Nancy Skeans

Nancy Skeans has more than 30 years of experience providing financial consulting, investment management and tax-planning services to corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals, foundations and pension plans. She holds the CPA and CFP® credentials and an MBA. Notably, she began her professional life with a career in the U.S. Air Force before moving into financial services — a path featured in a 2023 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profile titled "The CEO of a $2 billion Pittsburgh firm began her groundbreaking career in the Air Force."

She joined Schneider Downs Wealth Management Advisors (SDWMA) in 2003, became a partner in 2009, and served as Managing Director of the firm's Personal Financial Services practice — where she led the wealth management team — until being named CEO of SDWMA in 2017. She succeeded Don A. Linzer, who founded the practice in 2001, as the firm's second-ever CEO. In 2018 she was invited to become a Shareholder of the parent firm, Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

At the end of 2023, Skeans transitioned the CEO role to Managing Partner Derek J. Eichelberger (effective October 1, 2023), choosing to step back from administrative leadership to focus on client relationships and mentoring SDWMA's growing team of advisors. She remains a Senior Wealth Advisor, Shareholder, a voting member of the firm's Investment Committee, and the practice's Chief Compliance Officer (CCO).

Under her leadership the firm grew substantially: at the time of her 2017 appointment SDWMA managed about $1.2 billion; by her 2023 transition it managed over $2.3 billion across two offices (Pittsburgh and Columbus) with 26 full-time team members, and was ranked 21st of 150 "Top Firms by Assets Under Management" by Accounting Today (June 2023).

• Provides integrated wealth management — combining investment management, financial planning and tax planning — primarily for high-net-worth individuals, corporate executives, multi-generational families, private business owners, foundations and pension/retirement plans.
• Operates as a fiduciary RIA; portfolios are managed on a discretionary basis with Skeans serving as a voting member of the firm's Investment Committee.
• Growth philosophy centered on referrals rather than aggressive marketing — she has stated the firm expected to grow "primarily through referrals" while serving multi-generational families and private business owners.
• Emphasizes long-term client service and continuity: at the 2023 leadership transition she said the team is "well-positioned to continue our high client service standards."
• Not a startup/venture investor: no public record of angel, seed, or venture-stage company investments was found.