Howland Capital Management Ranked No. 1 on CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100

Charlie Clapp, co-chair of Howland Capital Management, keeps a tarnished silver medal from the 1984 Summer Olympics in his home office, a physical reminder of the discipline required to manage high-stakes environments. That approach helped his firm secure the No. 1 spot on CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100 for 2026, advancing from No. 7 on the 2025 list after an evaluation of approximately 1,000 firms across metrics like assets under management and industry experience, cnbc.com reported.

Howland Capital Management Manages $4 Billion in Assets

Operating out of Boston since 1967, Howland Capital Management maintains a tight-knit model originally built as a family office. The firm now services over 400 families, foundations, and small institutions, managing $4 billion in assets across more than 500 accounts. About 65% of client assets are held in trusts, according to Clapp, reflecting a planning horizon stretching 10, 20, or 30 years ahead to support multigenerational estate transfers and wealth planning.

Managing Market Volatility Without Reacting to Policy Shifts

The first nine months of 2026 brought inflation pressures, geopolitical conflicts, tariff adjustments, and the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2023. Despite Treasury yields hitting multiyear highs as traders anticipate further monetary tightening, Clapp maintains that the firm focuses on avoiding companies with high debt levels and floating-rate debt. Instead, the firm prioritizes holdings with dependable cash flows, pointing to TJX Companies, Inc. as a long-term anchor that has consistently raised its dividend payouts over decades. The firm’s strategy has been “steady as it goes,” Clapp said, and the same is true for its investment approach.

There is always going to be something that trips the world up.

That perspective informs the firm’s broader stance on shifting market cycles. The S&P 500 swung between a low of 6,344 on March 30, 2026, and new all-time highs by mid-August, continuing a historical pattern where the broad market averages a 33% swing between highest and lowest closes. By sticking to a disciplined strategy rather than attempting to predict congressional tax law revisions or short-term central bank moves, the firm aims to smooth out annual double-digit market corrections for its client base. As of October 7, the index is up nearly 14% year to date.

Clapp Prioritizes the Economics of Philanthropy

“The economics of philanthropy” is an “important component of what we do for our clients,” Clapp said.