Experience
Dewey D. Steffen is a licensed investment professional with 25 years of experience. He proudly serves as the CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Great Lakes Wealth in Northville, Michigan. Dewey co-founded Great Lakes Wealth on July 1, 2016 and, with his entire team’s efforts, has built it into a successful registered investment advisory firm that provides goals-based financial planning, superior asset and wealth management solutions, and concierge-style client services using customized portfolios that meet the unique financial needs of clients of all sizes.
In addition to advising the firm’s clients, Dewey’s main areas of focus include global wealth management solutions and overseeing the firm’s proprietary investment model portfolios. As Great Lakes Wealth’s Chief Investment Officer and lead portfolio manager, he advocates using both strategic and tactical investment techniques designed to potentially enhance returns and reduce risk.
Prior to establishing Great Lakes Wealth, Dewey worked at several of Wall Street's largest firms. He spent nine years serving as Vice President – Wealth Management and Portfolio Manager at UBS Financial Services, as well as serving as Vice President at Citigroup Smith Barney and Senior Investment Consultant at Comerica Securities.
Dewey's comprehensive business and financial planning experience extends well beyond traditional stocks and bonds, allowing him a deeper understanding of client issues and the acumen to provide unique solutions to help clients pursue their financial goals and achieve financial independence. He has successfully launched two start-up companies, taken one company public, and has been both a passive and active investor in real estate.
Education
Dewey holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He also earned a fellowship and studied at the Ludwig von Mises Institute on the campus of Auburn University. Dewey began his college career as a student-athlete at Schoolcraft College, where he received an associate's degree in business and served as Captain of the Men's Golf Team.
Community Service
Dewey is caring, hard-working, and committed to making a difference in the world through philanthropy, community leadership, and corporate responsibility. Dewey currently serves as a trustee of Beaumont Health, a member of Schoolcraft College Foundation’s planned giving committee, and is an active member of the Detroit Athletic Club and Walnut Creek Country Club. In the past, he has served as a board member and Finance Committee Chair of the Schoolcraft College Foundation, a board member of the Fanclub Arts Foundation, a GBA Warrior for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit and, as a former boy scout, Dewey proudly served as the Committee Chair of Pack 45 of the Boy Scouts of America.
Under Dewey’s leadership, Great Lakes Wealth actively supports community organizations and initiatives throughout Metro Detroit including Lighthouse of Oakland County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, Detroit Medical Center, Farmington Area Goodfellows, UMAISE, Beaumont Health Foundation and Beaumont Children’s Hospital, Northville Civic Concern, Northville Main Street League, Plymouth High School Baseball Booster, and DCFC Youth Soccer.
Accreditations and Awards
Dewey is Chairman of the Investment Policy and Selection Committee at Great Lakes Wealth and the lead Portfolio Manager of the firm's 12 investment strategies. He holds Series 7, 65, 63 and 52 securities licenses, and is licensed in life insurance, accident and health insurance, and variable contracts.
Under his leadership, Great Lakes Wealth has been honored as a Wealth Management.com Thrive Award winner in 2019, a five-time winner of WDIV’s “Best Financial Advisor in Metro Detroit” (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), served as a member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce from 2016-2021, and serves as an active member of the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce as of 2021.
Dewey earned the 5 Star Investment Professional award in 2017 for providing outstanding service to his clients. In June 2020, he partnered with Detroit radio personality Kyle “Bogey” Bogenschutz to launch a weekly podcast series called “What Dewey Do?” to bring financial planning and wealth management advice to a global audience.
Dewey has been featured in numerous publications and on Network affiliate television broadcasts including FOX 2 Detroit – WJBK TV, ABC/7 Action News Detroit – WXYZ TV, NBC/Local 4 Detroit – WDIV TV, Advisors Magazine, Hour Detroit, and WealthManagement.com.
Personal
Dewey was raised in Birmingham, Michigan and now lives in Farmington, Michigan with his three beautiful children. In his free time, Dewey enjoys playing golf, basketball, racquet sports, bowling, and participating in his children’s many activities.