# Clarion Studio

> Clarion Studio builds durable, machine-readable identity infrastructure for independent Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs). We construct the entity graphs, structured data, and editorial architecture that let AI search systems recognize, verify, and recommend a firm by name.

Clarion works with owner-operated independent RIAs and a small number of premium professional-services firms. Founded by Mark Nelson. Based in Lynden, Washington; working remotely.

## What we do

- Ground-up, purpose-built websites with a complete entity graph (Organization, Person, credential, content, and regulatory-verification layers)
- Structured data and schema architecture aligned to how AI assistants verify firms
- Editorial systems and topical-authority content for independent advisers
- AI-search (AEO) discovery infrastructure: sitemaps, AI-aware robots, llms.txt, regulatory sameAs linking

We build clean-slate. We do not retrofit or bend existing platforms; we construct infrastructure designed to last.

## Primary research

- [The AI Visibility Gap](https://clarion.studio/research/the-ai-visibility-gap-2026): A 130-firm audit of independent RIA digital infrastructure. Finding: 89% of firms surface in AI search, but mean schema coverage is 1.93 of 5 and zero firms link their regulatory record. Found, but not built. (2026)

## Perspectives

- [Why Independent RIAs Are Invisible to the Clients Most Likely to Hire Them](https://clarion.studio/perspectives/why-independent-rias-are-invisible): RIAs are not invisible to AI search — they are visible but indistinguishable. What the discovery layer reads, and what it does not. (2026)
- [The Translation Gap](https://clarion.studio/perspectives/the-translation-gap): The distance between what an independent adviser is worth and what their digital presence communicates. (2026)

## Navigate

- [Approach](https://clarion.studio/approach): How Clarion works and what an engagement involves.
- [Perspectives](https://clarion.studio/perspectives): Essays on advisory positioning, AI discovery, and digital infrastructure.
- [About](https://clarion.studio/about): The studio and its founder.
- [Contact](https://clarion.studio/contact): Begin a conversation.