For Social Security, Medicare, Retirement Income & Tax Planning, and Roth Conversion Strategies
CALL US NOW (814) 371-4901,
(412) 265-6383, or 1-800-569-2867
Paying Too Much for Life Insurance? Click Here!
Joe Zappia, III, CRPC®, CFEI®,
CMIP®
Co-Owner/Senior Financial Advisor
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠
Certified Financial Education Instructor℠
Certified Medicare Insurance Planner™

Joe Zappia, III, a licensed fiduciary advisor, is a national award-winning local Medicare insurance agent/broker and financial planner. He is the first Certified Medicare Insurance Planner™ in DuBois, Altoona, Pittsburgh, Monroeville, Cranberry Township, and Erie, PA.
He is a graduate of Clarion University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems, a business-related degree. Select courses taken: Financial Management, Accounting, & Economics. The College of Business Administration at Clarion University is accredited by AACSB International.
Joe Zappia, III, CRPC®, CFEI®, CMIP®, & Team at Venn Financial Solutions were named the 2024 Readers’ Choice for Best Financial Advisors/Best Financial Planning Firm/Best Wealth Management Firm by Tri-County Weekend Newspaper in DuBois PA. They were voted the Best Financial Planners/Best Wealth Management Firm in the Best of Tri-County! (Gold 2021, 2023-2025, Silver 2022)
Joe recently earned the CRPC® – Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation conferred by the College for Financial Planning.
Joe completed the Financial Markets course taught by Nobel Laureate Professor & Economist Robert J. Shiller at Yale University. Joe also completed the Introduction to Corporate Finance course through The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Joe is currently pursuing both the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ – CFP® certification and a Master of Science Degree in Personal Financial Planning from The College of Financial Planning in Centennial, CO. The MSPFP is an accredited program by the Higher Learning Commission.
He is passionate about helping people get out of debt, build wealth, and live great retirement lifestyles.
He has over 25 years of business experience, including OVER 20 years in the insurance & financial planning industry, working with his father Joseph C. Zappia, Jr., CLU®, BSCD, from 2005 until his father passed away in 2014.
Joe strongly believes in financial literacy and is a life-long learner. In addition to Continuing Education and Re-Certification requirements, he recently earned the CFEI® – Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ designation awarded by the National Financial Educators’ Council. As a younger wealth manager, Joe plans to work for the next 30 years.
He serves on the Executive Team as the Secretary/Treasurer for BNI Wilds. BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world.
He is an Alumni member of the DuBois Area Jaycees, the Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce, and is a past board member of DuBois Business Networkers.
He enjoys traveling, is health-conscious, and regularly walks outside or lifts weights at the gym.
As a former athlete, he watches Penn State & Steelers Football and Pirates Baseball.
Joe loves music and singing. He was in chorus and marching band in high school and college. The dedication & discipline learned in the band has carried over into his business life.
Joe feels that it’s important to be active in the community. He serves as the Judge of Elections for 5th ward in DuBois. He enjoys volunteering for the Jaycees, the YMCA, Run/Walk for Someone Special, the MS Walk, and the Salvation Army. In college, he helped with Habitat for Humanity.
Joe is a 2020 Who’s Who in America Honoree by Marquis Who’s Who, a 2019 & 2020 Foremost Under 40 Honoree By Pennsylvania Business Central, a Multi-Year Nominee for Best Financial Advisor/Financial Planning Firm by Priority Communications’ Best of Tri-County (Youngest Financial Firm Owner to be Nominated), and a Multi-Year Readers’ Choice Nominee for Best Financial Advisor/Financial Planning Firm by Tri-County Sunday & The Courier-Express Newspapers
He can be reached at (814) 371-4901,
(412) 265-6383, or 1-800-569-2867.
Working Together With Robert J. Knox, FRC℠, fiduciary advisor, Venn Financial Solutions

Robert J. Knox is co-founder of Venn Financial Solutions and has OVER 45 years of experience in the Insurance and Financial Profession.
Years ago, Robert’s mentor, Roland Bechtel, taught him the single most valuable lesson was to successfully help clients achieve their financial goals.
Mr. Knox feels following a “Safe Money” mindset can help you create a comfortable & soothing financial environment. Robert can analyze your overall financial situation, providing guidance and assistance on a broad range of financial topics, including · Planning for health care protection and long-term care needs.· Structuring distributions from pensions, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs and Social Security for a secure lifetime income. Developing effective estate planning strategies. You can count on Robert’s expertise, education, and integrity to help you obtain the most beneficial financial results you desire to achieve.
Robert J. Knox “Bob” is a Thrift Savings Plan TSP Retirement Planner for Federal Employees in DuBois & Altoona PA. He can help businesses with Business Succession Planning.
He is a graduate of:
The College for Financial Planning – Completed the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ – CFP® Certification
American College of Financial Services – Completed the Chartered Financial Consultant® – ChFC® Designation, Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® – CASL®, and Chartered Life Underwriter® – CLU®
Society of Certified Senior Advisors® – CSA® Certified Senior Advisor® Credential
National Social Security Advisor℠ – NSSA® Certificate
The Federal Retirement Consultant℠ – FRC℠ Designation
The preceding certifications, designations, certificates, and credentials are not active.
Robert served in the Air Force. He enjoys weight training, watching high school and college wrestling, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Robert and his late wife Nina owned the Bechtel Agency for many years.
In Memory of: Joseph C. Zappia, Jr., CLU®, BSCD, Founder

Joe Zappia, Jr., was a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development and an Associate’s Degree in Business. He held the CLU® – Chartered Life Underwriter™ designation from the American College and had won many awards.
He had over 35 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry and previously worked for Prudential Financial in Du Bois PA. He had many Medicare Supplement clients.
He served in the United States Army Reserves.
He and his wife Marlene have two children, Joe, III, of Du Bois, and Dr. Gina (Justin) Amrhein of Pittsburgh.
He passed away on December 22, 2014.