Charles A. Lowenhaupt is a recognized leader and wealth counselor for ultra-high net worth individuals and families around the world. He is Chairman and Partner of Lowenhaupt & Chasnoff, LLC, the first U.S. law firm to concentrate in tax law and established by Charles’ grandfather in 1908. Charles is also Founder and Director of Lowenhaupt Global Advisors Australia, a family office based in Sydney.
Charles is a Founding Advisory Faculty member of the Institute for Private Investors, and he advises the Institute as an Emeritus Member and contributor to its programs. He is also a co-founder of the Leadership Center for Investment Stewards, President of the Board of Commissioners of the Saint Louis Art Museum, a director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and a Director of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. He is on the National Council of the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He has been President of Temple Emanuel in St. Louis, of the Harvard Club of St. Louis, and he is a former director of Forest Park Forever and a former director of Clements Library of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Charles has a Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) from Harvard University. He also has a Juris Doctorate (Order of the Coif) from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the Bar of Missouri and New York.
Charles is the author of three books:The Chase Continues, Freedom From Wealth (with Don Trone) and The Wise Inheritor’s Guide to Freedom from Wealth. In 2019, Family Wealth Report awarded Charles its Thought Leadership award for his contributions to the wealth management industry. In 2011, Private Asset Management named Charles one of the 25 most influential people in wealth management and family office services.
Practice Areas
Private Client
Estate Planning
Wealth Counseling
Fiduciary Compliance
Dispute Resolution
Philanthropy
Tax
Education
B.A., cum laude, Harvard University, 1969
J.D., University of Michigan, magna cum laude (Order of the Coif), 1973
Bar Admissions
Missouri (1973)
New York (2006)
U.S. Supreme Court (1987)
U.S. Claims Court
U.S. Tax Court
Other Career Experience
Founder and Chairman of Lowenhaupt Global Advisors LLC (2007-2019)
U.S. Tax Court Law Clerk (1973-1975)
Achievements & Honors
Family Wealth Report “Thought Leadership Award” for contributions to the wealth management industry (2019)
Named one of 25 Most Influential People in Wealth Management and Family Office Services by Private Asset Management (2011)
St. Louis Argus Distinguished Citizen Award (2001)
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register Rated AV (Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.0)
Community Service Award, Young Democrats of St. Louis (1996)
Civic Involvement
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (2020-present)
St. Louis Art Museum (President of the Board of Commissioners of the St. Louis Art Museum) (2020-present)
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (Director) (2015-present)
Clements Library of the University of Michigan (Former Director) (1997-2014)
Forest Park Forever (Former Director) (2005-2014)
Temple Emanuel (Past President) (2012-2015)
St. Louis Art Museum Foundation (Vice President) (2020-present)
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (Board Member) (2015-present)
Washington University Alliance for Building Capacity (Former Director) (2002)
Catholic Community Services and Archbishops Commission on Community Health (Former Cabinet Member) (2001-2002)
Foundation for Fiduciary Studies (Former Director) (2000-2014)
Brown School of Social Work at Washington University (National Council) (2000-Present)
U.S.-China C. of C. Midwestern Regional Office (Advisory Board Member) (1999-Present)
St. Louis Regional Medical Center Foundation (Former Chairman) (1995-1998)
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House (Former Secretary) (1995-2001)
St. Louis University Library Associates (Former President) (1982-1983)
St. Louis Community School Association (Former Board Member) (1981-1989)
Central West End Association (Former Director) (1976-1980)
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation (2006-2008)
St. Louis Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy (1996-2002)
Crown Center St. Louis (1994-1996)
St. Louis Zoo Subdistrict Commission (1989-1992)
Craft Alliance St. Louis (1987-1990)
Helicon Foundation San Diego (1987-1990)
Professional Affiliations
Institute for Private Investors (Founding Advisory Faculty and Emeritus Member)
Leadership Center for Investment Stewards (Co-Founder)
Foundation for Fiduciary Studies (Former Director)
St. Louis Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Estate Planning Council of St. Louis
American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; Tax Section (former GST Committee Chair)
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Probate and Trust Section Steering Committee
Family Office Exchange
Missouri Bar Association – Probate and Trust Section; Tax Section
New York Bar Association
Speaking Engagements
Institute for Private Investors
(September 2019)Private Wealth Network
(November 2018)Institute for Private Investors
(November 2018)Family Office Association (November 2018)
Family Wealth Report Conference
(November 2018)Family Investment Round Table
(June 2018)
Publications
The Chase Continues (2022)
The Wise Inheritor’s Guide to Freedom from Wealth (2018)
Freedom from Wealth (with Don Trone) (2011)
St. Louis Post Dispatch, “An Open Letter to Warren Buffett about Wells Fargo” (2016)
The Wall Street Journal, “On Investing in a Family Farm” (2013)
St. Louis Business Journal, “Crisis Offers Chance to Remake Financial Services Industry” (2008)
Financial Advisor IQ:
– “Philanthropy Can Build Legacies Worth Sharing” (2015)
– “Fairness Trumps Equality in Sharing Family Wealth” (2015)
– “Lessons from Sting’s Inheritance Strategy” (2014)
-“The Art of Asking Questions” (2014)
– “Reg Reform Won’t Bring Clients Back to Public Markets” (2013)Family Wealth Report:
– “Wealth and Aging in a Pandemic” (2020)
– “Estate Planning in The Age of Coronavirus” (2020)
– “The Wealth Holder’s Dilemma: To Help or Not Help Children Financially?” (2020)
– “Freedom from Wealth, Aging – Why Priorities Matter” (2019)
– “Should Advisors Worry About Inheritors’ Loyalty?” (2019)
– “Why We All Need A Mission” (2019)
– “Why We Need Effective Wealth Inheritors” (2018)
– “A Wealth Inheritor’s Tragedy” (2018)
– “Lessons of Growing Up Without Great Wealth” (2018)
– “What the New Tax Law Means for Families of Significant Wealth” (2018)
– “Wealth Inheritors in Age of Anxiety” (2017)
– “Who Will Be the Champion of The Wealth Inheritor?” (2017)
Interviews
Time 24 News, “‘I have never been in a period of so much anxiety as now’, says manager – Economia” (2020)
Bloomberg News, “Bankers Can Only Dream of Deals with Reluctant Tech Tycoon” (2018)
Effective Family Office Podcast, “The Wise Inheritor’s Guide to Freedom from Wealth: Making Family Wealth Work for You” (2018)
MarketCurrents, “Impact Investing” (2017)
International Investment, “Family offices: The Business of Controlling Non-Investment Risk” (2017)
St. Louis Post Dispatch, “St. Louis Art Museum Takes A Look at Japanese Art and War” (2016)
The Economist, Special Report on Global Leaders (2011)
Barron’s:
– “Are Fiduciaries Setting Themselves Up to Be Sued?” (2017)
– “Why You Can’t Always Trust Incentive Trusts” (2017)The Wall Street Journal:
– “Haven’t Updated Your Estate Plan in a While? It’s time.” (2017)
– “The Power of Storytelling” (2012)
“Helping ‘Global’ Families” (2011)Family Wealth Report:
– “Charles Lowenhaupt On Parents, Trustees and Complex Questions” (2017)
– “Charles Lowenhaupt On Privacy and the ‘Panama Papers’” (2016)
– “Charles Lowenhaupt On His ‘Freedom from Wealth’ Concept” (2015)Financial Times:
– “Soros Shift Signals Wider Fears Among Rich” (2011)
– “World’s Rich Families Face US Asset Disclosure” (2011)
– “Rich Seek Shelter in Multi-Family Homes” (2011)
– “A Close-Knit Business You Can Bank on” (2008)New York Times:
– “As His Foundation Has Grown, Gates Has Slowed His Donations” (2014)
– “Advising, and Calming, the Worried Rich” (2008)Campden FB:
– “25 Years of the Institute for Private Investors: The Making of an Institution” (2017)
– “Wealth & Purpose: Freedom from Wealth” (2015)
– “Standards Aim to Create A Long-Term Solution to Wealth Mismanagement” (2009)
Other Interests & Skills
Japanese prints
Philanthropy
Travel
Theater and live music