David Brown

About David

David Brown joined William Blair in 2003 and became a partner in 2019. He contributes to all aspects of portfolio management and client service. He values working individually with clients to understand their unique circumstances and craft investment asset allocations that fit their needs. David serves on Private Wealth Management’s model portfolio committee, a group of senior wealth advisors that meet regularly to create and monitor PWM’s model portfolio, which serves as a resource in building tailored client portfolios.

David earned a B.S. in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship from Miami University (Oxford, OH). He grew up in Highland Park, and after 13 years in the city, he lives there again with his wife and their three young children. In his limited free time, David likes to play golf, cheer on Chicago sports teams, and stay civically involved. He also serves as a director for the Western Golf Association, the organization behind the Evans Scholarship.

Professional Recognition and Awards

• Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor 2020¹
• Forbes Best-in-State Advisors 2023, 2024⁴
• Financial Planning Top 40 Advisors Under 40, 2021²
• Barron’s Top State-by-State Advisors in America, 2023, 2024, 2025³ 

¹ Forbes Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors; Ranking algorithm based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.
² The list recognizes the top producing younger advisors at wirehouses and regional firms who were under 40 as of year-end and were registered with an advisory firm in the non-wirehouse employee channel.
³ The ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms and the quality of the advisors’ practices.
⁴ The Forbes ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.