Hiring: Director, Estate Planning and Tax Services (Houston)

 

About the Company:

Founded in 2016, Pennington Partners is building the leading financial services holding company and solutions-oriented platform serving the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and their families.

Pennington’s culture is smart, tireless, and iconoclastic. We are intellectually curious, challenge assumptions, and welcome new ideas. We are an ensemble of the best and brightest professionals with multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our people are collegial but self-reliant. We value independent judgement as much as intellect and look for people who tend to do the right thing first, can work with limited guidance, but who also know how to ask for help. While the firm is building increasing scale and institutional character, we value our entrepreneurial culture and flexibility.

About the Position:

Our staff model is designed around an ensemble model that supports a lead advisor and a dedicated Chief Investment Officer and the belief that no one person can carry the dialogue with complex entrepreneurial families.  The Director, Estate Planning role will complement this team as part of the staff configuration. 

This role will have direct oversight of estate planning and advanced wealth planning. The individual will bring with them deep experience serving the ultra-high-net-worth client segment. They will be part of the Houston team, working alongside the Managing Director, Market Leader, Investment team and Client Relationship team.

What You’ll Do:

The Director, Estate Planning and Tax Services will counsel Pennington clients in a fiduciary capacity with regards to sophisticated wealth planning strategies including wealth transfer, estate and tax planning, philanthropic matters, and business succession planning including:                                                                                                                                       

  • Develop and implement customized wealth strategies that minimize taxes, maximize wealth transfer, and align with clients' personal and financial goals and drive high levels of client engagement. 

  • Review tax returns before they are filed and create income tax projections and forecasts for clients, helping them understand their tax obligations and plan for future tax liabilities. 

  • Provide expert tax guidance on income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes to ensure optimal tax efficiency and compliance. 

  • Collaborate with clients to develop and execute charitable giving plans that align with their values and goals, while maximizing tax benefits and impact. Regularly review and update estate plans, tax strategies, and investment portfolios to ensure continued alignment with clients' evolving goals and changing tax laws and regulations.

  • Partner and liaise with the investment team to pro-actively reduce income tax liability

  • Partner with the Managing Director of Estate Planning and Market Leader in building a pipeline of credible client family leads through COI leads, networking, and referrals.

  • Work with the Director of Operations to determine client family success measurements (i.e. (NPS) Net Promoter Score), identifying key performance indicators for delivering exceptional client service.

  • Promote the company culture and vision.

What We Need:

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience as an Associate or Partner at a law firm or a minimum of 7 years of experience in wealth and estate planning within a private wealth management firm or family office.  

  • Juris Doctorate and CPA required and LLM accreditation preferred.

  • Ability to communicate complex tax and financial concepts to clients and other professionals, build strong relationships with clients and colleagues, and work effectively in a team environment.

  • In depth knowledge of federal and state tax laws, especially around income tax, gift tax, estate tax, generation-skipping transfer tax, tax treaties and international taxation.   

  • An individual possessing a deeply rooted service mentality. 

  • Outstanding organizational and leadership abilities and personal integrity.   

  • Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving.  

  • Ability to analyze complex financial situations, identify tax opportunities and risks, and develop creative solutions to minimize taxes and maximize wealth transfer.

  • Belief in, and willing to champion Pennington’s Core Values.

What You’ll Get:

We offer competitive and comprehensive benefits to help you prioritize your wellness and your career development. Working with a company that leverages our Core Values: Developing One’s Greatest Potential, Thinking Big, Client Obsession, Tikkun Olam (Repair Our World).

  • Salary - Competitive compensation (base salary + target bonus) 

  • Benefits - Robust benefits package with a choice of PPO Health Insurance Plans covering medical, dental, vision, disability, and group term life insurance. Optional HSA Plan, with a $600 employer contribution. 401K Plan with employer match, commuter parking benefit, cell phone reimbursement.

  • Health & Wellness – $100/month stipend to use on the choice of fitness, meditation classes, meal kits, CSA, and more. Oura Ring welcome gift and one-year subscription to the Oura Ring app, and Pennington welcome swag! Worldwide emergency travel assistance coverage.

  • Paid Time Off - 15 days PTO, unlimited sick leave, bereavement leave, 11 federal holidays and 3 floating holidays. Paid maternity and paternity leave for biological and adoptive parents, plus the option to work from home after paid leave ends to extend time with your growing family, and a $4,000 childcare stipend to help you transition back to work.

How to Apply:

Please send your resume to careers@penningtonptrs.com.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Pennington Partners to ensure equal employment opportunity (EEO) for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, or related conditions), national origin or ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, uniformed servicemember status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a parent, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. It is Pennington Partner’s policy to comply with applicable laws concerning the employment of persons with disabilities, including reasonable accommodation for applicants and employees with disabilities.