CHOATE HALL & STEWART LLP

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Sophisticated investment management through registered investment advisory subsidiary integrated with financial, tax, trust and estate planning and administration.

Preeminent Trusts & Estates Group

Full range of expert trusts and estates services for high net worth individuals and families.

Experience & Stability 

For over 100 years, serving as trustees and managing assets for clients.

Sophisticated Wealth Management

Over $2 billion under investment management:

• Over 700% growth from $400 million under management since 1990
• Best of both worlds: institutional quality investment philosophy and personal service strategies tailored to needs of each individual and family
• Dedicated internal research group of industry and investment analysts, most CFA certified

Wealth Management Services with a Difference

Wealth management services distinctly different from those of many banks,investment houses and insurance companies:

• Experienced, accessible practicing lawyer-trustee and investment manager
• Exceptional continuity and longevity of service team
• Independence/absence of conflicts: group does not sell its own proprietary products
• Long-term investment strategy: no commission or other incentive to trade
• Customized investment model
• Investment strategy focused on long-term growth: not driven by quarterly results
• Investment and fiduciary expertise integrated with financial, tax, and estate planning: all offered in one place

Breadth & Expertise

Team of over 50 persons including lawyers, investment professionals, tax preparers, trust and estate administrators and other support staff.

Taking Care of Families

Focused on each family’s unique needs:

• Assure privacy as to amount, nature, and disposition of assets
• Fund children’s and grandchildren’s education
• Arrange estate plans to pass property at lowest possible tax and probate cost
• Manage financial affairs with minimal probate court involvement
• Carry out charitable wishes in financially advantageous ways
• Coordinate investments with company pension plan, IRA, Keogh, and Social Security
• Manage financial affairs including dependent parent care when incapacitated

Full Range of Personal Financial Services

Extensive and integrated services for personal tax and financial needs in wealth management, including:

• Individual income planning and tax return preparation
• Bill payment
• Arranging short-term bank loans
• Forecasting income
• Developing budgets

Sophisticated Estate Planning Techniques

Experts in implementing sophisticated tax planning techniques to save tax dollars and achieve personal goals, including:

• Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) to transfer residence to future generations at significantly reduced gift tax cost
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) to transfer future appreciation in value of assets to family members or trusts with little or no gift tax
• Defective Grantor Trust to “freeze” estate value and transfer future appreciation in value of assets to family members with little or no gift tax
• Insurance Trust to exempt life insurance proceeds from estate taxation
• 529 Plans to save tax-free for college expenses of plan beneficiaries
• Family Limited Partnerships to pass wealth to next generation at reduced tax cost
• 2503(c) Trust (Minority Trust) for children under 21
• UTMA or UGMA Accounts Uniform Transfers to Minors Act and Uniform Gifts to Minors Act accounts for children under 21

Family-Owned Businesses

Highly experienced integrated team,including business and tax lawyers, working closely with significant family-owned businesses and expert in identifying and meeting their unique tax and estate planning needs.

Complete Charitable Planning

Complete charitable planning to fulfill personal philanthropic goals while saving taxes, including:

• Private foundations
• Donor-advised funds
• Conservation easements
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts

Leading Law Firm

Leading law firm taking care of generations of families and their interests with discretion and sensitivity for over a century.