Clifford specializes in helping individuals, families, and non-profit entities identify and address complex financial and strategic challenges. Whether it be helping a multi-generational family work through governance issues or a non-profit entity facing transition and growth issues, Clifford is adept at planning for, implementing, and executing upon a wide range of complex asset conveyances including succession planning, intergenerational wealth transfers, and charitable gifting.
Before joining BLBB Advisors, Clifford was the President, CFO and CCO of Rutherford, Brown & Catherwood and the CFO and CCO of Walnut Asset Management. Clifford was instrumental in restructuring Walnut, returning it to profitability, and eventually bringing the core team to BLBB in 2008. Prior to working with Walnut, Clifford served as Investment Manager for Haugen Agro, LLLP and co-founded Seedling Group, LLC.
Clifford is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and has been active in a number of securities industry and regulatory committees, including more than a decade of service to FINRA’s national Operations Advisory Committee. Clifford is also a member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia and the CFA Institute.
In addition to his extensive experience in the securities industry, Clifford is also a business owner, an entrepreneur, and a leader at several educational institutions. The breadth of his personal experience in these different capacities makes him uniquely qualified to advise clients who may face many of the same issues he has already tackled. Trained as a Systems Engineer, Clifford understands both the technical challenges a client may need to overcome in order to achieve a particular goal and the emotional toll these challenges may take upon the client – especially if the matter is not handled promptly, professionally, and competently.
Clifford is a summa cum laude graduate of The University of Pennsylvania where he obtained an M.S. in Systems Engineering and concurrent B.S. degrees in Economics (Wharton School of Business) and Systems Engineering (School of Engineering and Applied Science). Clifford won a Thouron Scholarship to Oxford and was a Rhodes and Marshall Scholar finalist as well as a University Scholar.
Outside of work, Clifford gives generously of his time to several non-profit organizations. He currently serves as the President and Director of BLBB Charitable, Trustee and Treasurer of Gemma Services, Trustee of Gemma Foundation, Trustee of Whitemarsh Foundation, Trustee of North Dakota Museum of Art Foundation, and as a Finance Committee Advisor to the American Conifer Society. Clifford also advises a number of other family businesses and charitable organizations on strategic issues. He is a former Trustee, CEO, and Board Chair of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and a former Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Meadowbrook School.
He is married to his best friend, Kristen, and is an avid gardener, traveler, oenophile, and bibliophile.