quoted in the U.S. News & World Report and The Huffington Post (both articles may be accessed on our website under "In the News"), as well as, USA Today, Yahoo! News, MarketWatch, Investor’s Business Daily, Bankrate and Private Wealth magazine.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award is issued by Five Star Professional (FSP).  Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,818 Pittsburgh-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 233 (13% of candidates) were named 2023 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2022: 1779, 252, 14%, 6/1/22, 9/27/21 - 3/25/22; 2021: 1814, 234, 13%, 6/1/21, 9/7/20 - 4/23/21; 2020: 1886, 224, 12%, 6/1/20, 9/16/19 - 4/10/20; 2019: 1667, 251, 15%, 6/1/19, 9/17/18 - 4/12/19; 2018: 1653, 227, 14%, 6/1/18, 9/28/17 - 4/17/18; 2017: 1133, 277, 24%, 6/1/17, 9/27/16 - 4/11/17; 2016: 1064, 423, 40%, 5/1/16, 10/7/15 - 4/19/16; 2015: 1494, 442, 30%, 6/1/15, 10/7/14 - 4/19/15; 2014: 1721, 458, 27%, 6/1/14, 10/7/13 - 4/19/14; 2013: 1777, 545, 31%, 6/1/13, 10/7/12 - 4/19/13; 2012: 1863, 493, 26%, 6/1/12, 10/7/11 - 4/19/12. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria-required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as an RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria-considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth Managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. For more information visit https://www.fivestarprofessional.com/.