Our History
Building Futures Since 1915
Our legacy is rooted in trust, shared values, and a steadfast commitment to our clients and their communities.
Our founding values have withstood the test of time
Through wars, economic upheavals, financial crises, and generations of innovation, we’ve remained a trusted stalwart in the investment community.
A.M. Clifford opens a brokerage in Los Angeles
1911
1915
Founds his investment counselor business
Focusing on independent advice, his firm is the first of its kind.
1915
1921
1925
Clifford publishes The Investment Counselor
The principles that come to be adopted by the industry are first set out in this slim volume.
1925
1929
Clifford warns of a market crash
In the September 1929 edition of the Atlantic Monthly, A.M. Clifford observes, “History appears to be repeating itself. And so the pendulum swings, now this way, now that, and usually too far at its extremes.”
1929
1929
1937
Founding of The Investment Counselors Association of Southern California
Clifford’s vision gains traction, as he and his contemporaries form one of the first professional associations for investment counselors.
1937
1941
1947
Founding of The Investment Counsel Association of America
Expanding beyond California, a national organization follows and survives to this day as the Investment Adviser Association.
1947
1949
Henry H. Clifford becomes a partner
The second generation of the Clifford family enters the investment counseling business.
1949
1962
1968
A.M. “Tony” Clifford II joins the firm
He becomes the third generation of his family to enter the investment counseling business.
1968
1984
Philip V. Swan founds his own advisory
This former Clifford employee strikes out on his own.
1984
1987
1995
2000
2007
Clifford Associates and Philip V. Swan merge to become Clifford Swan Investment Counsel
2007
2007
2015
The firm celebrates its 100th anniversary, a new location, and independent ownership
2015
2020
2022
Clifford Swan introduces a new look
The firm refreshes its visual identity to support the client experience.
2022
2025
Our Latest Thinking
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Wrap up 2024 on a High Note: Year-end Checklist to Boost Your Wealth and Lower Your Tax Bill
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and take a close look at your financial goals. Even if you’ve reached some big milestones, there still could be a few valuable moves you can make before year-end. With IRS deadlines approaching, now’s the moment to make some proactive choices that could leave you […]
Protect Your Assets from Phishers
We’ve written before about protecting yourself from financial fraud and encourage you to keep this threat in mind. As technological advances have improved our lives in many ways, an unfortunate side effect is technology’s role in helping cybercriminals construct more sophisticated financial scams. Recently, some of our clients have experienced more advanced phishing attempts that […]
Rate Cuts and Your Bond Portfolio
After several years of low interest rates, bond yields have been attractive for the past few years. While a recent turning point in central bank policy has slightly lowered yields, today’s bond market offers a unique combination of capital preservation and income in an increasingly complex economic landscape. Our current fixed income investment strategy is […]
Message From the CEO
I want to start by thanking Linda for her last 10 years at our helm, highlighted by our regained independence as a 100% employee owned firm and the ushering in of the firm’s next generation of investment professionals. Most recently, another member of the firm’s next generation joined Clifford Swan in May and we named […]
