Clear Retirement Advice provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses.
Clear Retirement Advice reports 56 clients. They include 47 high-net-worth individuals and 9 individual clients. Of its assets, 100.0% ($153M across 218 accounts) are managed with discretion.
| Client type | Clients | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 16% | 7% |
| High-net-worth individuals | 84% | 93% |
Client breakdown and activity details
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | AUM share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 9 | $10.5M | 6.8% | $1.17M |
| High-net-worth individuals | 47 | $143M | 93.2% | $3.04M |
| Total | 56 | $153M | 100% | $2.74M |
- Clients
- 9
- Regulatory AUM
- $10.5M
- AUM share
- 6.8%
- Avg. per client
- $1.17M
- Clients
- 47
- Regulatory AUM
- $143M
- AUM share
- 93.2%
- Avg. per client
- $3.04M
Total
- Clients
- 56
- Regulatory AUM
- $153M
- AUM share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $2.74M
- Clients outside the U.S.
- 0%
- Clients advised without assets under management last fiscal year
- 0
- Private funds advised
- 0
- Financial planning clients last fiscal year
- 0
Clear Retirement Advice is paid through fixed fees (other than subscription fees). The reviewed brochures do not disclose an asset-based fee rate. Read the SEC-filed brochure. The brochure also prices one other service, listed under fee details.
Fee details and sources
Other fees
- Financial Planning
- When bought separately, financial planning is a negotiated fixed fee of up to $7,000, with 25% paid in advance; it is included at no extra cost with portfolio management.
James Schwarz owns 75% or more of Clear Retirement Advice. The leadership team of Clear Retirement Advice includes President James Schwarz. It has 1 employee.
Staff
- 1 employee
- 1 in advisory functions
- 1 state-registered rep
- Owns 75% or more of Clear Retirement Advice LLC
James Schwarz
Control person · since October 2017
Clear Retirement Advice’s regulatory assets grew from $108M (March 2025) to $153M (March 2026); clients rose from 47 to 56 and employees were 1 in both filings.
Figures from each annual filing
| Filed | Regulatory AUM | Clients | StaffEmployees | Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026March 2026 | $153M | 56 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2025March 2025 | $108M | 47 | 1 | 1 |
Besides its headquarters, Clear Retirement Advice has 0 offices, with 1 listed address in 1 state.
California · 1 listed address
- 1900 S Norfolk St,, Suite 350, San MateoHQ
Contact and registration details
- Legal name
- Clear Retirement Advice LLC
- Headquarters
- 1900 S Norfolk St,, Suite 350, San Mateo, CA 94403
- Website
- clearretirementadvice.com
- Phone
- 650-446-5440
- SEC file
- 801-132499
- Structure
- California LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
Clear Retirement Advice’s named custodians for separately managed accounts are Charles Schwab ($85.6M, 56%) and Altruist ($67.8M, 44%). Clear Retirement Advice has custody of $2M for 1 clients.
- Charles SchwabCharles Schwab & Co., Inc. · Westlake, TX · $85.6M56%
- AltruistAltruist Financial LLC · Culver City, CA · $67.8M44%
At year end, Clear Retirement Advice’s separately managed accounts were mostly in funds (91%). Its reported 13F holdings for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 total $146M across 54 positions; the largest are Schwab Strategic TR (11.1%), SPDR Index Shs Fds (10.7%) and iShares TR (10.2%).
What the accounts hold
- Stocks5%
- Funds91%
- Cash4%
How many clients does Clear Retirement Advice have?
Clear Retirement Advice has 56 clients and manages $153 million for them, as of March 2026. They include 47 high-net-worth individuals and 9 individual clients.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 9 March 2026
What services does Clear Retirement Advice offer?
Clear Retirement Advice provides portfolio management for individuals and small businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does Clear Retirement Advice use?
Clear Retirement Advice’s separately managed account assets are held at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Westlake, TX), with $85.6M and Altruist Financial LLC (Culver City, CA), with $67.8M. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 9 March 2026
How many financial advisors does Clear Retirement Advice have?
Clear Retirement Advice has 1 investment adviser representative registered with state securities authorities, out of 1 employees, and 1 perform investment advisory functions. None are registered representatives of a broker-dealer or licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Clear Retirement Advice invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Clear Retirement Advice’s separately managed accounts held 91% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs), 5% exchange-traded equities and 4% cash and equivalents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Clear Retirement Advice?
Clear Retirement Advice’s direct owner is James Schwarz (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 9 March 2026
How does Clear Retirement Advice get paid?
Clear Retirement Advice is paid through fixed fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions or performance-based fees among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
How do I contact Clear Retirement Advice?
Clear Retirement Advice’s main office is at 1900 S Norfolk St,, Suite 350, San Mateo, CA 94403. Its phone number is 650-446-5440. Its website is clearretirementadvice.com.