Family Office

We offer an integrated approach to investment management, through our affiliate Hemenway Trust Company, that can include direct portfolio investment as well as oversight of outside investment managers. We also offer expertise regarding tax sensitive investments and consolidated reporting.

As of December 31, 2023, Hemenway & Barnes LLP, together with Hemenway Trust Company, had fiduciary responsibility for over $7.7 billion of client assets. With no products or investment funds to sell, we have the independence to do what’s best for our clients. Learn more about our approach to investment management.

Our comprehensive approach to estate and tax planning begins with an understanding of a client's financial situation, family, goals, values, risk tolerance and more. We work with families to design and administer effective estate planning and wealth transfers between generations. As laws change or your family situation evolves, we will propose adjustments to your estate plans. We have deep experience with a broad range of assets, including complex portfolios, real estate, privately owned businesses, venture capital and private equity, art collections, and more. Learn more about our estate and tax planning services.

Our philanthropic advisors help clients make effective charitable gifts for the causes they care the most about. We help families optimize their philanthropic efforts, including program design, grant making services, and administration. We advise on various giving structures, such as private foundations and donor advised funds, and tailor solutions to meet our clients’ individual needs and vision for philanthropy. Learn more about our philanthropic advisory services.

For generations we have been assisting families who own or manage companies. We advise clients on a full range of closely-held business issues, including succession planning, the sale of a business, and investment issues that follow a favorable liquidity event. Learn more about our services for family businesses.

We understand the complexity of our clients' lives and we are here to help. We can assist with creating guardianships or conservatorships to support families with a special needs child, an aging parent, or a member with mental health or addiction issues. We also bring expertise in transitional or long-term housing and care.

We attend to a variety of tasks, all designed to help you simplify your lives. This can include providing bill-pay services; addressing household administration issues such as hiring, payroll and performance reviews for household staff; and managing vacation homes.

We are here to help you achieve and manage what matters most. This includes organizing your family’s governance, communications, and meetings to promote harmony and coordinate outside advisors. We can help you put your family values into practice and can also help educate the next generation of family members on investment management, philanthropy or family business.

Filing tax returns and staying current with the ever-changing opportunities and responsibilities takes a team of sound, knowledgeable advisors. Clients depend on our firm's in-house tax professionals who are well-versed in return preparation to assist with fiduciary tax returns, gift tax returns and income tax advice. Learn more about our tax planning and reporting services.

From primary residences and vacation homes to investment properties, we help clients with buying, selling, maintaining, and valuing properties, including multigenerational family lands and jointly-held family homes. We also advise on land use, including gifts, zoning, development, conservation, and dispute resolution issues. Learn more about our real estate services.