Cliff attended Oregon State University and in 1968 he began his career in the financial services industry in Albany, Oregon as a field representative. He has served the community in many volunteer positions such as School Board Chairperson and was honored by the Chamber of Commerce with the Distinguished Service Award in 1985.

From there he built and maintained a private practice in the Mid-Willamette Valley, specializing in a clientele of healthcare professionals. In 1988 Cliff served as the Vice President of Account Development for a national insurance marketing agency in Portland, Oregon. A founding member of Benefit Partners LLC, Cliff actively services his clientele comprised predominantly of healthcare professionals.

Cliff has received numerous industry awards and is a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. In the year 2000, he was a member of the MDRT's prestigious "Top of the Table."

Cliff enjoys spending time with his wife of forty years, his three grown children, and three grandchildren. In his free time, Cliff enjoys collecting classic cars.