Bank / Wealth / Trust

Updated:

New England Research & Management

New England Research & Management is a Chicago-based independent RIA founded in 1978, advising high-net-worth individuals and foundations.

New England Research & Management

Founded in 1978, New England Research & Management is a Chicago-based registered investment adviser that has maintained a low-profile, high-touch practice for over 45 years. The firm's founding generation established it as an independent wealth manager, and its continued operation under the same name and regulatory umbrella suggests either founder continuity or a deliberate internal succession — though neither has been publicly documented. The firm's strategy centers on discretionary portfolio management for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and foundations. Its regulatory filings indicate it provides financial planning services alongside asset management, a bundled advisory model common among independent RIAs serving taxable investors. The geographic focus appears concentrated in the Midwest, with Illinois as the anchor market. Without public 13F or ADV Part 2 disclosure analysis, the portfolio construction approach — active security selection versus strategic asset allocation — remains unverifiable. The firm's scale is modest by industry standards. Public records do not disclose assets under management, team size, or additional office locations. The absence from major RIA ranking platforms and institutional databases indicates it operates below the $300 million threshold that triggers broader reporting visibility. No adjacent vehicles — philanthropic foundations, real-asset arms, or club-investment structures — have been identified in public filings or press. What distinguishes New England Research & Management structurally is its endurance. A 45-plus-year independent RIA that has not rolled up, rebranded, or sold to a consolidator sits outside the dominant narrative of wealth-management M&A. That persistence implies a stable client base and a governance structure — likely founder-led or family-controlled — that has resisted the liquidity events that reshaped much of the industry since 2005. The firm's continued use of a New England moniker despite its Chicago headquarters adds an idiosyncratic marker to an otherwise deliberately quiet operation.

General information

Firm type

Bank / Wealth / Trust

Year founded

1978

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Chicago

Corporate office

Chicago, IL, United States

Frequently asked questions

Is New England Research & Management a family office or a wealth manager?

It operates as a registered investment adviser (RIA) providing wealth management and financial planning to external clients, not as a single-family office. Regulatory filings classify it as a discretionary portfolio manager for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and foundations. There is no indication in public records that it manages a single family's consolidated balance sheet.

What is the firm's investment philosophy?

NERM's specific investment philosophy is not publicly documented. As an RIA that has operated independently since 1978, its approach likely emphasizes long-term portfolio management and financial planning for taxable investors. Without a published 13F or detailed ADV Part 2A that has been publicly analyzed, asset-allocation preferences and security-selection methodology remain opaque.

Why is the firm named 'New England' when it is headquartered in Chicago?

The name likely reflects the founding generation's origins or a legacy registration, though no public explanation exists. It is possible the firm was originally incorporated in a New England state before relocating or that the founders retained the name through a move. The distinction is a notable idiosyncrasy given its 45-year Chicago presence.

Does New England Research & Management take outside institutional capital?

There is no evidence that the firm actively markets to institutional investors or participates in consultant databases. Its client base, per Altss, includes individuals and foundations, suggesting a direct-advice model rather than an institutional fund-management business. It does not appear in Private Equity, Venture Capital, or Hedge Fund databases.

How has the firm maintained independence for more than four decades?

The firm has not been acquired or rolled into a consolidator in any transaction that has reached public notice. This suggests either founder-led governance with no liquidity imperative or a multi-generational succession plan that has preserved the entity. The RIA industry's aggressive M&A cycle since 2005 makes this 45-plus-year continuity a structural outlier.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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