ACU Employee Spotlight: Getting to know Karen Di Quinzio, Director of Wealth

With over 25 years of industry experience, Karen Di Quinzio is the Director of Wealth Management at ACU. Her role includes leadership, strategy, coaching and training, hiring, compliance and registrations, administration and managing the member experience from a wealth perspective.

With a strong belief in helping others reach their potential—including her team, other ACU employees and the communities they serve—Karen loves having the opportunity to give back and contribute to others.

Read on to learn more about Karen and find out why ACU is the perfect place for her.

Getting to know Karen

Q. How long have you worked at ACU?

I’ve been with ACU for eight years.

Q. Describe a “day in the life” of your role.

Every day differs depending on what’s essential for that day, week and month. On Mondays, for example, I have meetings with all my direct reports, and this week I’m working on our business plan and doing month-end reporting.

Q. What is your favourite part of working at ACU?

It’s the people by far. I work with an amazing, competent (and fun!) team.

Q. What’s a great financial tip you learned over the years that was a surprising help?

Pay yourself first. Invest early, invest often, diversify, and stay invested.

Q. What’s a fun fact about yourself that most people wouldn’t know?

There are so many! For one, I played underwater hockey in a national championship.

Helping others kickstart their careers

Q. How did you get started in the financial industry?

I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce. I was hired by TD Bank into their management trainee program right out of university.

Q. How has your role evolved since you started with ACU?

It has evolved a great deal. I went from looking after a group of investment advisors to working to integrate Wealth Management throughout the organization.

Q. What advice would you give someone interested in a job like yours?

You’ll need not only experience as an advisor, but also experience leading people. The more background and experience you have in the financial industry, the more effective you can be.

Q. Why would you encourage people to work at ACU?

I’d encourage people to work here because everyone has a voice at ACU. We’re always trying to improve, and your opinion matters.

We also care about our community and invest in the well-being of our employees.

Q. What brings you the most joy from being part of ACU?

I love working with people focused on and dedicated to the same goal. Working with my team is rewarding, challenging and fun! I also enjoy sharing my experience and knowledge with others.

The future of our community

Q. What excites you about the positive changes happening in our community?

It’s exciting to know we’re making a difference in the communities we serve. ACU is very focused on that.

Q. How have you seen members make improvements in their financial lives?

I’ve seen firsthand how we help our members understand their finances and plan and prepare for their financial futures. We educate, advise, and provide peace of mind for our members, and that feels great.

Q. Why would you encourage people to become an ACU member?

At ACU we offer advice on all aspects of a member’s financial needs. We’re like any other financial institution, but there’s a core difference: we live and breathe our values, and we really give back to the communities we serve in meaningful ways.

Q. What does “Money doing more” mean to you?

Money doing more is our philosophy—it’s money used for good and to help others have opportunities to grow and thrive in our communities.

Q. What’s the most exciting thing to come in the future of credit unions?

We are continually evolving. The cooperative spirit is alive and well! If I had to pick one, the most exciting thing is how we work for our members – collaborating to bring top-notch technology changes to make lives easier for our members and employees.

Want to be a part of ACU? Visit acu.ca to learn more about memberships (and careers) with one of Manitoba’s largest credit unions and one of Manitoba’s top employers.

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