The Polaris One Group at Morgan Stanley

For my entire career the foundation to my success has been putting my clients first and working with them to develop a plan to achieve financial security. “Financial Security” is a vague term that means different things to different people, but is at the core of what most clients are striving to achieve. I have a firm belief that long term financial success is not about what the market is doing this week, this month, or this year. Long term financial success, and ultimately financial security, comes from diligence, patience, persistence, sacrifice and the ability to see the big picture even when the events of the day make it hard to remain focused on the long term objective. Helping my clients to define and work toward their financial goals and helping them to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, which can derail the best laid plans, provides me with tremendous professional satisfaction. I have great appreciation for the faith and trust that each client has placed in me and do my best to provide honest, unbiased, objective advice as we work toward achieving their objectives.

I began my career in 1989 working on the Chicago Board of Trade after earning a B.S. degree in Ag-Economics from Purdue University. I became a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch & Co. in the early 90’s then moved to Wells Fargo Advisors where I spent over 25 years. In 2018, I joined Morgan Stanley, and since then have been promoted to First Vice President and obtained the Portfolio Manager designation.

As a Financial Advisor, I take a comprehensive approach to better understand a client’s goals and issues. This process leads to a more tailored wealth and investment strategy that adds the flexibility to adapt to our client’s ever-changing goals over their lifetimes. Planning, analysis, engagement and monitoring are all vital steps in building long term relationships with clients and for a more impactful client experience.

As a Portfolio Manager, I am responsible for managing client portfolios to match each client’s objectives and risk tolerance. This includes investment selection, ensuring proper diversification, making tactical portfolio adjustments, and managing the overall asset allocation for each portfolio. I earned my Certified Financial Planner designation in 1998. The CFP^® designation identifies individuals who have met the experience and ethical requirements, have successfully completed financial planning coursework, and have passed the CFP^® Certification Examination. I also hold securities licenses in Series: 7, 63, 65, 24 and 53.

My nickname is "Beau" and have been called that most of my life. I live in South Bend, Indiana with my wife Carol and we have three grown children. I am passionate in staying connected and involved in the local community through various clubs and charitable organizations. In my free time I enjoy playing golf, fly fishing, and skiing.

Clay began his career in 2011 with Wells Fargo Bank after earning his Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Indiana University South Bend. In 2013, Clay became a Licensed Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors and served a dual role providing both banking and investment products to clients. He holds experience in a variety of areas including investment management, lending solutions, cash management. Additionally, he holds securities licenses in Series: 7, 6, 65, 63 & State Life Insurance and in 2022 earned the Financial Planning Specialist (FPS) designation.

In 2022, Clay joined Morgan Stanley and partnered with two other Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors, forming a team with over 70 years of combined experience. Clay’s primary role is to work with high-net-worth families and provide financial advice in the areas of wealth management, retirement planning, insurance, estate planning strategies, and cash management. Clay provides financial guidance to individuals, families, and businesses and uses his experience to deliver personalized financial plans and investment strategies. Clay’s mission is to provide each of his clients with financial confidence and a sound financial plan.

Clay is from Elkhart, IN where he still resides with his wife Heather and their four daughters. Outside the office he loves spending time with his girls. Bike rides, softball, swimming, and movie nights are some of their favorite activities. Clay also enjoys playing golf. Giving back to the local community is also a priority for Clay, especially in the Elkhart area and Jimtown School district where he and his wife both attended.