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$4.1B
Assets under management(as of December 31, 2024)
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
U.S. Exceptionalism and What It Means for Your Portfolio
Over modern U.S. history, we’ve hardly gone a moment without hearing predictions of America’s imminent downfall. In that sense, you might say that declinism is one of the great American past times. During his 1960 Presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy painted a scary picture of a Russian enemy well on its way to world domination […]
Insuring Your Home Against the Unexpected
The devastating Los Angeles wildfires at the start of the year serve as a sobering reminder of the role insurance plays in protecting against major financial loss. Without adequate coverage, you could be forced to draw from savings, retirement funds, or other investments to cover unexpected losses. At Clifford Swan, while we are not insurance […]
Clifford Swan Hosts Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Capital Management Students
Clifford Swan Investment Counselors welcomed students from California State University, Fullerton’s Titan Capital Management (TCM) program to our offices on February 28 for an engaging day of discussions on investment management. TCM is a highly regarded student investment group, having won the CFA Institute Research Challenge of Los Angeles for six consecutive years. The program […]
Message from the CEO: March 2025
This year marks a milestone as Clifford Swan celebrates its 110th year. Established with the visionary idea of providing independent investment advice, we remain committed to our founders’ timeless values —client-first focus, highly personalized service, attention to detail, and delivering financial success. As we celebrate this anniversary, we reflect on key moments that shaped our […]
