About Clear Course Advisors
Meet the Team Behind Clear Course Advisors
CPA-led guidance designed to help business owners gain clarity, confidence, and control.
Our Story
Built to be more than your accountant.
Clear Course Advisors was founded on a simple belief: business owners deserve more than year-end paperwork. They deserve a trusted partner who understands the story behind the numbers and helps chart a clearer path forward.
Our mission is to combine technical CPA expertise with the kind of proactive, relationship-driven advice that helps owners make confident decisions at every stage of growth.
Tyler Pate, CPA
Tyler is a Certified Public Accountant with a diverse background spanning public accounting, transaction advisory, and corporate finance. He began his career with Ernst & Young (EY), where he gained experience providing audit and assurance services to a variety of clients across multiple industries. Following EY, Tyler joined BDO's Transaction Advisory Services practice, specializing in Financial Due Diligence for mergers and acquisitions. During his time in advisory, he worked closely with private equity firms, strategic buyers, investment bankers, and business owners on both buy-side and sell-side transactions, helping clients evaluate financial performance, identify risks, and make informed investment decisions. Tyler later transitioned into corporate finance, joining a multi-billion-dollar healthcare organization backed by private equity. Over the past four years, he has held roles in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), supporting executive leadership through budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, strategic planning, and performance analysis. His experience working within a private equity-backed organization provides firsthand insight into the financial challenges and growth opportunities facing businesses today. At Clear Course Advisors, Tyler combines his CPA foundation with deep experience in financial strategy, forecasting, and transaction advisory to help business owners gain clarity, improve profitability, and make confident decisions that support long-term growth.
David W. Clapp, CPA
David is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience advising businesses, private equity firms, and strategic investors through complex transactions and financial decision-making. He began his career at Ernst & Young (EY), where he spent three years in Audit & Assurance, developing a strong foundation in financial reporting, internal controls, and accounting principles across a variety of industries. Following EY, David joined Deloitte's Mergers & Acquisitions practice, specializing in Financial Due Diligence. Over the past five years, he has progressed to the level of Senior Manager, leading financial diligence engagements for private equity firms, corporate acquirers, and business owners involved in buy-side and sell-side transactions. His experience includes analyzing historical financial performance, evaluating quality of earnings, identifying transaction risks, and helping clients make informed investment decisions throughout the deal lifecycle. David has worked closely with private equity sponsors, investment bankers, lenders, and executive leadership teams on transactions ranging from founder-owned businesses to large middle-market acquisitions. His background provides valuable insight into the financial drivers that create enterprise value and support long-term business growth. At Clear Course Advisors, David leverages his expertise in financial analysis, transaction advisory, and strategic planning to help business owners understand their financial performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and confidently navigate important business decisions.
Our Approach
How We Work With You
CPA-Led
Every engagement is led by a licensed CPA — never handed off.
Proactive
We plan ahead instead of reacting after the fact.
Relationship-Focused
We invest in long-term partnerships, not transactions.
Strategic
Our work is grounded in your goals and where you want to go.
Ready to Chart a Clearer Course?
Let's talk about where your business is today and where you want it to go.
Schedule a Consultation