The honorees were chosen by the editorial team of Lehigh Valley Business.
Lehigh Valley Business recognized Michael J. Fischer, president and CEO of Client 1st Financial, as a 2025 Icon Honors recipient during an awards celebration on Thursday, Nov. 20.
“The 2025 Icon Honors recipients are visionary leaders who make a difference for many in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Their professional achievements, community awareness and action are outstanding, and they are role models for all of us,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Lehigh Valley Business. “They also look to the future by mentoring the next generation of leaders. We at Lehigh Valley Business congratulate this year’s outstanding honorees.”
Throughout his over 37-year-long career in financial services, Fischer has built a reputation for leadership grounded in integrity, long-term relationships and purposeful involvement in local causes. As president and CEO of Client 1st Financial, which he founded in 2012, Fischer leads with a fiduciary philosophy that prioritizes values-based financial planning and legacy-minded decision-making. Under his direction, the company has grown to manage more than $291 million in assets under management across 18 states, serving more than 600 clients.
Beyond the office, Fischer’s philanthropic work reflects his deep commitment to community impact. He established the Client 1st Foundation in 2012 to make charitable giving more accessible and impactful, awarding 78 grants totaling $44,000 to organizations addressing housing insecurity, food access and community development. Through these grants, the Foundation has directly supported organizations including Valley Youth House, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, PBS39’s Leadership Society, New Bethany, Danny’s Ride,VALOR Clinic Foundation and the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF). Fischer also serves as board president of New Bethany and on the board of governors for Valley Youth House, championing causes that strengthen families and empower youth.
His professional excellence has been recognized through numerous distinctions, including Top of the Table qualification from the Million Dollar Round Table, Osaic Ovation Conference honors and inclusion on Lehigh Valley Business’ Power List for banking, finance, accounting and wealth management.
“I am truly honored to be recognized among this year’s Icon Honorees,” said Fischer. “For me, success has always been about more than financial achievement; it’s about serving others and contributing to the strength of the community we all share. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this work and remain committed to helping individuals, families and our region thrive.”
ICON Honors award issued by Lehigh Valley Business on 9/22/2025 was awarded to Lehigh Valley business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen field. Individuals are chosen based on those that have left an indelible mark in their fields, and whose integrity, vision and selfless service have lifted up the Greater Lehigh Valley community, including the counties of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, lower Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Upper Bucks, or Schuylkill. The financial professional was nominated for the recognition. Eighteen individuals were selected for 2025. No fee was paid for the nomination, receipt, or promotion of the award. Third-party ratings are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.