Vic Conrad
Vic Conrad is a 1987 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), receiving a BS degree in accounting. He is a CPA (inactive) and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional. In addition, he has completed the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) studies through the American College. He has also earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies.
Vic holds the FINRA Series 7 and 65 (Investment Advisor) securities registrations as an Investment Adviser Representative of Commonwealth Financial Network® (Commonwealth). He can provide general wealth management/consulting on an hourly basis, proactive investment management based on a percentage of assets and on an advisory fee basis, or on commission through Commonwealth, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
Vic joined Arthur Andersen’s Pittsburgh office in July 1987 as a staff accountant and left the firm in June 1991 as a senior staff accountant. His clients included numerous financial services companies in the Pittsburgh region.
Vic was recruited by and joined PNC Bank’s internal audit department in June 1991 as a senior internal auditor. His audits included all consumer installment loan departments, residential and commercial real estate, student loans, and the bank’s branch banking system.
He joined the MONY Group’s Pittsburgh office in April 1994, teaming with his father, James R. Conrad, CLU®, ChFC®. This provided a succession plan for his father’s 40+ year practice of clients.
In March 2005, PINNACLE Financial Strategies, LLC, an independent firm, was formed to carry on the decades-long tradition of ethical client service, providing coordinated financial planning services and products serving individuals, businesses, defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, and nonprofit organizations. Money/wealth management, business succession, estate preservation and transfer, insurance planning (life, disability, and long-term care), and charitable giving services are offered.
Vic was named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2012, the inaugural year, as well as in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020*.
Mr. Conrad has completed the basic training related to the Collaborative Process (an alternative divorce process) and has completed 40 hours of mediation training.
His current and previous professional and community associations/activities include:
- American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA) – Numerous various committees
- Rotarian – Cranberry Township Sunrise Club, Board Member
- Seneca Valley Foundation Trustee
- St. Barnabas – Valencia Woods Trustee and Golf Outing Committee
- Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council (PPGC) – Treasurer and Conference Co-Chair
- Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Member (serving northern Allegheny County and Cranberry areas)
- Discover HOPE Here (Helping Others Pursue Employment) - Now Priority2Work - Treasurer
Vic regularly teaches continuing education classes for CPAs through the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Penn State Beaver Campus, and the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), and has presented at the West Virginia Public Accountants Association’s (WVPAA) Annual Meeting as well as the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA) East Region Annual Conference. He teaches CLE classes for CCAC as part of the attorney continuing education program and has presented at the annual Emerging Philanthropy Conference, which is jointly conducted by the AFP WPA (Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western PA) and PPGC (Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council). He has also taught retirement planning courses for the public through local college and university sponsorships.
For Duquesne University’s School of Leadership and Professional Advancement, he has taught the 36-hour taxation session of the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program, which prepares attendees to take the CFP® exam. He has also taught the Asset Management course for CCAC which is part of the CEBS designation program. The CEBS designation is recognized as the most respected credential in the employee benefits industry. Vic is a contributing financial expert for Tips from the Top—Targeted Advice from America’s Top Money Minds, an insightful money guide devised from a panel of more than 100 of the country’s top practicing experts.
Other speaking engagements include the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist®), KDKA TV & Radio, WLTJ Radio, St. Barnabas, Pittsburgh Petroleum Association, Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber, and the Carnegie and Peters Township Libraries. He has also provided helpful financial information for the Pittsburgh Business Times, Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bloomberg Wealth Manager, Investment Advisor, and Pittsburgh REALTOR® magazine.
Vic resides in Cranberry Township, PA (20 minutes north of Pittsburgh) with his wife, Debbie; daughter Emma; and twin sons Jacob and Adam. Vic enjoys public speaking and playing golf.
J. Victor Conrad is proud to have been recognized as a Vista Club advisor for 2019—a distinction based on annual production that places him/her among the top 25 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Vista Club advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Vista Club advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
*Five Star Award is based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria, including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, education, and professional designations. 1,886 Pittsburgh wealth managers were considered for the award; 224 (12 percent of candidates) were named 2020 Five Star Wealth Managers. (The criteria provided reflect the most recent year for which advisor received the award. The criteria used, the number of wealth managers considered for the award, and the percentage of those who receive the award may vary from year to year). These awards are not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance. Your experiences may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.