Clearstead
Clearstead is a Cleveland-based fee-only registered investment adviser that provides integrated wealth management and institutional investment consulting to ultra-high-net-worth families and institutions, managing approximately $30B in AUM and $55B in AUA across 13 offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Clearstead does
Clearstead is a Cleveland-headquartered, fee-only registered investment adviser founded in 1989 (originally as Hartland) that provides integrated wealth management and institutional investment consulting services. Its three primary service lines are Private Wealth Management for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, Institutional Investment Consulting for endowments, foundations, healthcare organizations, colleges, universities, and retirement plans (more than 300 institutional clients served), and Advisory Solutions, which delivers sub-advisory and intermediary services to financial advisors and RIAs. Supporting capabilities include tax planning and preparation, financial and estate planning, family office administration, OCIO, retirement plan consulting, and trust services delivered through two state-chartered non-depository trust subsidiaries, Clearstead Trust (Maine) and Clearstead Avalon Trust (New Mexico).
Clearstead's technology stack is largely conventional, anchored by Sharefile, Evestech, Orion Advisor, and Trust Reporter client portals, with two proprietary differentiators: ClearAccess, a private-markets platform that consolidates alternatives administration into a single K-1 and houses nearly $3 billion in illiquid private investments, and ClearSight Analysis, a complimentary discovery process for prospective clients. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML; the model is fundamentally human-advisor-intensive, with 28 CFA charterholders, 27 CFP certificants, and 26 CPAs (early 2025 figures) delivering integrated investment, tax, and planning services.
The firm operates a recurring, asset-based fee model on approximately $30 billion in AUM and roughly $55 billion in AUA (as of 12/31/2025), serving clients in 46 states across 13 offices with 300+ employees. Since 2021, Clearstead has been majority-owned by private equity firm Flexpoint Ford and has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, completing more than a dozen transactions including The Clarius Group ($5.1B AUM, January 2026), Wilbanks Smith & Thomas (rebranded as Clearstead Advisory Solutions, 2024), Avalon Trust (2023), and Waveland Family Office (2025), signaling a PE-backed roll-up playbook with explicit M&A leadership formalized in 2026.
Clearstead firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clearstead
- Legal name
- Clearstead, LLC
- Website
- https://clearstead.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Clearstead is a Cleveland-based fee-only registered investment adviser that provides integrated wealth management and institutional investment consulting to ultra-high-net-worth families and institutions, managing approximately $30B in AUM and $55B in AUA across 13 offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clearstead industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth Management and Investment Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Directed Trust & Trust Advisory Services (FSAAANAK), Endowment / OCIO-Style Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAG), Private Markets Fund of Funds (PE / VC / Private Credit FoF) (FSAHAKAF), Onshore Private Banking (Domestic HNW/UHNW) (FSAAABAA)
Keywords
Where Clearstead is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Clearstead business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees: Clearstead earns fees based on assets under management. The firm reports approximately $30 billion in AUM as of 12/31/2025 and approximately $55 billion in assets under advisement (AUA) including Clearstead Trust and Avalon Trust.
- Institutional Investment Consulting: Clearstead serves more than 300 institutional clients providing investment policy development, asset allocation strategy, investment selection, and performance reporting. Services include OCIO, fiduciary services, governance and oversight, and retirement plan consulting.
- Advisory Solutions / Sub-Advisory Services: Collaborates with financial intermediaries and RIAs to deliver tailored investment strategies and advisory support. Works with advisors as an extension of their business to provide investment and operational support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Fee-only advisory services based on assets under management |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Clearstead product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clearstead is a fee-only registered investment adviser that delivers Private Wealth Management, Institutional Investment Consulting, and Advisory Solutions. Private Wealth integrates tax planning and preparation, financial and estate planning, trust administration, and investment management for ultra-high-net-worth families. Institutional Investment Consulting provides investment policy development, asset allocation, manager selection, OCIO, and retirement plan consulting for more than 300 institutional clients, while Advisory Solutions offers sub-advisory and tailored investment strategies to financial intermediaries and RIAs.
Product overview
Clearstead is a financial advisory firm offering a unified platform of wealth management and investment consulting services. The core offerings consist of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Investment Consulting, and Advisory Solutions divisions. These are supported by specialized modules including the ClearSight Analysis (complimentary discovery tool), ClearAccess® Platform (for private alternatives investing), OCIO/Retirement Advisory, Tax Planning & Preparation, Financial & Estate Planning, and Family Office Administration services. Trust services are delivered through two state-chartered subsidiaries: Clearstead Trust (Maine) and Clearstead Avalon Trust (New Mexico). The firm also provides investment research and publishes market insights through its Resource Hub. Clearstead serves wealthy families, individuals, and over 300 institutional clients including endowments, foundations, healthcare organizations, colleges and universities, and retirement funds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ClearSight Analysis: A complimentary personalized financial analysis designed to help clients protect and grow their wealth by reviewing current financial documents and assets.
- ClearAccess
- Clearstead Advisory Solutions
Products and services
- Private Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management services integrating tax planning and preparation, financial planning, and trust administration services with investment management for ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals with complex finances.
- Institutional Investment Consulting Customized investment consulting designed to help institutions meet return objectives, including investment policy development, asset allocation strategy, investment selection, OCIO, performance reporting, fiduciary services, and retirement plan consulting for endowments, foundations, healthcare organizations, colleges, universities, and retirement funds.
- Advisory Solutions Investment expertise and resources delivered through sub-advisory services and tailored investment strategies to help financial intermediaries and RIAs elevate their advisory offerings, deepen client relationships, focus on strategic planning, and enhance efficiency.
- Clearstead Trust Services Maine-chartered, non-depository trust company wholly owned by Clearstead Advisors, providing fiduciary, planning, investment, and tax solutions including corporate trustee services for revocable and complex multi-entity trust structures.
- Clearstead Avalon Trust Services New Mexico-chartered trust company wholly owned by Clearstead Advisors, serving individuals, families, trusts, foundations and non-profits with integrated investment, planning, and fiduciary solutions grounded in bottom-up fundamental research blending growth and value investing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly $3 billion managed in illiquid private investments through ClearAccess platform
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Clearstead
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clearstead technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Clearstead partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Third FederalcoreThird Federal partnered with Clearstead Advisory Solutions to provide wealth management services including investment management, retirement guidance, and financial planning to Third Federal customers across the country. Third Federal, with $17.46 billion in assets and operations in 28 states, refers customers to Clearstead advisors through local branches and Customer Care.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Clearstead competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pathstone: Independent, privately held RIA providing investment advisory, family office, and institutional consulting services to HNW families, foundations, and endowments. Direct comparable in institutional consulting and family office segments.
- Mercer Advisors: National RIA serving HNW families and institutions with integrated wealth management, tax planning, and trust services. Comparable in offering breadth and target market to Clearstead's integrated platform.
- Focus Financial Partners: A leading partnership of independent wealth management firms (now part of Focus Inc.) and arguably the most direct comparable to Clearstead's PE-backed RIA roll-up model, with similar institutional investment consulting and family office offerings.
- CAPTRUST: Leading institutional investment consulting firm with a growing private wealth practice, serving corporate retirement plans, endowments, foundations, and HNW families. Direct overlap with Clearstead's Institutional Investment Consulting division.
- Hightower Advisors: PE-backed RIA partnership serving HNW families and institutions with wealth advisory, investment consulting, and trust services. Similar business model and growth trajectory via advisor recruitment and acquisitions.
- Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large PE-backed (Lee Equity/Hellman & Friedman) RIA platform offering integrated wealth advisory, institutional consulting, and family office services across multiple U.S. offices, with similar scale and target clientele.
- Creative Planning: Large fee-only RIA providing integrated wealth management including tax, estate, and retirement planning for HNW individuals. Comparable in offering breadth and fee-only advisory model, though larger in scale.
Broad incumbents
- Edelman Financial Engines: One of the largest U.S. RIAs combining financial planning, investment management, and workplace retirement plan services. Broader scale and broader target market including mass-affluent clients, but overlapping core offerings.
- Bessemer Trust: Premier UHNW wealth and investment management firm with deep trust capabilities and integrated family office services. Strong overlap with Clearstead's private wealth and trust subsidiaries serving ultra-wealthy families.
- Brown Brothers Harriman: Established private bank and trust company offering integrated wealth management, investment advisory, and trust services to UHNW families. Comparable in fiduciary and trust capabilities through subsidiaries similar to Clearstead Trust.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clearstead social profiles
Digital presenceClearstead financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clearstead leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Clearstead subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Clearstead funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clearstead M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Clearstead
What does Clearstead do?
Clearstead is a fee-only registered investment adviser that delivers Private Wealth Management, Institutional Investment Consulting, and Advisory Solutions. Private Wealth integrates tax planning and preparation, financial and estate planning, trust administration, and investment management for ultra-high-net-worth families. Institutional Investment Consulting provides investment policy development, asset allocation, manager selection, OCIO, and retirement plan consulting for more than 300 institutional clients, while Advisory Solutions offers sub-advisory and tailored investment strategies to financial intermediaries and RIAs.
Is Clearstead a public or private company?
Clearstead is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Clearstead founded?
Clearstead was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Clearstead based?
Clearstead is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clearstead make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees are the primary driver. The others are institutional Investment Consulting and advisory Solutions / Sub-Advisory Services.
Who are Clearstead's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pathstone, Mercer Advisors, Focus Financial Partners, CAPTRUST, Hightower Advisors, Mariner Wealth Advisors and Creative Planning. Broad incumbents are Edelman Financial Engines, Bessemer Trust and Brown Brothers Harriman.
Does Clearstead have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clearstead.
What industry is Clearstead in?
Clearstead's product category is Wealth Management and Investment Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEABAC, Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAAANAK, Directed Trust & Trust Advisory Services. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.