Executive Director, Estate Planning
About the role
Hightower is a wealth management firm providing investment, financial, and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations, and family offices. The Executive Director of Wealth Solutions will serve as a senior subject matter expert and strategic partner to financial advisors, focusing on ultra-high-net-worth individuals and multigenerational families.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and delivery of sophisticated estate plans for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and multigenerational families
- Advise on complex wealth transfer strategies, including GRATs, SLATs, IDGTs, charitable structures, and family governance frameworks
- Partner with advisors to position estate planning as a central driver of client acquisition and retention
- Translate technical legal concepts into actionable strategies for clients and advisors
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Hightower’s financial advisors and their clients
- Participate in client meetings to present strategies and reinforce planning value
- Enhance advisors' ability to win new relationships through business development efforts
- Collaborate with external attorneys, accountants, and trustees as part of the client’s broader advisory ecosystem
- Develop and deliver high-impact educational content for advisors and clients across multiple formats
- Stay at the forefront of estate, tax, and wealth planning developments, particularly those impacting high-tax jurisdictions like NY and CA
- Contribute to Hightower’s brand as a leader in advanced planning capabilities
- Ensure all planning strategies meet the highest standards of technical accuracy, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility
- Establish and maintain best practices across planning deliverables
- Partner with internal legal and compliance teams to align on evolving regulatory requirements
- Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across estate, tax, investment, and business advisory functions
- Foster a culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, and continuous improvement
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field
- Juris Doctor or Master’s degree in a related field required
- 12+ years of experience in estate planning, financial planning, and wealth management with a focus on high-net-worth clients and prospects
- Deep technical expertise in federal and state estate, gift, and income tax planning
- Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to achieve results
- Extensive experience driving successful outcomes in advisor and client interactions
- Background in a law firm, private client practice, or family office preferred
- Expertise in advising clients in high-tax jurisdictions, cross-border planning, closely held business succession, and philanthropic structuring
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or a related field
- Juris Doctor or Master’s degree in a related field required
- 12+ years of experience in estate planning, financial planning, and wealth management with a focus on high-net-worth clients and prospects
- Deep technical expertise in federal and state estate, gift, and income tax planning
- Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to achieve results
- Extensive experience driving successful outcomes in advisor and client interactions
- Background in a law firm, private client practice, or family office preferred
- Expertise in advising clients in high-tax jurisdictions, cross-border planning, closely held business succession, and philanthropic structuring
Skills
- Advanced Estate Planning & Strategy
- Advisor Partnership & Client Engagement
- Thought Leadership & Market Presence
- Quality, Risk & Governance
- Team Collaboration
Benefits
- Coverage on the first day of employment for medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid parental leave (16 weeks for primary caregiver and 8 weeks for secondary caregiver)
- Flexible PTO plan
- In-office Monday through Thursday and work from home on Fridays
- Free brand-new gym in the Chicago office
- 401k matching plan
- HSA employer contributions
- Student loan assistance
- Pet insurance
Pay
Base salary of $225,000- $250,000 plus discretionary bonus (exact base salary amount will be dependent on experience)
Schedule
Full-time, Monday through Friday
Equal Opportunity Employer
Hightower is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age (over 40), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related), gender identity or expression, genetic information including sickle cell or hemoglobin C trait, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local law.
U.S. Citizenship or Unrestricted U.S. Work Authorization
Required