Lyman Howard enters the Jeopardy stage with a career shaped by decades of experience across investment management, fixed-income markets, and high-net-worth financial advisory services. Based in Mill Valley, California, he is a Partner at Cerity Partners in San Francisco, where he builds customized investment portfolios for individuals and families, particularly those with more than five million dollars in investable assets. His work blends analytical rigor with a client-centered approach, emphasizing long-term planning, risk awareness, and disciplined asset allocation.

His expertise in fixed income distinguishes him within the firm, positioning him as a key resource for clients seeking stability, structured income, and market-resilient strategies. His advisory philosophy focuses on understanding each client’s personal circumstances, helping them make informed major life decisions, and avoiding preventable financial mistakes. With more than five hundred professional connections on LinkedIn, he maintains a strong presence in the financial community and is recognized for his steady, research-driven approach to wealth management.

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A Career Built Across Portfolio Management and Institutional Finance

Before joining Cerity Partners, Lyman spent nine years as a Portfolio Manager at Ashfield Capital Partners. There, he managed investments for both individual and institutional clients, integrating macroeconomic research, equity and bond analysis, and long-term strategy development. His role required balancing risk and opportunity in changing market environments, experience that continues to shape his work today.

His earlier work included serving as a Partner at Point Bonita Wealth Advisors, a role that further broadened his experience in high-net-worth advising and relationship management. Before entering the advisory side of finance, he built more than a decade of expertise in institutional fixed income. At Wedbush Securities, he served as Vice President of Institutional Bond Sales, and before that he held the role of Associate Vice President in Institutional Fixed Income Sales at RBC Dain Rauscher. These positions exposed him to bond markets, trading desks, institutional investor behavior, and large-scale portfolio structures—knowledge that gives him a robust understanding of the fixed-income landscape.

His trajectory from institutional trading to private wealth management reflects strong analytical skills and the ability to adapt his expertise to both corporate and individual needs. Across his career, he has worked through major economic cycles, equipping him with seasoned judgment that benefits clients seeking long-term financial stability.

Eight Years in the U.S. Navy Before Entering Finance

Long before he entered the financial sector, Lyman spent eight years serving as a Naval Flight Officer in the United States Navy. Stationed aboard strategic communications aircraft, he worked in mission-critical operational environments that required precision, teamwork, and high-stakes decision-making. His military experience strengthened his analytical discipline and leadership abilities, traits that later transferred seamlessly into finance.

The shift from military operations to financial strategy may seem dramatic, but for Lyman it reflects a natural progression from mission planning and technical execution to structured investment planning and client guidance. His aviation training and experience continue to influence his approach to risk assessment, systems thinking, and strategic planning.

Academic Path and Professional Credentials

Lyman’s academic journey includes well-established institutions known for academic rigor and leadership development. His education began at Cathedral School from 1975 to 1984 and continued at St. Paul’s School from 1984 to 1988. He later earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UCLA, where he gained a strong grounding in policy, governance, and analytical thinking.

He went on to complete an MBA at Oklahoma City University, finishing graduate coursework in finance, economics, and business administration. His education paved the way for the technical designations he earned later in his career. Lyman holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) certification—two of the most respected credentials in investment management and financial planning. Together, these qualifications signal mastery in portfolio theory, ethics, tax structures, estate planning, behavioral finance, and market analysis.

A Professional Philosophy Rooted in Client Insight and Long-Term Stability

Lyman’s public professional brand highlights a philosophy built on understanding clients deeply and guiding them through major life decisions with clarity and discipline. He emphasizes avoiding avoidable errors and seeks to ensure that clients benefit from opportunities in the market while staying protected from unnecessary risks. His combination of institutional experience, military discipline, and advisory insight makes him especially effective in supporting families with substantial assets and long-term planning needs.

Today he remains an active participant in the Bay Area financial community, contributing to discussions around fixed income, investment strategy, and wealth planning. His reputation reflects consistency, technical depth, and the ability to balance a strategic view of markets with the personal dimensions of financial decision-making.

Lyman Howard — Profile Summary Table