Overview
Assets Under Management: $2.2 billion
Headquarters: BOSTON, MA
High-Net-Worth Clients: 73
Average Client Assets: $26 million
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals
Fee Structure
Primary Fee Schedule (NICHOLS & PRATT, LLP ADVISERS, LLP AMENDED)
Min | Max | Marginal Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$0 | $1,000,000 | 0.95% |
$1,000,001 | $2,000,000 | 0.85% |
$2,000,001 | $3,000,000 | 0.75% |
$3,000,001 | $5,000,000 | 0.60% |
$5,000,001 | and above | 0.40% |
Illustrative Fee Rates
Total Assets | Annual Fees | Average Fee Rate |
---|---|---|
$1 million | $9,500 | 0.95% |
$5 million | $37,500 | 0.75% |
$10 million | $57,500 | 0.58% |
$50 million | $217,500 | 0.44% |
$100 million | $417,500 | 0.42% |
Clients
Number of High-Net-Worth Clients: 73
Percentage of Firm Assets Belonging to High-Net-Worth Clients: 87.96
Average High-Net-Worth Client Assets: $26 million
Total Client Accounts: 641
Discretionary Accounts: 546
Non-Discretionary Accounts: 95
Regulatory Filings
CRD Number: 107113
Last Filing Date: 2024-03-28 00:00:00
Website: HTTP://WWW.NICHOLS-PRATT.COM
Form ADV Documents
Primary Brochure: NICHOLS & PRATT, LLP ADVISERS, LLP AMENDED (2025-03-28)
View Document Text
Item 1 – Cover Page
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP
50 Congress Street, Suite 832
Boston, MA 02109
617-523-6800
www.nichols-pratt.com
March 28, 2025
This Brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP. If you have any questions about the contents of this
Brochure, please contact the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer, Kimberly H. Latifi, at (617)
523-6800 or at khlatifi@nichols-pratt.com. The information in this Brochure has not been
approved or verified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (hereafter “SEC”) or
by any state securities authority.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is an investment advisor registered with the SEC; such
registration does not imply any level of skill or training.
Additional information about Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is also available on the SEC
website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
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Item 2 – Material Changes
Annual updates to this Brochure must report specific material changes to the Brochure, if
any, since the last annual update, as required by the SEC Rules.
Pursuant to SEC Rules, we will provide notification of any material changes to this and
subsequent Brochures within 120 days of the close of our fiscal year, which is December
31.
Material changes Since the Last Update
This Brochure dated March 28, 2025 is an amendment to the last update to the Brochure
dated March 31, 2024.
There have been no material changes since our last annual amendment.
Our Brochure may be requested by contacting Frances DiMare at (617) 523-6800 or at
fmdimare@nichols-pratt.com.
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Item 3 -Table of Contents
Item 1 – Cover Page ............................................................................................................................................... i
Item 2 – Material Changes ................................................................................................................................. ii
Item 3 – Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ iii
Item 4 – Advisory Business ............................................................................................................................... 1
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation .................................................................................................................... 1
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management ................................................... 3
Item 7 – Types of Clients .................................................................................................................................... 4
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss ........................................... 4
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information .................................................................................................................. 5
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations ............................................................ 5
Item 11 – Code of Ethics ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices ......................................................................................................................... 7
Item 13 – Review of Accounts .......................................................................................................................... 8
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation .............................................................................. 8
Item 15 – Custody ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Item 16 – Investment Discretion .................................................................................................................... 9
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities ............................................................................................................... 10
Item 18 – Financial Information ................................................................................................................... 11
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Item 4 – Advisory Business
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP (sometimes referred to herein as the “Firm”) was founded in
1994. It was an outgrowth of Nichols & Pratt, LLP, a private trustee office founded in 1977.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP primarily advises trustees of private trusts, IRA owners and
individuals. Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is owned by its six partners: Thomas E. Bator,
John K. Herbert III, Kimberly H. Latifi, Craig L. Melillo, Richard K. Nichols, and Patricia D.
Popov, none of whom individually own 25% or more of the Firm.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP provides investment advisory services and manages the
assets of clients by buying or recommending the purchase of stocks from an approved list
restricted to fewer than 75 publicly traded companies, representing largely what we
believe to be high-quality, seasoned companies with long stable histories and suitability for
fiduciary accounts; as well as a few select mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and debt
securities which are typically either U.S. Government Obligations, U.S. Government
Agencies, or municipal and corporate debt securities generally rated AA or higher at the
time of investment by Moody’s Ratings or S&P Global Ratings. Many of our clients have the
primary aim of capital preservation with moderate income realization, and the secondary
aim of superior growth of capital and income. As of December 31, 2024, Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP managed $2,072,114,588 on a discretionary basis and $249,774,777 on a
non-discretionary basis for our clients.
Advisory services are tailored to the individual needs of our clients. In consultation with
each client, the desired allocation between stocks and bonds for the client’s account is
determined, balancing the goals of current income with capital preservation and
appreciation, and gauging the tolerance of the account to sustain volatility. Clients may
impose restrictions on investments in certain securities or types of securities.
Item 5 – Fees and Compensation
The specific manner in which fees are charged by Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is
established in a client’s written agreement with us where there is a written contract. In the
one instance where there is no written contract (which is the case between the trustees of
Nichols & Pratt, LLP and Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP), a verbal agreement on fees to be
charged exists. We will generally bill our fees in arrears on a semi-annual basis. Clients
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normally authorize us to directly debit fees from their accounts. Accounts initiated or
terminated during a calendar quarter are charged a prorated fee. Upon termination of an
account, any earned unpaid fees will be due and payable. In cases where client assets are
invested in mutual fund shares or exchange traded fund shares, and where no other fee
adjustment has been made, the client pays two management fees, one directly to Nichols &
Pratt Advisers, LLP and one indirectly to the adviser of the mutual fund and/or the
exchange traded fund with respect to the account’s assets invested in the fund along with
any other fees and expenses incurred by the fund. Such fees and expenses are exclusive of
and in addition to any fees paid to Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP, and we do not receive or
bear any portion of those fees and costs.
The advisory fees we charge cover customary custodian fees for asset safekeeping and
recordkeeping – i.e., such that clients are not charged separately for such fees (except in
special circumstances negotiated by a particular client). We calculate our advisory fee on
the total fair market value of the account as follows:
Market Value
First $1,000,000
Next $1,000,000
Next $1,000,000
Next $2,000,000
Above $5,000,000
Annual Rates
$9.50 per $1,000
$8.50 per $1,000
$7.50 per $1,000
$6.00 per $1,000
$4.00 per $1,000
All fees are subject to negotiation. In negotiating the fee, we consider the value of the
assets under management as well as the scope of services required by the client.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP may impose fees higher or lower than those set forth above
for any account based on the particular circumstances, including the type of investment
product provided, the complexity and level of services required, mechanics of operation,
the types and levels of investment restrictions or policies imposed on the account, whether
there is a pre-existing relationship with the client, or other circumstances. We have varied
our normal fee schedule over time and existing accounts may bear management fees
computed in a manner different from those set forth above.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP’s fees are charged in addition to brokerage commissions,
transaction fees, tax information or tax preparation fees, and other related costs and
expenses that are incurred by the client. Clients may incur certain transactional charges
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imposed by custodians, brokers, third party investment managers and other third parties
such as fees charged by outside managers, deferred sales charges, odd-lot differentials,
transfer taxes, wire transfer and electronic fund fees, and other fees and taxes on securities
transactions. Mutual funds and exchange traded funds in which client assets may be
invested also charge internal management fees, and other fees and expenses, which are
disclosed in a fund’s prospectus and shareholder reports, and will generally be incurred by
clients in addition to fees imposed by Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP. The tax preparation
fee is paid to Nichols & Pratt, LLP. As stated in Item 10, the partners of Nichols & Pratt, LLP
are also partners of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP. The partners of Nichols & Pratt, LLP in
their capacity as trustees are clients of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP. The charges, fees and
commissions described in this paragraph are exclusive of and in addition to the fee charged
by Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP, and, other than the tax preparation fee which is paid to
Nichols & Pratt, LLP, we do not bear or receive any portion of these charges, fees and
commissions.
Item 12 further describes the factors that Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP considers in
selecting or recommending broker-dealers for client transactions.
The Firm uses GlobeTax to provide foreign tax reclamation services which allows our
clients to reclaim certain foreign taxes that were withheld from dividends on foreign
securities in excess of the clients’ statutory tax obligation. GlobeTax collects their fee for
this service from the reclaimed funds when those funds are received from foreign tax
authorities. Participation in the program is optional for our clients. Complete information
about GlobeTax, their services and fee structure is provided to clients before their
enrollment, and is also available upon request.
The Firm uses Financial Recovery Technologies (“FRT”) to provide class action filing and
collection services on behalf of our clients. This service provides our clients with a broad
coverage of class actions. FRT’s fee is a percentage of the class action proceeds and is
collected when benefits are received.
Item 6 – Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP does not charge performance-based fees (fees based on a
share of capital gains on or capital appreciation of the assets of a client) and therefore there
are no side-by-side management issues.
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Item 7 – Types of Clients
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP provides investment advisory services principally to trustees
of revocable and irrevocable trusts, including the partners of Nichols & Pratt, LLP, a firm
made up of trustees, who are also the partners or related persons of Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP. We also provide investment advice to individuals, estates and foundations
as well as a major law firm and a trust company.
Although we do not require a minimum dollar value of assets to open or maintain an
account, Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP will not accept accounts from prospective clients
whose investment orientation differs substantially from our fundamental, relatively low-
turnover, long-term investment philosophy.
Item 8 – Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
In advising or managing a client’s account, the appropriate balance between the goals of
current income and long-term capital preservation and appreciation is determined in
consultation with the client, taking into account the tolerance of the account to sustain
volatility. This normally leads to the determination of an allocation between stocks and
bonds for the particular account. Once this is determined, we select securities from an
approved list restricted to fewer than 75 publicly traded companies, representing largely
what we believe to be high-quality, seasoned companies with long, stable histories and
suitability for fiduciary accounts, as well as a few select mutual funds, exchange-traded
funds and debt securities that are typically either U.S. Government Obligations, U.S.
Government Agencies, or municipal and corporate debt securities generally rated AA or
higher at the time of investment by Moody’s Ratings or S&P Global Ratings to meet those
goals. In cases where Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is not given discretion, Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP makes recommendations to clients and awaits their approval before
executing trades.
Investing in any securities, whether equity, bond, exchange-traded fund or mutual fund,
involves risk of loss of principal that clients should be prepared to bear.
The Firm’s bond investments are principally focused on non-callable investment grade
bonds, the vast majority of which are rated AA or higher at the time of investment by
Moody’s Ratings or S&P Global Ratings, and are purchased with the intention of holding
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them to maturity. We purchase bonds for income and do not trade them for capital
gains. Further, the bond maturity dates are typically laddered in order to reduce the
impact of changing interest rates on the client’s income in any single year. The Firm’s
bond investments are generally subject to interest rate risk, because the interest rate paid
by the bond is fixed until its maturity while rates obtainable in the market may rise. On
occasion, United States Treasury Inflation Protected securities (“TIPS”) may be used in
some portfolios to reduce that interest rate risk for a portion of the bond investments. In
addition, if the bond must be sold before maturity, the price obtained will depend on
current interest rates which if higher than those in effect at the time the bond was
purchased will generally result in a lower value of the bond. Although we attempt to
minimize credit risk by focusing on higher quality, investment grade bonds, these
investments are subject to the risk of default or the risk that the issuer or guarantor is
unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligation.
The taxable bonds in which the Firm invests are principally U.S. Treasury securities, backed
directly by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. The tax-exempt bonds
in which the Firm invests are normally general obligation bonds and are subject to the risk
of default or the risk that the issuer or guarantor is unable or unwilling to meet its financial
obligation.
Item 9 – Disciplinary Information
Registered investment advisers are required to disclose all material facts regarding any
legal or disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP or the integrity of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP’s management. We are not
aware of any legal or disciplinary events that would be material to your evaluation of
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP or the integrity of our management.
Item 10 – Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
The partners of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP are also the partners of Nichols & Pratt, LLP,
a separate partnership that provides trustee and executor services. The partners of Nichols
& Pratt, LLP are clients of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP. We do not believe there is a
conflict of interest between Nichols & Pratt, LLP and Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP.
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Two partners of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP, Thomas E. Bator and Patricia D. Popov,
practice law as a separate law partnership called Pratt, Bator & Popov, LLP. Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP, where appropriate, refers clients to Pratt, Bator & Popov, LLP for certain
types of legal matters, particularly for estate planning and estate settlement. Nichols &
Pratt Advisers, LLP does not participate in any fees earned by Pratt, Bator & Popov, LLP or
receive any other remuneration for referring clients, although Mr. Bator and Ms. Popov
separately share in the revenues of the law firm for their legal services. We do not believe
that any conflict of interest exists between the law practice and the investment advisory
services provided to clients.
Item 11 – Code of Ethics
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP has adopted a Code of Ethics for all supervised persons of the
Firm describing its standard of business conduct and fiduciary duties to our clients. The
Code of Ethics includes provisions relating to the confidentiality of client information, a
prohibition on insider trading, restrictions on the acceptance of significant gifts and
business entertainment items, and personal securities trading reporting procedures and
related restrictions, among other things. At least annually, all supervised persons at Nichols
& Pratt Advisers, LLP must acknowledge in writing and agree to comply with the terms of
the Code of Ethics.
Subject to complying with the Code of Ethics and applicable laws, partners and employees
of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP and its affiliates may trade for their own accounts in
securities that are recommended for purchase or sale for the clients of Nichols & Pratt
Advisers, LLP. The Code of Ethics, however, prohibits the partners and employees of the
Firm from effecting certain transactions, allows them to effect certain exempt transactions
and requires them to preclear certain other security transactions (including any
investments in initial public offerings or private placements) with our Code of Ethics
Officer. In order to monitor compliance with the Code of Ethics, partners and employees
are required to report to our Chief Compliance Officer initial and annual holdings and
quarterly transactions in reportable securities as defined in the Code of Ethics and our
Chief Compliance Officer or her designee is responsible for reviewing such reports.
Our Code of Ethics also sets forth general standards of conduct and practices to be followed
by all personnel to minimize conflicts of interest, including those restricting gifts to or from
brokers, clients and others, restricting service on the boards of other publicly-traded
companies, and policies designed to prevent “front running” and related personal trading
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conflicts. In addition, our Code of Ethics includes provisions designed to prevent and
enforce our strict policy against the misuse of material non-public information by all
partners and employees.
Clients or prospective clients of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP may request a copy of our
Code of Ethics by contacting Frances DiMare at (617) 523-6800 or at fmdimare@nichols-
pratt.com.
Item 12 – Brokerage Practices
In selecting brokers for client transactions, Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP seeks best
execution and in so doing considers a number of factors, including, without limitation: the
overall direct net economic result to the client (including commissions, which may not be
the lowest available), the financial strength and stability of the broker, the efficiency with
which transactions are effected, the ability to stand ready to execute possibly difficult
transactions and the value of any brokerage research products, services and advice that
may be provided by a particular broker from which our clients may derive value.
The additional products and services that we may obtain from the brokers we select
include customary securities reports and analysis, sophisticated computerized reports and
analysis covering a broad range of information used in developing investment strategies,
such as economic factors and trends, access to analysts, the individual broker’s investment
knowledge and industry seminars. Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP benefits from using client
brokerage commissions to obtain these additional products and services. In obtaining
these additional products and services, our clients may pay higher brokerage commissions
than are otherwise obtainable. Any benefit that we derive from these products and
services is shared among all of our clients. We will make a good faith determination that
the amount of commission paid is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by the brokers used.
All clients have the option of directing trades to the broker of their choice. Absent a
direction by a client, we select the broker. We inform clients that in directing trades to a
broker of their choice they may pay a higher brokerage commission than might be paid if
we had been granted discretion to select the broker and may not receive best execution.
We also advise clients that we may be unable to block or aggregate their trades with those
of our other clients, which may result in higher execution costs than those of the blocked
trades.
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In general, our traders process trade orders in the order they are received (i.e. first-in, first-
out) from our portfolio managers, but we reserve the right to periodically aggregate or
“block” trade orders. When we aggregate trades for the purpose of buying or selling a
particular security in several accounts, all applicable client accounts will participate at the
average share price for the block with brokerage commissions and transaction costs shared
pro rata based on participation. Where the full amount of the aggregated order is not
executed, the partial amount that was executed will be allocated proportionately based on
the size of each client’s fraction of the unfilled order, subject to rounding to whole share
amounts. Where a large block is being purchased or sold over the course of several days
for a small number of participating client accounts, our portfolio managers may direct the
execution of small orders in the same security after the block trade has been initiated
which may result in a different price. Our Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for
oversight and administration of this policy in consultation with our traders.
Item 13 – Review of Accounts
A partner of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP, either alone or jointly with another partner,
formally reviews each account semi-annually or more often for investment merit,
creditworthiness, suitability and diversification of investments. Informal reviews may also
be performed more frequently as required.
Factors that can trigger a special additional review include: (1) a deterioration in the
creditworthiness of a security, (2) a significant change in a company’s business outlook or
the market valuation for that company, (3) bond maturities or call redemptions, (4) new or
accumulated cash available for investment or (5) the liquidation of securities to meet client
financial needs.
Item 14 – Client Referrals and Other Compensation
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP does not directly or indirectly compensate anyone for client
referrals.
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Item 15 – Custody
Clients may authorize Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP to direct the disposition of the clients’
funds or securities. As such, Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP is deemed to have custody as
such term is defined in the Investment Advisers Act. Neither Nichols & Pratt, LLP nor
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP holds client funds or securities. SEI Private Trust Company
acts as qualified custodian of a majority of such funds and securities.
The qualified custodian provides clients with quarterly account statements that list
transaction information, all securities held in the account and for each security, its cost,
market value and estimated annual income. For those clients who have requested it,
internet access to their account information, including asset and transaction data, has been
provided by our qualified custodian.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP urges clients to carefully review such statements and
compare such official custodial records to the account statements that we may provide to
them. Our statements may vary from custodial statements based on accounting
procedures, reporting dates, or valuation methodologies of certain securities.
Item 16 – Investment Discretion
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP often receives from the client at the outset of an advisory
relationship discretionary authority to select the identity and amount of securities or other
assets to be bought or sold for the account. This authority is usually granted in the
investment advisory contract or, in some cases, in a formal written delegation of
investment discretion. It is the client’s decision whether or not to grant us investment
discretion. In all cases, however, such discretion is to be exercised in a manner consistent
with the stated investment objectives for the particular client account, together with any
policies, limitations and restrictions specified by the client for the account. When clients
limit our discretion, it is usually in the form of a request to avoid purchasing or selling
certain specific securities or types of securities. When so instructed, we institute
procedures to comply with these directions.
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP selects securities and determines amounts to be purchased or
sold in accordance with any investment policies, limitations or restrictions imposed on us
by the advisory client. Our practice is normally to recommend equity securities from an
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approved list restricted to fewer than 75 publicly traded companies, representing largely
what we believe to be high-quality, seasoned companies with long, stable histories and
suitability for fiduciary accounts; as well as a few select mutual funds, exchange-traded
funds and debt securities which are typically either U.S. Government Obligations, U.S.
Government Agencies, or municipal and corporate debt securities generally rated AA or
higher at the time of investment by Moody’s Ratings or S&P Global Ratings.
Item 17 – Voting Client Securities
Usually, the purchase of a share of stock or other equity security brings with it the right to
vote on various corporate matters, such as electing directors, authorizing new corporate
actions and approving major corporate transactions. Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP votes
proxies for client securities unless otherwise instructed by the client. In cases where
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP votes proxies on behalf of a client, the guiding principle by
which we vote on all matters submitted to security holders is the maximization of the
ultimate economic value of our clients’ holdings. We do not permit voting decisions to be
influenced in any manner that is contrary to, or dilutive of, the guiding principle set forth
above.
It is the general policy of Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP to vote on all matters presented to
security holders in any proxy, and our policies and procedures have been designed with
that in mind. However, we reserve the right to abstain on any particular vote or otherwise
withhold a vote on any matter if, in our judgment, the costs associated with voting such
proxy outweigh the benefits to clients, or if, in our judgment, the circumstances make such
an abstention or withholding otherwise advisable and in the best interests of our clients.
When conflicts are identified, we abstain from voting the proxy in question.
For clients who have not retained authority to vote the securities held in their account,
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP does not generally accept any subsequent direction on
matters presented to shareholders for a vote, regardless of whether such subsequent
directions are from the client itself or a third party. We view the delegation of
discretionary voting authority as an “all-or-nothing” choice for our clients.
Clients can obtain information on how we voted the securities held in their accounts by
contacting their account representative at Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP or Frances DiMare
at (617) 523-6800 or at fmdimare@nichols-pratt.com. Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP
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clients may also obtain a copy of complete Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures upon
request.
Item 18 – Financial Information
Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP has adequate working capital and is not aware of any
financial commitment or condition that is reasonably likely to impair our ability to meet
contractual commitments to clients. Nichols & Pratt Advisers, LLP has never been the
subject of a bankruptcy proceeding.
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