John E. Chapman Chief Executive OfficerPart Two: Built to Endure
The first chapter of Clearwater Capital Partners’ story was defined by conviction.
John Chapman believed there was a better way to serve clients—one built on independence, fiduciary responsibility, and the freedom to place clients’ interests above institutional priorities. That conviction inspired him to leave the traditional Wall Street model, embrace the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, and establish Clearwater Capital Partners in 2006.
The Great Recession tested that conviction almost immediately. Throughout the downturn and its recovery, Clearwater’s philosophy shaped how the firm communicated with clients, managed risk, and remained focused on long-term objectives.
That experience reinforced Clearwater’s client-centered value proposition and with it, an exciting vision for the future.
The question was no longer whether Clearwater’s approach could succeed.
It was how to build an organization that could carry those same principles forward for decades to come.
A Vision Worth Building Together
As Clearwater earned the confidence of clients, another important story was beginning to unfold.
The firm’s foresight began attracting exceptional people who believed in what Clearwater was building.
And so, as Clearwater grew, so did the depth of expertise within the firm.
Clearwater’s philosophy remained remarkably consistent. What evolved was the depth of experience, perspective, and specialization brought together to serve clients.
From the beginning, Clearwater believed wealth management extended well beyond investment portfolios. Families deserved thoughtful guidance that considered their entire financial lives—from tax strategy and estate planning to business ownership, philanthropy, risk management, legacy, and the countless financial decisions that shaped a lifetime and the generations that would follow.
As the leadership team expanded, so did Clearwater’s ability to serve those needs with even greater sophistication.
- Following many years as a senior corporate executive, John Sleeting joined the firm in 2009, helping shape what would become Clearwater’s Family Office capabilities and bringing decades of capital markets experience to serving entrepreneurial and ultra-high-net-worth families.
- Jeff DeHaan strengthened Clearwater’s planning discipline and fiduciary leadership while helping build the operational and compliance infrastructure that enabled the firm to grow without compromising its standards.
- Greg Davis brought extensive global experience across capital markets, private banking, trust administration, and multi-generational wealth management, further strengthening Clearwater’s ability to guide families through increasingly sophisticated financial decisions.
- Tyler Beachler expanded the firm’s investment capabilities, leading portfolio management and investment research while spearheading the evolution of Clearwater’s private markets and alternative investment platform.
- James Chapman brought a fresh perspective to comprehensive planning, innovation, technology, and the evolving needs of the next generation of families.
- Kevin Carani extended Clearwater’s fiduciary philosophy into retirement plans and institutional advisory services, allowing organizations to benefit from the same disciplined, client-centered approach that defined the firm’s work with families.
Each of these individuals has been with the firm for more than twelve years, helping shape not only Clearwater’s capabilities but also the culture, philosophy, and enduring relationships that define the firm today.
Of course, Clearwater’s story has never been written by a handful of leaders alone. Every advisor, planner, client experience professional, operations specialist, analyst, and support team member has played a meaningful role in shaping the firm’s clients know today.
No two people arrived with the same experiences or areas of expertise—and that was precisely the point. Different backgrounds strengthened the firm’s thinking, while shared values ensured clients experienced one Clearwater.
Together, they expanded not only the firm’s capabilities but also its capacity to serve clients with greater depth, perspective, and care.
One Firm. One Team.
As the leadership team grew, so did Clearwater’s understanding of how exceptional advice is delivered.
Clearwater intentionally built around a collaborative model where specialists across portfolio management, advanced planning, operations, and client experience work together as one team on behalf of every client.
It is a simple idea with meaningful implications. Every client benefits from the collective strengths of the firm in addition to the expertise of their primary advisor. Different perspectives, experiences, and areas of specialization come together around one shared objective: helping clients make thoughtful decisions with confidence.
That same philosophy shaped Clearwater’s management of customized strategies.
The Investment Policy Committee keeps investment decisions close to the clients they serve, bringing Clearwater’s most experienced professionals together to evaluate opportunities, risks, and long-term implications through a fiduciary lens. Rather than relying on external models or distant decision-makers, the committee anchors investment strategy in Clearwater’s understanding of clients’ goals, timelines, and risk tolerances.
Investment strategy does not exist in isolation. Tax consulting, estate planning, business succession, philanthropy, risk management, and family dynamics all influence one another. Clearwater has continued expanding its planning capabilities so those conversations can be coordinated rather than compartmentalized, providing advice that reflects the complexity of clients’ lives in an ever-changing world.
Protecting the Culture
Growth presents opportunities. It also presents choices.
As Clearwater continued to grow, the team became increasingly intentional about protecting the culture that had attracted both clients and colleagues from the beginning.
Character and Competency became more than guiding principles for hiring. They became foundational values that influenced how Clearwater hired talent, developed its people, served clients, and made decisions as an organization.
At Clearwater, technical skill is expected. Character is essential.
Integrity, humility, accountability, intellectual curiosity, and genuine care for clients are treated not as aspirations, but as prerequisites for every team member.
Built to Endure
Looking back, Clearwater’s first two decades were not defined by a single milestone.
It was defined by hundreds of intentional decisions.
The decision to surround the firm with exceptional people.
The decision to collaborate across disciplines rather than operate in silos.
The decision to keep important investment decisions close to the client.
The decision to preserve the culture that had earned clients’ trust.
The decision to build for generations rather than for a transaction.
It was designed to last. To serve families over the long term because it, too, was intentionally being built for the long term.
Over time, one founder’s vision became a shared passion. Individual strengths became collective wisdom. And a growing advisory practice became a generational firm, thoughtfully aligned to endure.
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