Thank you for your interest in our tax & retirement planning services, I’m Don St. Clair and I’ve been practicing financial planning since graduating with a degree in finance in 1991. I’m a Certified Financial Planner with a background in tax, having been an IRS Enrolled Agent earlier in my career. Today I serve roughly 95 clients, most of whom are retired or close to it. I too am approaching the twilight of my career, and while I have no immediate plans to retire, my wife recently did, and we are learning to enjoy the fruits of our own labor.  

One of those pursuits is aviation. I’m an instrument rated pilot who recently discovered the joys of flying tailwheel aircraft – low, and slow (and sometimes upside-down). When I’m not in the office you know where to look.

There’s an old Spanish proverb that translates roughly to ‘the cobbler’s children have no shoes’. Meaning that someone with a specific skill set is often too busy assisting others to attend to their own affairs.

That’s not something you’ll find at St. Clair Financial where we eat our own cooking, put our money where our mouth is, and never recommend clients do something we wouldn’t.

The same North Star illuminates our investment philosophy as well, where you’ll find my personal wealth invested in the same manner as our clients.

I met Mark Junod on a chairlift in Utah. Perhaps more than any other professional, his influence is responsible for the direction and trajectory of my career. Mark’s genuine curiosity, and his desire to be of service to those around him, have no doubt had a significant impact on others like me. 

Stephanie Kelton is an expert on the institutional relationships and operational realities of money and banking. Her bestselling book, The Deficit Myth, demonstrates how to break free of the flawed economic thinking that hamstrings both policymakers and investors alike. Stephanie challenged my pre-conceived notions about money – where it comes from, how it’s created, and where it goes when it’s destroyed. And I am grateful to have Stephanie as a teacher, and as a friend. 

More recently I’ve had the unique good fortune to study directly with Dr. Fernando Flores. Formally trained as an engineer and philosopher, he is credited with developing a revolutionary theory of management and coordination based on a new understanding of language and moods. Recognized as the founder of ontological coaching, Fernando has greatly influenced my thinking, my world view, and my work as a financial planner. He is responsible for our tagline “Ambassadors of Possibility.” And we use it proudly with his blessing, and permission from his company Pluralistic Networks.

• California State University, Long Beach. Bachelor’s Degree, Finance
• Boston University, School of Management. Life-Cycle Planning for Financial Advisors
• Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
• Center for Fiduciary Studies, LLC. Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF)
• The American College of Financial Services. Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC)
• American Institute of Certified College Financial Consultants. Certified College Financial Consultant (CCFC)

• Initial Assessment: $4,500
• Annual Asset-Based Fee:
  • 1.25% on the first $500,000
  • 1.00% on the next $500,000
  • 0.75% on the next $1,500,000
  • 0.50% on the next $2,500,000
  • 0.25% on the next $5,000,000
  • 0.10% thereafter
• Minimum Investable Assets: $1M (as of 1/1/2024)