Family Offices in Chicago

39 North Capital is a principal investment firm that partners with owner-operators of mature, cash-generating businesses. The firm focuses on creating long-term value for all stakeholders by prioritizing reinvestment and prudent use of debt, rather than employing a traditional private equity fund model. They structure each partnership as a standalone investment, emphasizing an operator mindset and a commitment to shared values with their partners.Founded in 2016 by Jake Roffman and Tim Lucey, 39 North Capital operates as a direct investment platform anchored by the Eastbridge Group, a family office with over $1.5 billion in assets under management. Roffman and Lucey, who met at the University of Notre Dame, bring extensive experience in private equity and operations. They were brought in by the Bruckner family, who own Eastbridge Group, to help the family enter the private equity space.The firm invests across various sectors, including multi-unit consumer-focused brands, business services, and companies providing solutions for the built environment. Notable investments and portfolio companies include Diversified Roofing, LawLers Barbecue, American Building Contractors, Remedy Roofing, Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting, and the quick-service restaurant chain Eegee's.Jake Roffman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, focuses on origination, structuring, and financial aspects, drawing on his background at 13th Floor Investments, H.I.G. Capital, and Credit Suisse. Tim Lucey, also Co-Founder and Managing Partner, oversees origination, strategy, and operational aspects, leveraging his experience as COO of Meineke Car Care and in private equity at Harvest Partners. Both hold MBAs from the Wharton School.

Briar Hall LLC is a full-service single-family office based in Chicago, Illinois, providing fully integrated wealth management services, alternative investments, and trust and fiduciary services. The firm serves the billionaire Smith family, founders of Northern Trust and Illinois Tool Works, two of the most prominent financial and industrial institutions in the United States.Named after Byron L. Smith's former summer home in north suburban Lake Forest, Briar Hall provides comprehensive family office services across multiple generations. The firm's investment arm, Cornelius Capital, makes capital commitments to US-based private equity and venture capital funds.Briar Hall maintains offices at 333 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago, where the firm occupies approximately 20,000 square feet to support its growing operations and team.

Chaifetz Group is a private investment firm that deploys permanent family capital to support entrepreneurs, business owners, and management teams in building and expanding industry-disrupting businesses. The firm employs a flexible and enduring investment approach, spanning venture capital, private equity, real estate, and opportunistic strategies. They are known for their ultra-disciplined investment philosophy, which emphasizes long-term partnerships and a deep alignment of interests with their portfolio companies.Founded in 2012 by world-class entrepreneur Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, the firm is rooted in his principles and anchored by his capital. Dr. Chaifetz, also the founder, Chairman, and CEO of ComPsych Corporation, brings extensive operational and business-building expertise to the group. Chaifetz Group differentiates itself by providing hands-on operational guidance, flexible capital, and leveraging an unparalleled professional network and unique capital base to foster growth and challenge the status quo.Chaifetz Group has a diverse portfolio of notable investments across various sectors. These include companies like Vulcan Pickleball, PICKLETILE, and DUPR in the recreational goods and sports industry, reflecting their interest in sports and media. They have also invested in technology-driven companies such as xAI (artificial intelligence), M1 Finance (consumer finance), Backlot Cars (online automotive marketplace), Beta Technologies (eVTOL aircraft), FLASH Parking, TimeDoc Health, and 15Five (performance management software). Their portfolio also features investments in major sports franchises like the San Francisco Giants (MLB) and Alpine Racing (Formula One), as well as the Major League Pickleball franchise, St. Louis Shock.The leadership team includes Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz as Chairman and Managing Partner, Ross D. Chaifetz as Managing Director, Bob K. Jacobson as Chief Financial Officer, and Ryan Brown as Vice President. The firm is supported by a team of investment professionals, advisors, and portfolio company executives who collectively leverage their entrepreneurial and operational experience to optimize strategy, execution, and business models for their portfolio companies. The firm often focuses its investments in the Midwest, including Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Nashville, recognizing overlooked opportunities in these regions.

Cresset Capital is an independent, award-winning multi-family office and private wealth management firm that serves ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families, entrepreneurs, and executives across the United States. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to optimize wealth and life, including holistic financial planning, sophisticated investment solutions, tax and estate strategies, and trust services. Cresset aims to provide clients with the insights, access, and innovation traditionally reserved for leading single-family offices and institutions.The firm's offerings extend to private investment opportunities, encompassing private equity, real estate, and private credit. They also provide specialized services such as pre-transaction planning, liquidity and exit planning for business owners, private banking services, insurance advisory, CFO services, estate planning, philanthropic planning, family governance, education, and lifestyle solutions. Cresset emphasizes a client-first, fiduciary approach, ensuring transparency and accountability in its wealth management strategies.Cresset was founded in 2017 by private equity investors Eric Becker and Avy Stein. Their motivation stemmed from their own experiences with existing wealth management approaches, which they felt lacked the comprehensive, personalized services and access to institutional-quality private investment opportunities that UHNW individuals and families deserved. The founders envisioned creating a firm that was client and employee-owned, built to endure for over a century, and rooted in excellence, transparency, and partnership.The leadership team at Cresset includes founders Eric Becker and Avy Stein, along with key executives such as Susie Cranston (CEO effective April 15, 2026), Doug Regan (Founding Partner and Co-Chairman), Mike Silverman (Chief Investment Officer), Jack Ablin (Chief Investment Strategist), Paul Algreen (Chief Technology Officer), Michael Costabile (Chief Financial Officer), and Amy Hong (Chief Operating Officer). This team brings extensive experience in investment management, financial planning, and operational leadership, enabling Cresset to deliver sophisticated and integrated wealth management solutions to its diverse clientele.

Fulcrum Investing operates as a family office dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurial community and advancing startup companies. The firm focuses on making investments in Seed through Series B stage startups across the United States. They are generally industry-agnostic, seeking out US-headquartered businesses with strong visions for their culture, technology, marketing, and finances.Founded in 2014, Fulcrum Investing established itself as a private investment group. The firm's commitment lies in assisting early-stage companies, actively participating in subsequent funding rounds for its portfolio companies. They are known for deploying a unique and efficient diligence model designed to minimize bias and accelerate decision-making processes.While specific details on individual team members' extensive backgrounds are not widely publicized, Kevin Van Eekeren is associated with the firm. Fulcrum Investing has built a portfolio of over 37 companies, with investments spanning various sectors including Enterprise Applications, Consumer, and HealthTech. Notable acquisitions from their portfolio include KnowledgeHound, Podchaser, and Luna Lights, and they have also invested in companies like Nexus A.I. and Rypplzz.

HC Private Investments is a Chicago-based private equity firm that specializes in making direct investments into private, lower middle-market niche manufacturing businesses. Operating as a family office, the firm distinguishes itself from traditional private equity models by offering flexible and patient capital, prioritizing long-term growth over rigid timelines. They focus on identifying growth opportunities and actively engaging executive advisors from the outset to develop and implement value creation plans, often aligned with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). HC Private Investments seeks to partner with owner-operators or family businesses, providing resources to unlock value potential through various transaction structures, including recapitalizations and generational ownership transitions.The firm was founded in 2016 by Managing Partners John P. Kelly and Matthew J. Moran. Prior to establishing HC Private Investments, Mr. Kelly held an investment professional role at The Tokarz Group Advisers, while Mr. Moran was a senior investment professional at Wind Point Partners. Their combined experience in lower and middle-market private equity laid the groundwork for HC Private Investments' focused investment strategy and operational engagement. Joseph Niciforo, a founding member, serves as the Chairman of the Investment Committee, bringing extensive experience from the financial sector, including his role as Chairman and CEO of HC Technologies.HC Private Investments has built a diverse portfolio of manufacturing companies across consumer and industrial markets. Notable investments and portfolio companies include Artisan Bakery, created through the acquisitions of Snackwerks and Speciality Bakers, and Prince Industries, which expanded its aerospace and defense capabilities with the acquisition of Keystone Precision & Engineering. Other investments have included QEI and Epicurean Butter. The firm also successfully exited its investment in Springboard Manufacturing through a sale to Currier Plastics.The team at HC Private Investments emphasizes a collaborative approach with portfolio company management. John P. Kelly and Matthew J. Moran, as Managing Partners, are actively involved and serve on the boards of several portfolio companies. Kelsey Lawrie, as Managing Director of Talent, leads the Executive Advisor Partners program, connecting portfolio companies with leading executives. Ryan Sullivan, Managing Director of Operations, works directly with companies to implement value creation initiatives. This operational expertise, combined with the financial acumen of the founding partners and the strategic oversight of the investment committee, underpins the firm's approach to fostering growth and maximizing value.

Monarch Private Capital is a leading investment firm specializing in impact investing through federal and state tax credits. The firm manages funds that facilitate investments in projects designed to create positive social and environmental impact while delivering predictable financial returns for investors. Their core investment areas include renewable energy, affordable housing, historic rehabilitation, and film & entertainment. Monarch Private Capital's approach involves direct investments in projects that generate tax credits, offering a unique opportunity for corporations, banks, insurance companies, individuals, developers, and film producers to achieve financial objectives while contributing to community development and sustainability initiatives.Founded in 2005, Monarch Private Capital was established through a partnership between Robin Delmer, an Atlanta-based low-income housing developer, and George L. Strobel II, a high-net-worth family office tax advisor. Initially, the firm focused on Georgia affordable housing projects, leveraging Georgia Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). Over time, Monarch expanded its offerings to include federal and state tax credits for historic rehabilitation and renewable energy projects, broadening its geographic reach across the United States. The firm is recognized for its expertise in developing customized structuring solutions that align with investors' financial, tax, and treasury objectives.Since its inception, Monarch Private Capital has significantly impacted communities nationwide. As of late 2025, the firm has managed tax equity impact investments in over 1,000 projects, generating nearly $9 billion in tax credits. These projects have mobilized over $21 billion in project capital and created an estimated $38 billion in economic impact across 42 states and Washington, D.C. Notable achievements include the creation of tens of thousands of affordable housing units, the development of gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, and the revitalization of hundreds of historic buildings. The firm also plays a significant role as a broker of film tax credits, particularly in Georgia and other states.

The Chicago Family Office is a family office platform and conference organizer based in Chicago, Illinois. The firm hosts an annual Chicago Family Office & High Net Worth Conference, bringing together members of the high-net-worth community to discuss critical topics including financial markets, real estate investments, technology and alternative investments, estate planning, next-generation preparation, women entrepreneurship, family business governance, philanthropy, and impact investing. The conference provides attendees with first-tier content from notable speakers in an intimate setting designed for meaningful networking. The Chicago Family Office serves as a hub connecting wealthy families, advisors, and investment professionals in the greater Chicago area.