Trustees for Individuals, Families and Charities since 1782
Rice, Heard & Bigelow is a privately owned firm of professional trustees serving individuals, families and charities. The organization of the firm is unique, in that the principals are named as individual trustees, rather than the company being named as corporate trustee. We believe our structure furthers the primary goal of discreet, personal service through long-standing trustee relationships.
Many of the families we advise have been with us for generations. It is our mission to be a safe harbor for those looking for independent advice, honesty, responsiveness and trust, all of which we trace back to the firm’s inception more than 200 years ago.
What We Do
Trust Management
Tracing its roots to the first private trustee office in the nation, RHB is now one of the few places where individuals and families can go for professional management of their personal assets and affairs by individuals – not corporations – serving as their trustees. Trustees at RHB forge close relationships with our clients, be they grantors of revocable trusts, fourth generation beneficiaries of an irrevocable trust or charitable entities. RHB trustees generally serve until retirement, avoiding the turnover of “relationship managers” or “account officers,” and often become trusted advisors to families on a variety of matters.
Estate Planning
Three RHB trustees are experienced estate planning attorneys and, utilizing their knowledge of estate, gift, and GST-transfer tax laws, they routinely meet with clients to discuss their estate planning needs. RHB trustees work closely with a client’s outside estate planning attorney.
Tax Services
RHB’s tax department offers comprehensive services to individuals, trusts, estates and charitable entities. All income tax returns are prepared in-house by professionals with broad experience in handling a variety of tax issues on the federal and state levels.
Since 1782
A sign on an elm tree
In 1782, between the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, noted historian, public servant and attorney George Richards Minot nailed his sign to an elm tree in what is now Boston’s financial district, opened an office, and thus began a tradition of fiduciary services that has endured for more than 200 years. His firm evolved into the present day Rice, Heard & Bigelow, which is committed to carrying on Mr. Minot’s tradition of individual – not corporate – trusteeship for clients who desire personal attention to their investments, estate plans and tax matters.
George Richards Minot opens the first private trustee office in the nation at 39 Court Street.
William Minot returns to the City of Boston $125,000 grown from Benjamin Franklin’s $4,000 bequest, administered without fee.
Rice, Heard & Bigelow is formed to focus solely on serving as individual trustees.