Wisdom for Generations. Peace of Mind Today.™
Our focus is your financial success.
Preserving wealth in changing markets, navigating complex financial situations, planning for the future while addressing the needs of today — you don’t have to tackle these challenges alone. Your financial well-being is personal and primary to us. Together, we can provide peace of mind for generations.
The Clifford Swan Difference
Our approach is holistic and specific to you.
We are independently owned, with no outside influences or products to sell. This allows us the freedom to design and refine custom wealth strategies that support your goals through every phase of life. We combine rigorous investment research with comprehensive financial counseling and skilled portfolio management to navigate today’s complex world and evolve your wealth solutions.
Simply put, your priorities and concerns are our own — ensuring a lasting and meaningful impact on your wealth and legacy.
110+ years
Serving affluent individuals and families60+ years
Serving nonprofit organizations100%
Employee-owned$4.5B
Assets under management(as of December 31, 2025)
Why Clifford Swan?
We are fiduciaries intent on helping you sleep well at night.
Since our founding in 1915, we have committed to placing client interests ahead of all other considerations. We care deeply about financial education and promise to work closely with you at each step of your journey, sharing information about financial concepts and imparting investment knowledge to every generation.
By managing your wealth with an independent vision, long-term strategy, and absolute commitment to achieving your goals, we can provide enduring peace of mind.
Who Our Clients Are
- Affluent Individuals, Families, and Private Foundations
- Nonprofit Organizations — Endowments and Planned Giving Programs
- Professional Trustees
- Business Owners and Private Pension Plans
While our firm is based in Pasadena, California, our clients live nearby and across the country in cities large and small, in communities urban and rural, and represent a diverse collection of individuals, families, and institutions. They come from varied backgrounds with their own unique stories, goals, and dreams. Yet, Clifford Swan clients share several commonalities.
Financially Established
Our clients are financially established, having accumulated significant wealth.
Forward Thinking
Many come to us at a time of change, whether personally or professionally, with goals that often span multiple generations.
Purposeful Investors
They share a strong desire to grow and protect their wealth in a thoughtful, clear way, and value having a personal trusted advisor.
Services
Individuals & Families
We provide investment and planning solutions centered on your unique needs and values. A coordinated approach to wealth management helps not only build wealth but also protect what matters most to you — including the future and legacy you envision.
Institutions
Our commitment to nonprofit organizations began in 1962 when we first provided endowment investment management services.
Today, in addition to asset allocation and portfolio implementation, we offer a consultative approach to board governance and best practice concerns, including reviewing investment, spending, and gift acceptance policies to bolster your organization’s mission.
For organizations with planned giving programs, our comprehensive turnkey services include investment management, administration, and donor support.
Our Latest Thinking
The Rise of the Invisible Economy
The investment industry has come a long way, offering Americans more ways than ever to build wealth. But the rise of alternatives—once the exclusive domain of institutions and the ultra-wealthy—has made it more difficult to cut through the noise and identify what matters. We’ve developed a framework to help. For most of our country’s history, […]
Charitable Gift Annuity Programs: What It Takes to Keep the Promise
By combining charitable intent with tax-advantaged lifetime income, a charitable gift annuity (CGA) can work very well for the right donor and for the right nonprofit. But a well-designed gift is only the beginning. Behind every CGA is a contractual payment obligation that a nonprofit must honor for the life of the annuitant, regardless of […]
Reminder: Trump Accounts Launching July 4th
In February, we shared an overview on Trump Accounts, a new federal savings program for children. With the launch on July 4, 2026, we’re revisiting how these custodial accounts compare to other savings options for minors: Trump Accounts are designed for long-term wealth building. Investments are restricted to low-cost U.S. equity index funds until age […]
Message from the CEO: May 2026
This year, we’ve been fortunate to welcome two talented Investment Counselors to our team. Raymond Torres, a Certified Financial Planner® professional, joined us after nearly a decade at Northern Trust in Pasadena, where he developed expertise in financial planning and portfolio management for high-net-worth clients. Charlotte Anten joined us with over 25 years of experience […]
