Meet Our Team Member: Chris Duerr

By Chris Duerr, CFA® CFP®

I grew up in a family of medical professionals. As a kid, I remember my dad’s pager going off at the dinner table and him rushing off to the hospital, and my mom working all night to come home just as my siblings and I woke up. I appreciated the dedication to their profession and to helping others and that was always the type of rewarding career I aspired to.

Fast forward to today. Both my brother and sister are doctors, and I am the black sheep.  People ask why I didn’t pursue a career in medicine and the answer isn’t all that remarkable—I stunk at the subjects that you have to study for a decade to become one. In the end, my natural ability and interest in economics/finance won out over following in my family’s footsteps. My desire to pursue a career that would allow me to positively impact people’s lives, however, was not lost. Matching that desire with my skill set led to the decision to put my passion into action as a financial advisor.

How it Happened

As in medicine, financial advising requires both technical knowledge and emotional intelligence to successfully navigate each client’s unique situation. With this in mind, I earned degrees in economics and marketing from the University of Pittsburgh. I spent several years working for a major financial services firm and  joined Ahmie Baum and the team in 2013. Through the years of building experience, I’ve earned the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA®), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credentials so I could grow in my role and better serve our clients.

My Role Today

Today, I serve as the Senior Director of Investments at Interchange Capital Partners. With the mission of helping people in transition to determine their vision of the future and take advantage of their strengths, I spend my days leading the investment team and acting as one of the primary investment decision-makers.

Throughout my career and educational pursuits, I have experienced firsthand how long and complicated the process of learning about wealth management can be. When talking to someone who has spent their life building a business, achieving success within a large corporation, or serving their patients or clients, it is easy to forget that the financial industry’s language can be totally foreign to them. Our transparent and educational approach allows us to manage money the way that people think about their money—managed toward their goals with specific objectives and timelines. It’s important that everyone has someone who will help them stay on track and keep a level head when the world, markets, or life change in a way that meaningfully changes your plan.

See the Possibilities

There are many reasons I love what I do, but my favorite part is getting to know our clients and helping them start a meaningful conversation about their aspirations and money. Most people are hesitant to start planning because they want it to be perfect, but it can’t be perfect the first time. The most important thing is to get started. Our process not only educates but equips and empowers people to pursue their goals and live the life they want. Thankfully I have the privilege of celebrating with them when that happens.

If your financial plan needs our specialized touch, or if you have questions you need answers to, we are here for you. Email us at team@interchangecp.com or call our office at 412-307-4230 to schedule an introductory appointment. 

About Chris

Chris Duerr is the Senior Director of Investments for Interchange Capital Partners. In this role, he has comprehensive responsibility for economic analysis, developing investment strategy and process, and making decisions on asset allocation, selection of external managers, and risk management across portfolios.

Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated a commitment to better serve clients by earning several advanced certifications. He is one of less than 3,000 financial professionals to hold the Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA®) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ credentials.  Respectively, each credential is widely recognized as the standard of excellence in investment management and personal financial planning. Most recently, Chris became a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) to engage business owners more effectively in maximizing transferable business value, ensuring financial preparedness and purposefully planning for the next chapter of their lives.

He graduated with honors from the University of Pittsburgh with dual degrees in economics and marketing and a minor in history. After spending several years at another major financial services firm, he joined Ahmie and the team in 2013.

Chris lives in the Fox Chapel area with his wife, Helen, and daughter, Heidi. Outside of work, you can find him spending time with family, on the golf course, or at the top of the Peloton leaderboards. To learn more about Chris, connect with him on LinkedIn.