Chris Clarkson

Christopher J. Clarkson, CFA

Director, Wealth Strategies Group

Bernstein Private Wealth Management

Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Clarkson is a Senior Vice President and a Director in Bernstein’s Wealth Strategies Group. As a member of Bernstein’s Foundation and Institutional Advisory Services team, he works with donors and nonprofits nationwide to ensure their finances are best positioned to fulfill their mission. He has expertise in a variety of complex investment planning issues, including charitable giving, selling a business, retirement planning, multigenerational wealth transfer, and diversification of concentrated stock and option portfolios. Mr. Clarkson is a frequent lecturer to groups of tax and legal professionals and charitable organizations throughout the western United States. He has given educational seminars for the Los Angeles Council of Charitable Gift Planners – Western Regional Planned Giving Conference, USC Tax Institute, Advisors in Philanthropy, Colorado Society of CPAs, Estate Planning Council of San Diego, Hawaii Tax Institute, and Greater Washington Society of CPAs. Mr. Clarkson joined the firm in 1995 and has been a member of the Wealth Strategies Group since 1998. He earned a BA with high honors in business/economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.

Online Courses

Past Webinars

  • Culture and Compensation: How to Empower Your Faculty This item is protected

    October 9, 2026
    Discover how a school transformed faculty compensation from a traditional salary scale to an innovative banded system. Learn how they secured buy-in, sustained momentum over 9 years, and created a model that supports faculty growth, agency, and feedback.
  • 2026’s Back-to-School Legal & Regulatory Update This item is protected

    September 30, 2026
    Join independent school legal experts as they review recent changes to the law and answer your questions about how they may impact your school.
  • Grants Management for Independent Schools This item is protected

    May 26, 2026
    Designed for business officers who manage or oversee grants, this webinar provides actionable tools and templates to strengthen financial stewardship and enhance mission impact through effective grants administration.
  • Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

    May 8, 2026
    This webinar presents a strategic approach to enrollment forecasting that blends the enrollment team’s relational insights with financial analysis and data modeling. Learn how to strengthen projections using internal data alongside external signals.
  • There's More Room for Change Than You Think This item is protected

    April 24, 2026
    To stay competitive in today’s educational landscape, independent schools should modernize spaces by aligning with evolving pedagogical trends and technology advancements. Learn how existing spaces can be transformed to better serve a campus community.

Net Assets Articles

Ask Bo