Clarity Asset Management, Inc. (Ames)


Clarity Asset Management, Inc. is a large advisory firm based in Ames. It manages $152.49 million of regulatory assets for 487 client accounts. It has been registered with the SEC as an adviser since 2002 and has operated in the jurisdiction of Iowa.

Clarity Asset Management provides financial planning services, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and portfolio management for businesses and institutional clients. It prepares financial plans for more than 100 clients. On top of advisory services, the firm doesn't engage in other business activities.

Clarity Asset Management: assets under management

The assets under management (AUM) of Clarity Asset Management, Inc. is $152.49 million, all of which is managed in discretionary accounts. The firm's AUM has grown by 261% since the beginning of its operation, and the company doesn't manage any assets belonging to foreign clients.

The firm manages $152.49 million in discretionary accounts. On average, the discretionary accounts where all decisions are made on behalf of the client hold $313.12 thousand each.
Clarity Asset Management has custody of $9.43 million in cash and securities for 10 clients in total but doesn’t act as a qualified custodian.

Investments

The firm invests in investment and business development companies the most. They account for 74% of the total AUM. The second-largest asset type is exchange traded securities, which make up 24% of the firm’s portfolio. Investments in cash and cash equivalents form 2% of the total invested assets.

Fees & Commissions

The advisory firm has several streams of revenue. Clients pay Clarity Asset Management, Inc. for their services and products based on a percentage of assets under management and fixed fees. Compensation based on assets under management promotes a long-term relationship between a client and the adviser and helps align mutual interests. These fees don’t include brokerage commissions, interest, taxes, and other account expenses.

What kind of clients Donald Lee Erickson serves?

The firm provides services to individuals and high net worth individuals. The largest group of clients of Donald Lee Erickson is high net worth individuals with 52 clients and $82.94 million of assets under management. Among the 9 most similar advisory firms, Clarity Asset Management has the 4th highest percentage of high net worth individuals out of all clients.

The amount of regulatory assets under management is $152.05 million for 235 clients that can include trusts, estates, and 401(k) plans and IRAs of individuals and their family members. None of the firm’s clients are foreign persons or businesses.

Clarity Asset Management doesn't advise any private funds.

Careers at Clarity Asset Management, Inc.

The company employs 6 people that are either part- or full-time employees. 83 percent of the employees work as investment advisers or researchers. 5 employees are registered as investment adviser representatives with the state securities authorities.

There isn’t anyone with the role of looking for and bringing in new clients on behalf of the firm. The firm doesn’t compensate employees in addition to the salary for bringing in new clients. Employees don’t receive compensation from other entities for client referrals.

Donald Lee Erickson has been acting as President since 1 Nov 2013. Julie Siegel joined the executive team most recently as the Chief Compliance Officer.

Direct owners and executive officers


Name Entity Date acquired Ownership Employer ID
Bradley Ray Peyton President 1 Sep 1997 75% - 100% 2015000
Debra Ann Conlon Chief compliance officer 1 Oct 2004 Other 3094812
Debra Ann Conlon Chief operations officer 1 Nov 2005 Other 3094812
Mary Dotterer Pitcher Chief compliance officer 1 Jan 2007 Other 4347622
Sayer Phillip Martin Portfolio manager 1 Feb 2008 Other 4714183
Debra Ann Conlon Vice president/treasurer/coo/cfo 1 Nov 2013 25% - 50% 3094812
Donald Lee Erickson President/ceo 1 Nov 2013 50% - 75% 1296053
Steven James Larson Vice president/secretary/cio 1 Nov 2013 25% - 50% 4577948
Julie Siegel Chief compliance officer 1 Jan 2014 Other 6289886

Based in Ames

The principal office where Clarity Asset Management, Inc. performs its advisory services is located at 2117 Philadelphia Street, Ames, IA 50010, which is also the mailing address of the firm. It doesn’t run an office outside of the United States.

You can reach the main office by calling the phone number 515-233-3152 or by fax 515-233-1979. The normal business hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm central on Monday - Friday. You can find more information about the New York firm at investmentclarity.com/.