Aligning Generational Goals. Managing the Day-to-Day.

Enjoy the benefits of a family office without the cost and effort of maintaining one.

Talk to an Expert

Affluent families have found that a dedicated family office helps them effectively manage the challenges and opportunities that come with prosperity. However, developing that expertise and infrastructure is costly and time-consuming, which is why many families collaborate with Cerity Partners.

Our family office services span the spectrum from full financial management to helping you establish and coordinate your own office. Whatever level of support you need, we can help.

It’s natural for family members from different generations to have their own unique needs and desires. Let us help you navigate the sometimes competing or conflicting interests while minimizing discord.

Headshot of Meg Rowley, Partner

Given the complexity of a family’s financial situation, running their own family office may not be the best choice. It can be time-consuming as well as costly, and strain relationships. Many times, outsourcing makes more sense.”

Meg Rowley, Partner

Grow Your Wealth. Protect Your Family. Preserve Your Assets.

Every family needs a point person who brings the appropriate people to the conversation and keeps everyone focused on the end goal. At Cerity Partners, that person is your dedicated Wealth Management Advisor.

They collaborate with you, your existing advisory team, and our in-house specialists – tax advisors, certified financial planners, and investment professionals – to execute comprehensive wealth management solutions that meet your family’s diverse needs.

1

Family Governance

Effective family offices are structured like a business, with documented policies and procedures that outline ethics, core values, investment mandates, and decision-making. We work with your family to put the best framework in place to help you grow and preserve your wealth for generations to come.

2

Financial Planning and Cash Flow Analysis

The decisions you make today impact your family’s future net worth. We help you address the “can we afford this” question by providing income and expense projections and seeking the best terms for mortgages, loans, and more. Additionally, we can handle the mundane, but necessary, task of bill paying.

3

Goals-Based Investment Management

Your investments play a significant role in achieving your short- and long-term goals. We help you build a diversified portfolio that truly reflects your family’s needs. Your personalized portfolios consist of investments that offer the most potential return for your desired level of risk.

4

Asset Protection and Risk Management

One of the drawbacks to wealth is the potential for people to try and take advantage of your good fortune. And liability insurance tends to cover less than you might think. We analyze the current structure of your assets and insurance coverage and work with you to put safeguards in place to better protect your family, business, and property.

5

Estate and Charitable Gift Planning

State and federal estate taxes can significantly erode a family’s wealth over time. We employ advanced planning and wealth preservation strategies, such as Dynasty Trusts and Private Trust Companies, to help you preserve your legacy and achieve your philanthropic goals in the most tax-efficient way.

6

Tax Planning and Preparation

Taxes are a crucial part of almost every major financial decision. Failing to take them into account can result in overpayment and diminished investment returns. We understand the cause and effect between taxes and your family’s financial life and help you identify and minimize potential tax liabilities before you act.

Comprehensive Financial Management Means More Time for You, Family Harmony, and Lower Costs

Life gets complicated — especially when you add in wealth management and the oversight of estates, trusts, partnerships, and multiple investment managers. We oversee and manage the administrative functions of your family office so you can spend your time doing what you enjoy.

  • Simplified Financial Management. You don’t have to spend countless hours contacting multiple advisors to get a complete picture of your financial landscape. We handle all the coordination for you.
  • Productive Family Meetings. Money is an emotionally-charged topic. Your legacy depends on family members putting aside their emotions to have open and honest discussions. We help you have these tough conversations.
  • Cost Efficiencies. Our fees are often substantially less than building the infrastructure for and staffing an in-house family office yourself. Lower cost means more money for your goals and other pursuits.

Devon Ruttenberg

Partner

Family Office

Why Your Family Office May Need an Advisor

With great wealth comes great responsibility. Families with legacy wealth that want direct control over investment policy decisions often establish a family office to oversee, directly or indirectly, the financial affairs of the family.

Explore Our Offerings for Individuals and Families

Ben Pace

Partner & Chief Investment Officer

Investing

Sticky Inflation

Economic & Market Update After backing off a few times last month, the S&P 500 finally broke into bear market territory on Monday with a nearly 4% decline on the day and is now down roughly 22% from the January 3rd high. The more heavily technology-weighted NASDAQ index has been in a bear market for […]

Judith Gordon

Principal

Estate Planning

What’s New in 2022: Gift and Estate Tax Exemption Updates

President Biden’s Build Back Better bill is still winding its way through Congress. In the meantime, the IRS has issued its 2022 annual adjustments for numerous tax provisions.

Daniel Park

Partner

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

Should You Consider Exercising ISOs Now?

While tech stocks have had a challenging start to 2022, this environment could present an opportunity for you to take advantage of their incentive equity.

Susan Hartley-Moss

Partner

Estate Planning

Building Trusts That Stand the Test of Time

Today’s economic climate is a “wake up” call for anyone involved with the management and operation of a trust. Now is the time to re-evaluate your clients’ trust structures and investments to make sure they don’t have the same experience.

Paul Chmielewski

Partner

Estate Planning

Biden Green Book Proposals

The Green Book contains the Administration’s policy tax and budget policy goals for the coming year. This year’s Green Book proposes significant changes to the current estate tax planning regime.

Mimi Drake and EmJay Williams

Family Office

Engaging the Next Generation on Family Wealth 

Teaching young adult children about wealth can be a challenge. Although circumstances may vary, most families want to impart on their children a solid understanding of their wealth, creating opportunities for younger generations to continue growing the family’s resources.

Brett Dearing

Partner

Business Owner Advisory

How to Bring Your Business Value Up Before You Sell

Preparedness planning is an essential tool for any owner interested in selling their business for maximum value. It provides a framework for owners to take control of their exit and it also minimizes perceived risk by a potential buyer that may create a discounted value at sale.

Vonny Carrington, Kathryn Kennedy and Ekaterina Klimentova

Financial Planning

Managing Money as a Couple

In a Relationship? So are Your Finances. Learn practical financial tips for managing money as a couple.

Andrew Fisher

Partner

Cross-Border Planning

Why Major U.S. Brokerage Firms Are Closing Accounts Owned by Foreign Residents

Many expats and multi-national residents are working with investment firms that are increasingly abandoning this service. We explore why firms are discarding these complex clients, and what people should do next.

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