Brad Knapp, CEO ClearStead

On January 1, 2025, Brad was named President and CEO of Clearstead, succeeding longtime partner David Fulton who has assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus. As CEO, Brad is now leading a larger and more complex firm than existed ten years ago, with revenues and earnings having grown significantly and the number of employees and assets under advisement increasing several times. The firm has acquired eleven firms in the past ten years and has added capabilities in tax compliance and financial planning while also forming Clearstead Trust, a nondepository trust company. Brad’s appointment as CEO was part of a longstanding management succession plan at Clearstead. He will continue to be instrumental to strategic initiatives at Clearstead, including accelerating organic growth through the addition of new channels and holistic service offerings, investing in technology to improve the client and advisor experience, and expanding our geographic footprint through integrating strategic acquisitions. Brad holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations and joined Clearstead in 2016. Brad has held positions in the private client and institutional groups at the firm and has served as President from 2023 to the present. Since 2018, he has run the firm’s Private Client and Trust practices. Brad has over 25 years of experience in wealth advisory and investment management, having held positions with two major financial institutions prior to joining Clearstead. Prior to joining Clearstead, Brad was a Senior Vice President with Hawthorn/PNC Family and Key Private Bank. Brad began his investment career at McDonald & Company, a regional broker/dealer and investment bank. Brad earned a BSBA degree in finance from John Carroll University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder and a member of the CFA Society of Cleveland. Brad is a member of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association and has earned the use of that designation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.