Leading a Company into a New Half Century: The Importance of Purpose

Today, PFM celebrates 50 years as a nationally recognized leader in public finance. Founded to serve state and local governments, PFM established the specialized field of offering independent financial advice to the public sector. Guided by our purpose, our financial advisory practice has flourished, earning over the years the top ranking from Ipreo as the number one independent financial advisory firm in the nation. 

For a half-century, PFM has tackled the complex challenges faced by public sector leaders, delivering in-depth analysis and insightful perspectives to enhance operational efficiencies and support alignment with financial goals. Since our founding, we have expanded our expertise beyond debt management to support the full picture of fiscal and financial health through focused management and budget consulting services. We have developed new technical solutions for our clients, such as our Synario financial modeling software. We have kept pace with regulatory changes, and guided our clients through shifting policy landscapes, interest rate cycles, and market gyrations. 

Most importantly, PFM has kept its strong sense of purpose over the past fifty years. We exist to help our clients advance the public good in the communities they serve. Our financial advisors and consultants work with clients to enable them to focus resources on impactful change. We help clients create capital plans and financial strategies which support endeavors large and small, from new schools to affordable housing, to supplying power and clean water.

Each and every day, the professionals of PFM share in our client’s vision and goals. That’s the energy and meaningful work that attracted me to PFM when I was recruited as an undergraduate to the firm in 1992. As CEO, I will be a steward of that energy and sense of purpose as PFM begins its second half-century. Our unwavering purpose is the assurance of continuity in an ever-changing environment.