The Treasurer's Office

Michael Fitzgerald

Meet Michael L. Fitzgerald

Michael L. Fitzgerald was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. His family farmed outside of State Center and later Colo, where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Iowa and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to being elected State Treasurer in 1982, he worked as a marketing analyst for Massey Ferguson Company in Des Moines for eight years.

Treasurer Fitzgerald has become a leader in public service during his tenure as State Treasurer. He has served as president of several national organizations, and he serves as trustee and custodian of Iowa’s state pension funds. In addition, he invests over three billion dollars of state operating funds.

Treasurer Fitzgerald also oversees many consumer programs. The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, his unclaimed property program, has returned over $320 million in lost property to the rightful owners. He is the administrator for Iowa’s 529 education savings programs, including College Savings Iowa, which has over $6 billion invested and has helped families withdraw billions of dollars to pay for higher education. He also serves as administrator for IAble, a tax-advantaged savings program that helps Iowans save for disability-related expenses while protecting their eligibility for means-tested benefits.