Kenneth M. McDaniel

Kenneth M. McDaniel is an Enrolled Agent (EA), Tax Team Leader, and Financial Wellness LifeCoach at DiNuzzo Private Wealth, Inc., d/b/a DiNuzzo Wealth Management which has operated as an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm since 1989 and currently manages $987 million in assets under management as of March 31, 2024.  Ken joined the firm in October of 2019, with the objective of joining a “Fee Only” Wealth Management firm that was focused on offering their clients sound, objective investment, DiNuzzo Financial Wellness LifePlan^™ and tax planning under a fiduciary standard.  In February of 2020, Kenneth became certified as a Financial Wellness LifeCoach.

Additionally, Ken has been awarded the prestigious 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.

An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service by either passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns, or through experience as a former IRS employee, plus passed an IRS background check.  Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years.

Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), have unlimited practice rights. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent their clients’ interests before.  Learn more about enrolled agents in https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/pcir230.pdf.

In February 2021, Ken 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.

Ken brings 30+ years of leadership experience in his background.  Along with his Enrolled Agent designation, Ken has completed his Accounting Studies at the College of DuPage, qualifying him to sit for the Certified Public Accountancy, (CPA) examinations.  Ken also has earned an Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts from Lewis University and a Master of Science (MS) from Duquesne University. 

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

Ken resides in Center Township with his spouse Marie.  In his spare time Ken is a Patched PIAA baseball umpire and participates in umpiring baseball games.  Ken also volunteers with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is a physical fitness enthusiast and enjoys the challenge of 5k runs.

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/.