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Find a Financial Advisor in Clearfield County
From Clearfield and DuBois to Curwensville, households here own older homes, carry a coal and timber history and plan for retirement on modest incomes. Talk with an advisor who serves the area, by phone or video.
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- Advisors who serve the Clearfield County area
Updated October 2026. Local figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Clearfield County has a $137,000 median home value, 78.5% owner-occupied homes and a median age of 45.4. Planning here means insuring older houses against mine subsidence and floods, using Pennsylvania’s retirement tax rules, and making modest savings last.
Key takeaways for Clearfield County
- Mine subsidence and river flooding are not covered by a standard homeowners policy.
- Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security, and retirement distributions are generally exempt after retirement age.
- Low home values mean many owners have no mortgage, so wealth sits in the house and land.
- Pennsylvania’s inheritance tax depends on who inherits, so beneficiary choices matter.
- A flat or hourly fee can suit smaller balances better than a percentage of assets.
Old mines, river floods and paid-off houses in Clearfield County
Clearfield County was built on coal and timber, and the ground still remembers. Underground mining left voids beneath some towns, and Pennsylvania treats mine subsidence as its own insurance problem, since a standard homeowners policy may not pay when a house settles into an old working. In many parts of the county the rights to what lies under a property were sold off generations ago, separate from the surface. A buyer or heir should know which rights come with the deed.
Water is the second concern. The West Branch Susquehanna River runs through Clearfield and Curwensville, and heavy rain or spring melt can put low ground at risk. Flood coverage is a separate policy from the homeowners one. Pair that with a housing stock that is older and mostly owned outright, and the question for many families becomes how to keep an inexpensive house insured, repaired and eventually passed on without a surprise.
Clearfield County at a glance
Here is the picture from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Residents | 78,100 |
| Median age | 45.4 |
| Residents age 65 and older | 21.8% |
| Median household income | $62,152 |
| Per capita income | $33,324 |
| Median home value | $137,000 |
| Median gross rent | $791 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.5% |
| Adults with a bachelor’s degree or more | 20.2% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% |
A median home value of $137,000 is low enough that many households own their house with no mortgage, yet the median owner cost with a mortgage is $1,223 a month for those who do have one. Wealth is held in a house, a modest retirement account and sometimes land.
Life insurance in Clearfield County
With lower housing costs, a family needs less coverage for the mortgage and more for lost wages, childcare and final expenses. A DuBois machinist with two children might hold a 20-year term policy beyond whatever the employer offers. Older residents often keep a small whole life policy to cover funeral costs and leave something to grandchildren. The life insurance guide compares the types.
Retirement planning in Clearfield County
Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security benefits, and it generally does not tax retirement distributions once you have reached the plan’s retirement age. That is friendly to retirees, though a local earned income tax and property taxes still apply while you work or own. Confirm current rules with the Department of Revenue or a tax professional.
For a couple in Curwensville, retiring at 62 with $400,000 saved, the useful math is how much comes from Social Security, how much from savings, and whether a part-time job bridges the gap to Medicare at 65. Pennsylvania also has a property tax and rent rebate program for lower-income older residents; ask a tax professional whether you qualify. The retirement planning guide covers withdrawal strategies, and the budgeting guide helps you stretch a fixed income.
Lay out income, health coverage and house costs in one plan.
Wealth management in Clearfield County
Wealth here tends to be quiet: a debt-free home, timber or acreage, a small business and an employer plan. Pennsylvania has an inheritance tax that depends on who receives the asset, and spouses are treated differently from children or siblings. Land held jointly by several heirs can cause friction. Wealth management brings the pieces into one plan, and the estate planning guide outlines the basic documents.
Investment advisors in Clearfield County
Investment advisors here often start with a rollover from a pension or a 401(k) after a plant closing or retirement. They should explain what is in the portfolio, what each piece costs and why it fits your timeline. The investing guide can help you prepare.
Financial planners in Clearfield County
Planners take on questions that cross categories: whether to pay off a low-rate mortgage or invest, how to cover a parent’s care, how to fund a trade school program. A planner can often be hired for a single review rather than a long contract.
Financial advisors in Clearfield County
Fees come in a few forms:
- A percentage of the assets managed, often around one percent, so $200,000 would cost about $2,000 a year
- A flat fee for a written plan
- An hourly rate for a single question
- Commissions on insurance or annuities, paid by the product company
On smaller balances a flat or hourly fee often costs less. Review the financial advisors guide before you decide.
Money priorities by season of life
Starting out. First jobs in manufacturing, health care or trades pay steadily. Start a retirement account with the employer match and keep three months of expenses in cash. A college savings plan can start with small deposits.
Raising a family. Term life insurance, a will and a plan for a disabled or special-needs child come first.
Approaching retirement. Review pension options, health coverage before Medicare and the cost of home repairs.
Retired. Watch the pace of withdrawals, keep an eye on long-term care costs and update beneficiaries.
Staying put, renting or downsizing
The monthly numbers make a useful comparison. Median gross rent is $791, while the median owner cost with a mortgage is $1,223. For a retired widow in Clearfield on a single Social Security check, a paid-off house with high repair needs can cost more over time than it looks, since roofs, furnaces and porches arrive on their own schedule. Setting aside a yearly repair amount, and deciding in advance when a move to a smaller place or a rental would make sense, keeps decisions calm. Younger workers face the opposite choice: houses here are inexpensive enough that buying early is realistic, but a down payment and an emergency fund should come before a renovation loan. A planner can run both paths side by side with your actual numbers, including what the sale of an inherited house would add.
Insurance review for an older house
Ask four questions every year: does the homeowners policy cover the actual cost to rebuild, is mine subsidence offered or excluded, is the house in a flood zone near the river or a creek, and does an umbrella policy sit on top. Older wiring and roofs may raise premiums, and replacing them can lower them.
Review coverage and your wider plan with an advisor who serves the area.
Areas we serve in Clearfield County
Advisors who serve the area work with clients in Clearfield, DuBois, Curwensville, Houtzdale, Osceola Mills, Grampian and the townships along Interstate 80 and the West Branch Susquehanna River. Bilger’s Rocks and the quiet back roads around Grampian are part of the county, and clients here often have family roots that run back generations. Meetings are by phone or video.
How to choose a financial advisor in Clearfield County
Check these four items before you sign anything:
- You have the fee in dollars, in writing, with every charge listed
- You know who holds your money, and it is not the advisor’s own firm
- The advisor has explained how a pension, Social Security and Medicare fit together
- You have had at least a day to think, with no pressure to decide
Bring the list to a free call and see how each answer lands.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover mine subsidence in Clearfield County?
Often it does not. Ask your agent whether subsidence coverage is excluded, and what it would cost to add.
Are mineral rights part of my deed?
Not always. Rights below the surface may have been sold separately, so check the deed and ask an attorney before buying or passing on land.
How does Pennsylvania treat my pension?
Pennsylvania generally does not tax retirement distributions after retirement age, and it does not tax Social Security. Confirm current rules with a tax professional.
What does the inheritance tax mean for my children?
The rate depends on the relationship, and spouses are treated more favorably. An advisor and an attorney can review who gets what.
Can I plan well on a modest income?
Yes. Start with a small emergency fund, an employer match and a written budget, then build from there.
Do I need an advisor in DuBois?
No. Advisors who serve the area work by phone or video, so you can meet from anywhere in the county.
Learn before you talk to an advisor
Retirement Planning
How much you may need, where to save it, and how to turn savings into income.
Read the guide →
Life Insurance
Term vs. permanent coverage, how much you might need, and who it protects.
Read the guide →
Estate Planning
Wills, trusts and beneficiaries, so your wishes are clear.
Read the guide →Plan around the house, the land and the pension
A free, no-obligation conversation by phone or video. Tell us a little about your goals and we will take it from there.