What Clayton Wealth Partners does

Clayton Wealth Partners is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm operating as a d/b/a of Clayton Financial Services, Inc., founded in 1984 by Randy and Debra Clayton in Topeka, Kansas. The firm delivers comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals across all life stages (pre-retirees, retirees, young and mid-career professionals) and to institutional clients including endowments, foundations, and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Its product menu spans asset management, estate planning, tax review and planning, retirement and higher-education planning, charitable giving, insurance review, employee benefit review, a dedicated Sustainable Investing (ESG) portfolio offering, and institutional asset management services.

The firm's technology and operating model center on an in-house investment team that conducts independent research and constructs custom portfolios using low-cost index funds and no-load mutual funds, supported by a Director of Trading and Technology role and 24-hour online client access. No proprietary AI/ML systems, APIs, or third-party software integrations are disclosed; portfolio construction is human-judgment-driven, augmented by traditional investment analysis combined with ESG factor overlays.

Clayton Wealth Partners is privately held by six owners — founding partners Randy and Debra Clayton alongside employee owners Elizabeth Young, Barbara Duncan, James Walden, and Clint Patty — with no external institutional investors or public listing. Revenue is generated solely through assets-under-management fees on a subscription basis, with no commissions, finder's fees, or third-party compensation. Distribution combines in-person delivery from its Topeka headquarters and Lawrence satellite office with a national virtual advisory channel, supported by content marketing, an "Investing in Good" podcast, and a community-led referral network in Kansas.

Name

Clayton Wealth Partners

Legal name

Clayton Financial Services, Inc.

Website

https://claytonwealthpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fee-Only Advisory (FSAEAAAL)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Financial planning advisory
• Investment management
• Fiduciary advisory
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees: The firm charges a percentage of assets under management (AUM) for its services and does not earn any sales commissions or kickbacks. As a comprehensive service provider, clients receive both investment team expertise and financial planning team services under one fee structure.
2. Fee-Only Fiduciary Compensation: Compensated solely by clients with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation contingent on purchase or sale of financial products. No commissions, rebates, awards, finder's fees, or other forms of compensation from third parties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clayton Wealth Partners is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services. Offerings include asset management, estate planning, tax review, retirement and education planning, charitable giving, insurance review, and employee benefit review, delivered under an assets-under-management (AUM) fee model with no commissions. The firm also offers ESG-focused Sustainable Investing Portfolios and dedicated institutional asset management for endowments, foundations, and nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

Clayton Wealth Partners is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management services through eight core product modules: Asset Management, Estate Planning, Tax Review & Planning, Financial Goal and Retirement Planning, Higher Education Planning, Charitable Giving, Insurance Review, and Employee Benefit Package Review. The firm also offers specialized Sustainable Investing Portfolios with ESG focus and dedicated Institutional Asset Management services for endowments, foundations, and organizations. All services are delivered by a team of credentialed advisors (CFP®, CFA®, CIMA®) through an assets-under-management fee model with no commissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Asset Management Investment management service where the Clayton Wealth Partners team monitors portfolio performance and risk characteristics, making discretionary adjustments based on market analysis and economic projections. Includes quarterly comparative portfolio summaries and 24-hour online access.
• Estate Planning Estate planning and trust management services that facilitate care during disability and simplify wealth distribution to heirs.
• Tax Review & Planning Tax return review service that identifies qualifiable tax deductions and strategic tax planning opportunities before filing.
• Financial Goal and Retirement Planning Comprehensive planning service that outlines future goals and dreams, creating a roadmap for retirement including tax-deferred retirement plan strategies.
• Higher Education Planning Education savings planning service that explores savings vehicles and strategies to prepare for higher education expenses.
• Charitable Giving Advisory Charitable giving advisory service that helps reduce capital gains, estate, and income taxes while supporting causes clients care about.
• Insurance Review Independent review of current insurance policies to ensure they align with financial goals, provided without selling insurance products.
• Employee Benefit Package Review Advisory service for major regional employer benefit packages including life insurance, cafeteria plans, stock options, and other benefit elections.
• Sustainable Investing Portfolios ESG-focused investment portfolios that allow clients to invest consistent with personal values, focusing on environmental, social, and governance factors while targeting competitive risk-adjusted returns.
• Institutional Asset Management Independent fiduciary asset management for endowments, foundations, and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including strategic and tactical asset allocation, investment research, ongoing portfolio and risk management, investment policy statement review, periodic portfolio reviews, and board meeting support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients receive comprehensive planning with no asset minimums, enabling accessibility to a broad range of investors.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Lawrence Chamber of CommercesupportingOthersClayton Wealth Partners team members, including Chief Investment Officer James Walden, serve on the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce board, participating in community development and business networking activities in Lawrence, Kansas.
• Just FoodsupportingOthersCommunity food bank organization in Lawrence. James Walden serves as Board President of Just Food. Clayton Wealth Partners supports Just Food through sponsorship of events such as the Just Food Game Gala.
• Jayhawk Breakfast RotarysupportingOthersLocal service organization in the Lawrence area. Team members participate in community service and networking through this organization.
• Sporting Kaw Valley Soccer ClubsupportingOthersYouth soccer organization in the Lawrence area supported by Clayton Wealth Partners as part of community involvement.
• Topeka Symphony LeaguesupportingOthersBarbara Duncan, an employee owner of Clayton Wealth Partners, was elected President of the Topeka Symphony League. The firm sponsors Topeka Symphony League fundraising events including galas.
• Greater Topeka PartnershipsupportingOthersEconomic development organization for the Topeka region. Team members participate in this organization as part of community involvement.
• Leadership Greater TopekasupportingOthersLeadership development program for Topeka. Wealth Advisor Zac Pohlenz was selected for the Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2025. Barbara Duncan also graduated from the program.
• TopCity InternssupportingOthersProgram connecting young professionals to Topeka. Clayton Wealth Partners team members provide financial literacy presentations to TopCity Interns.
• Downtown Topeka, Inc.supportingOthersManaging Partner Clint Patty, J.D. serves on the board of Downtown Topeka, Inc., contributing to urban development and community building efforts.
• American Red Cross — Greater Kansas Area ChaptersupportingOthersJames Walden and Zac Pohlenz serve on boards for the Greater Kansas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. The firm also joined the global #workingwithcancer pledge.
• Humanities KansassupportingOthersElizabeth Young of Clayton Wealth Partners was elected to the Humanities Kansas Board of Directors, supporting cultural and educational initiatives statewide.
• NOTO (North Topeka Arts District)supportingOthersClayton Wealth Partners sponsors NOTO's avant-garde underground art studio and NOTO In Bloom benefit, supporting arts development in North Topeka.
• Women's FundsupportingOthersClayton Wealth Partners sponsors the Women's Fund luncheon and annual luncheon, supporting women's empowerment and economic initiatives in the community.
• United Way of Kaw ValleysupportingOthersFeatured on the Investing in Good podcast. Clayton Wealth Partners supports United Way through podcast coverage and community involvement.
• Topeka & Shawnee County Library FoundationsupportingOthersFeatured on the Investing in Good podcast. Library Foundation is a key community partner in supporting literacy and educational programs.
• Family Service and Guidance CentersupportingOthersFeatured on the Investing in Good podcast Episode 1. Nonprofit providing mental health services to children and families in Northeast Kansas since 1904.
• Stormont Vail FoundationsupportingOthersFeatured on the Investing in Good podcast Episode 2. Regional healthcare foundation serving 15 counties. Amy Burns, President of Stormont Vail Foundation, was interviewed on the podcast.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Creative Planning: Kansas-headquartered, fee-only RIA offering comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals and institutions. Highly comparable given shared Kansas roots, fiduciary model, and similar service mix.
• Halbert Hargrove: Fee-only wealth advisory firm serving individuals and institutions. Comparable in fiduciary-only positioning, no-commission model, and integrated financial planning + investment management offering.
• Foster Group: Fee-only RIA based in the Midwest offering wealth management, institutional asset management, and retirement plan services. Comparable in fiduciary model, Midwestern footprint, and institutional capabilities.
• Carson Wealth: Midwestern RIA offering wealth management, financial planning, and institutional consulting. Comparable in fee-only fiduciary positioning, though Carson operates a broader advisor network model.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Fee-only, fiduciary wealth management firm serving individuals and institutions with comprehensive planning and evidence-based investing. Closely aligned on no-commission positioning and academic-style investment approach.
• Plancorp: Fee-only RIA providing wealth management and institutional consulting. Comparable in fiduciary model, services mix, and target clientele of high-net-worth individuals and institutions.
• Savant Wealth Management: Fee-only, fiduciary RIA offering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and institutional services. Closely comparable in business model, fee structure, and multi-generational client focus, though larger in scale and broader in geography.
• Ronald Blue Trust: Fee-only financial planning and investment management firm with a faith-based lens, serving individuals, families, and institutions. Comparable in comprehensive-planning approach and fiduciary standards.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Independent, fee-based RIA platform providing wealth advisory, investment management, and institutional services. Comparable in product breadth and fiduciary positioning, though Mariner operates nationally and is significantly larger.

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: Charles Schwab's robo-advisor and digital wealth platform. Comparable as a low-fee investment management solution, though it is a scaled, technology-led offering rather than a relationship-driven advisory firm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clayton Wealth Partners