After entering the investment business in 1995 and spending 8 years at three different Wall Street firms, he realized wealthy families needed a way to learn about finance without the pressure of being sold. With that goal in mind, he started his own investment firm in 2003.
He then crafted a wealth management curriculum designed to help these families demystify the investment process. This class has been acclaimed at UC Berkley, UCLA, ASU, Depaul, TCU, UNLV, University of San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis and Tecnológico de Monterrey.
This focus on education was well received within the investor community and gave Clarke’s firm dramatic success over the years.
At the core of Clarke’s class is one sound tenet: focus on process rather than strategy. And yet, this was the exact principle that Clarke himself ignored. His lifestyle elevated in tandem with his increased income and he didn't heed the warning signs of this behavior which loomed on the horizon.
As his lifestyle burgeoned, he de-emphasized the growing risks until one botched transaction put him in the crosshairs of regulators. With a massive fine and a 2-year ban from the financial industry, Clarke paid for his mistakes. And he did so with more than just money as he lost his firm, his marriage and his reputation.
Although the process was extremely painful, getting honest about the role he played in the process was crucial, but not easy. However, when it occurred, the awareness was enlightening, paramount and profound.
Clarke's realizations and growth through these events became crystal clear. This experience which was once viewed as negative has now transformed into the most positive outcome. One that now empowers others with the writing of his book: Ultra Rich Ultra Poor.