Senior Client Advisor

Gresham Partners LLC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and performance-based bonus

Profit sharing and 401(k) matching

Generous paid time off

Potential path to partnership

Job summary

Gresham Partners LLC, an independent wealth management firm based in Chicago, is seeking a Senior Client Advisor to lead a select group of ultra-high-net-worth families. You will deliver integrated advice across investment strategy, wealth transfer, tax planning, philanthropy, and governance, translating complexity into clear priorities and disciplined execution.

You will guide a small team in a hybrid Chicago environment, collaborating with external advisors and internal specialists to create

Qualifications

• 10+ years as lead advisor to high-net-worth families or similar clients.
• Advanced degree in finance, law, economics, or related field preferred.
• Desirable professional designations (CPWA, JD, CPA, CFP, CFA, CIMA, MBA).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary advisor and trusted partner to ~20 ultra-high-net-worth client households.
• Lead quarterly investment and cash-flow meetings to review performance and spending needs.
• Develop and evolve integrated wealth strategies across asset allocation, estate planning, tax planning, and philanthropy.
• Identify client needs and create customized solutions with colleagues.
• Coordinate with external advisors to ensure alignment across a client’s financial life.
• Work in a team-based model with investment professionals, wealth planners, and client service specialists.
• Stay informed on markets and translate insights into actionable guidance.
• Support new client development through referrals and firm initiatives.
• Contribute to firm best practices and a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Client relationships

Financial analysis

Collaboration

Discretion

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Curiosity

Teamwork

Education

Advanced degree in finance/law/economics

Professional designations (CPWA/JD/CPA/CFP/CFA/CIMA/MBA)

Job description

Gresham Partners is an independent investment and wealth management firm built to serve a select group of ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, foundations, and endowments. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Chicago, we manage or advise on approximately $13.8 billion for more than 125 client families as of December 31, 2025.

We are 100 percent employee owned and have chosen to forgo outside investment. As a fiduciary, employee-owned firm, we operate without commission-based products, proprietary product requirements, sales incentives, or hidden fees, allowing advisors to focus entirely on client outcomes.

Gresham’s platform and culture have been recognized across the industry, including Barron’s 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms, Wealth Management’s 2026 RIA Edge 100, and five wins at the 2026 Family Wealth Report Awards, including Multifamily Office and Wealth Planning, plus Outstanding CIO recognition for our CEO and CIO, Ted Neild and Women in Wealth Advisory recognition for our Chief Wealth Strategist, Kim Kamin. We were also named one of Crain’s Chicago Best Places to Work in 2026 our fourth consecutive year on the list.

Your Impact

As a Senior Client Advisor at Gresham, you will serve as the lead advisor and strategic partner to a select group of approximately 20 ultra-high-net-worth families. This is an opportunity to deliver deeply integrated advice in a setting intentionally designed for objectivity, long-term relationships, and sophisticated problem solving, rather than product distribution or short-term sales goals. You will help clients make consequential decisions across investment strategy, wealth transfer planning, tax planning, philanthropy, and family governance, translating complexity into clear priorities and disciplined execution.

Our Impact

Gresham’s investment approach is purpose-built for taxable families with generational wealth. We focus on after-tax compounding, differentiated manager access, disciplined portfolio construction, and implementation designed to improve resilience through market drawdowns. We pair this institutional-caliber investment platform with sophisticated wealth planning and family office capabilities, including wealth transfer planning, philanthropy planning, coordination with outside advisors, and support for complex family structures and governance.

Gresham’s clients are typically first-generation wealth creators with $25 million to $200 million or more in investable assets. They often include business owners following a liquidity event, C-suite executives, professional investors, and families navigating multi-generational wealth, concentrated positions, estate and trust structures, philanthropy, and family governance. These clients have high standards for their advisors and complex needs where an experienced, technically capable advisor can add significant value.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary advisor and trusted partner to approximately 20 ultra-high-net-worth client households, many with multi-generational dynamics and complex financial structures.
• Lead quarterly investment meetings and quarterly cash flow meetings to review investment performance, ensure the client has sufficient cash to support their periodic spending needs, and help clients make informed decisions to achieve their long-term goals and objectives.
• Lead the development and ongoing evolution of integrated wealth strategies, spanning asset allocation, portfolio construction, advanced estate and multi-generational wealth transfer planning, tax considerations, and philanthropy.
• Proactively identify client needs and emerging issues, and develop thoughtful, customized solutions in collaboration with Gresham colleagues.
• Coordinate closely with clients’ external advisors (attorneys, accountants, and other professionals), ensuring alignment and integration across all aspects of the client’s financial life.
• Work within a team-based model that includes investment professionals, wealth planners, and client service specialists, leveraging the firm’s full capabilities to deliver a high level of service.
• Stay informed on financial markets, economic developments, and planning strategies, translating relevant insights into actionable guidance for clients.
• Contribute to new client development primarily through referrals, existing relationships, and firm-led initiatives, consistent with Gresham’s collaborative approach to growth.
• Support and refine firm best practices, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement

Characteristics of Successful Candidates

• Intellectual rigor, ability to collaborate well, humility, discretion, and long-term relationship building skills.
• A strong commitment to delivering exceptional, high-touch, and detail-oriented client service.
• The ability to synthesize complex information across investment, tax, estate, and planning disciplines and translate it into clear, actionable advice.
• Expertise in structuring and advising on sophisticated estate planning strategies for clients with over $25 million in net worth.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with sophisticated, multi-generational families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within a team-based structure.
• Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning.
• Strong analytical capabilities and attention to detail.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to client needs and challenges.

Experience

• 10 or more years of experience serving as a lead advisor to high-net-worth families, with increasing responsibility for complex relationships.
• Demonstrated success managing and deepening client relationships in a wealth management, family office, or similar environment.
• Advanced degree in finance, law, economics, or a related field preferred.
• One or more professional designations such as CPWA, JD, CPA, CFP, CFA, CIMA, MBA or similar are highly desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

Gresham offers a competitive total compensation package, including.

• Salary and performance-based bonus commensurate with experience.
• Profit sharing and 401(k) matching.
• Generous paid time off.
• Potential path to partnership for high-performing employees who demonstrate longterm leadership and cultural alignment.

Work Environment and Requirements

This role is based in Chicago and follows Gresham’s hybrid work model, with approximately three days per week in our downtown Chicago office. Travel to client locations, including out-of-state locations, is expected. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role.