Hightower Advisors, the Chicago-based registered investment advisor overseeing approximately $150 billion in client assets, has broadened its family office services to provide ultra-high-net-worth families with institutional-grade investment consulting, advanced estate and tax planning, family governance, and business advisory support. The move, announced in May 2025, aims to equip Hightower's network of advisors with resources typically reserved for large endowments and foundations.
Under the expanded Hightower Family Office, advisors can now tap into the expertise of Boston-based NEPC, which advises on roughly $1.5 trillion in assets across endowments, foundations, pensions, and family offices. Hightower acquired a majority stake in NEPC in 2024, deepening its institutional capabilities. Additionally, the firm has formed a strategic relationship with GTBA, a Los Angeles-based business management and family office firm serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, including executives, entrepreneurs, and entertainment industry clients.
CEO Larry Restieri emphasized that the expansion allows advisors to maintain direct client relationships while accessing sophisticated planning tools. “As client needs continue to evolve, advisors increasingly need access to deeper insights and broader resources,” Restieri said. “The expansion of the Hightower Family Office reflects our commitment to helping advisors serve clients across the full wealth spectrum while remaining at the center of the relationship.”
The enhanced offering addresses growing demand among wealthy families for comprehensive services beyond traditional wealth management. According to a recent BNY Wealth survey, 96% of ultra-high-net-worth investors use artificial intelligence tools weekly, yet they still rely on advisors for human judgment and personalized advice. This trend underscores the need for advisors to offer deeper planning and investment depth, as highlighted in a separate InvestLin report on ultra-high-net-worth client demands.
Hightower's expansion comes amid a broader industry shift as the $124 trillion wealth transfer accelerates, prompting families to seek integrated solutions for estate planning, business succession, and philanthropic strategies. The firm's move aligns with findings from a Bank of America survey showing wealthy investors increasingly turning to private markets and family firms for growth.
In addition to the family office expansion, Hightower has made several strategic moves in 2025. In April, the firm appointed Roberto Stewart as president and chief business officer, tasking him with streamlining the Hightower One platform—the firm's back- and middle-office system—to reduce operational friction for advisors. Stewart, a veteran operating executive with over three decades of experience, now oversees operations, technology, risk, product, and integrations.
Also in April, Hightower announced a deal to bring in Lexington Wealth Management, a Massachusetts-based RIA with approximately $3.2 billion in assets under management, into its Signature Wealth channel. That acquisition pushed Hightower Signature Wealth past $29 billion in AUM across more than 25 locations.
The family office expansion positions Hightower to compete with other large RIAs and wirehouses that have been enhancing their ultra-high-net-worth offerings. As advisors navigate the complexities of multi-generational wealth, the ability to provide institutional-level resources without ceding client relationships could become a key differentiator.
