Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
With more than five decades of experience in the investment management and financial planning fields, Bob leads Fragasso Financial Advisors as chairman and chief executive officer. He has combined his experience in the industry with his entrepreneurial spirit, carefully constructing a vision that has positioned the firm for growth and longevity. He has paid particular attention to refining the firm’s processes and systems to make the inner workings of the company extremely efficient, including rigorous investment management processes and personalized financial planning for each client devoid of proprietary product bias. Bob has put a highly evolved management team in place to provide unparalleled quality assurance and perpetuity for the firm. Bob serves as a member of the Fragasso Investment Committee1 and of the executive team. He is a certified financial planner™ board emeritus professional.
Bob has been honored by many national and local organizations including Barron’s Magazine and was named “Most Admired CEO’s & Top Executives” by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2016 and the “2015 Veteran of the Year” by the Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA. He has shared his entrepreneurial wisdom in his book, Starting Your Own Practice: The Independence Guide for Professional Service Providers, John Wiley & Sons, 2020 and is frequently asked for his investment insights by local and national media, including Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Business Times, Wall Street Journal, WSJ.com and Forbes.com among others.
Bob is the son of immigrant parents and grew up in the inner city of Pittsburgh. His love for investment management began early when he saved his earnings from his paper route to purchase mutual funds, which he later used to buy his first home. Bob earned his bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a vocal advocate for veterans and was awarded the Globe and Anchor Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund. Bob may be best known for his tireless commitment to animal welfare in the region, serving as the treasurer for Animal Friends. He began the Animal Friends for Veterans program where trained emotional companion dogs are provided at no cost to veterans encountering physical and emotional challenges. Bob serves on boards including Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Charles Schwab Advisor Services Advisory Board and the Viragh Institute for Ethics in Business Advisory Council (VIEBAC) of Duquesne University. He is a guest lecturer at Duquesne University Graduate School of Business and Western PA Region, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bob is a graduate of the FBI’s Citizens Academy.
Certifications:
CFP Board Emeritus®
1) The Fragasso Investment Committee is comprised of the portfolio management team and several financial advisors. The committee meets quarterly to discuss market trends, current investment outlook, portfolio construction, implementation and issues on clients’ minds.