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First Clearing

Clearing services backed by Wells Fargo for broker-dealers and advisors.

Web-based
01 — Overview

What First Clearing does

First Clearing is a clearing and custody provider for broker-dealers and registered investment advisors, operating as a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company. Its primary offering is a clearing platform that handles trade settlement, custody, and operational infrastructure for independently owned wealth management firms. Family offices that custody assets through an affiliated broker-dealer or RIA may interact with First Clearing's platform indirectly, though the firm targets broker-dealer relationships rather than family offices directly.

The firm's value proposition rests on access to Wells Fargo's institutional resources bundled into a clearing relationship. Partner firms receive:

  • Research and market insights from Wells Fargo Investment Institute, covering asset allocation, equity, fixed income, and hedge fund and private capital strategies
  • Access to managed account structures including separately managed accounts, mutual fund portfolios, and unified managed accounts
  • Banking, lending, and trust services designed to expand an advisor's product offering to end clients
  • Goals-based financial planning tools for advisor-client collaboration

With over four decades of clearing history and backing from one of the largest US financial institutions, First Clearing offers depth of product access that smaller independent custodians typically cannot match. The contact form data indicates the firm works with broker-dealers ranging from under $500 million to over $2 billion in AUM, across full-service retail, institutional, RIA, and independent contractor models. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The platform is built for US-based broker-dealers and RIAs; international firms or family offices seeking direct custody relationships would need to evaluate whether a clearing-only model fits their operational structure.

Strong relationships are the foundation of success. We partner with wealth management firms nationwide, focused on delivering the expertise, resources, and technology they need to navigate an evolving financial landscape with confidence.

On First Clearing, from a family-office user
02 — Product & capabilities

What it covers

Core tasks
  • Trade clearing and settlement for broker-dealers
  • Custody of client assets through a clearing relationship
  • Providing investment research and market insights to partner firms
  • Supporting managed account and advisory program delivery
  • Goals-based financial planning support for advisors
  • Banking and lending product access for advisor clients
Notable features
  • Access to Wells Fargo Investment Institute research and insights
  • Asset allocation strategy guidance
  • Separately managed accounts (SMAs)
  • Mutual fund portfolios
  • Unified managed account (Personalized UMA)
  • Goals-based financial planning tools
  • Banking, lending, and trust integration
  • Investment research and model development support
  • Option Strategies Group for high-net-worth customized strategies
  • Global Portfolio Management with diversified models
Assets supported
EquitiesFixed IncomeMutual FundsSeparately Managed AccountsHedge FundsPrivate Capital
03 — Company

The firm behind it

Ownership
Subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company
Software type
Web-based
Headquarters / markets
United States
Key people
CCindi CooperDirector of Recruiting
04 — Clients & fit

Who it’s for

Built for Advisors / Wealth Advisors (RIA).

05 — Support & onboarding

Getting it running

Dedicated client services phone line (866-786-4879) for account inquiries; separate contact form for broker-dealer inquiries; direct recruiter contact for RIAs and financial professionals.