Shepherd Financial Partners
  • Our Firm
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Careers

    Our Story

    Founded in 1988 by Mark Shepherd, Shepherd Financial Partners was born of a passion serving clients through their most difficult transitions. We understand that life is complex and ever-evolving. We believe your wealth management strategy should be just as dynamic.

    Meet the Team

    A unique team with vast experience across business, investing, wealth management, financial planning, and more, the Shepherd Team is here for you through the ever-changing needs of your financial journey.

    Careers

    We’re always looking for individuals with dynamic industry experience across business, finance, retirement planning, portfolio and wealth management, customer experience, and more. Here are our current open positions – we look forward to hearing from you.

  • Client Experience
    • Financial Planning
    • Investment Management
    • Institutional Services
    • Sustainable Investing
    • Young Professionals Experience

    Financial Planning

    With the right plan in place, you can concentrate on living your life, not worrying about it. Our financial planning team works closely with you to understand your current situation and your ambitions. We’ll plot the roadmap for your individual needs and create the Living Plan together that guides you towards your goals.

    Investment Management

    Your world is dynamic, and so, too, should be your investment strategy. We have developed an in-house research process to align your portfolio with your goals and Living Plan. Your Shepherd investment team is dedicated to managing your savings with a philosophy centered around risk management.

    Institutional Services

    You have worked hard to build your business and now it is time to address your fiduciary commitments. Shepherd Financial Partners is dedicated to creating comprehensive retirement plan solutions for 401k and pension clients and their plan participants, allowing you to implement the right plan without taking your focus off of your business.

    Sustainable Investing

    No one wants to sacrifice performance or price when choosing investments, yet aligning your values to the companies you invest in is important to you. There is a reason that sustainable investing, or Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), is gaining popularity. Through employing a SRI, or Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy, investors at all levels are able to pursue their goals while reflecting their values in their portfolio.

    Young Professionals Experience

    Independently navigating finances can be intimidating, especially if you are a recent college graduate or early in your career. We are here to help. At Shepherd Financial Partners, we believe in the value of starting a Living Plan early to get a head start on achieving the life you want. The earlier you start, the more options and opportunities you will have.

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August 14, 2021

Wealthfare™

  • Financial Planning
  • High Net Worth
  • Wealth Management
  • Wealth Transition

Overview

Wealthfare™ is a financial condition whereby an individual’s financial well-being is dependent upon the wealth generated by previous generations. While many wealthy families have documents in place to transfer wealth to the next generation, they do not focus upon properly preparing their heirs to be responsible recipients and stewards of the family’s wealth


We have observed that the subsidy of a trust fund may produce an effect in which the heir lacks incentive to produce wealth or maintain a sustainable lifestyle. This leads to the depletion of family resources, and a potential divergence in family values. A proper wealth transfer plan will help reduce the prospect of future generations living on Wealthfare™.

Our Experience

We have personally experienced and observed the mismanagement of generational wealth transitions under many different circumstances. We have seen:

  • Family members expecting a monthly check in perpetuity produced from the wealth generated by previous generations with no questions or responsibilities attached.
  • Distribution levels from trusts that are not based upon the performance level of principal. Fees can eat away at a reasonable rate of return and cause principal to be reduced substantially.
  • The one common thread: is the lack of transparency and communication.

Our Process

  1. Identify the family goals. This stage encompasses data gathering on a number of levels. We will collect the traditional inputs needed to put together an effective plan. Our approach also takes into consideration some unique aspects of transitioning family wealth. For example, we identify the individuals who will be the contributors to future wealth, the leaders and stewards of the existing family wealth and those who will be detractors from this goal. Interestingly, the most challenging individuals may be a part of the generation transferring the wealth.
  2. Formalize a Plan. We provide the investment management and strategic planning expertise to formulate a plan for successful generational transition. Our plans include following elements:
    • Preparation of the transferring generation to release information and control of the family assets.
    • Empowerment of the recipients with knowledge and the ability and resources to act upon it.
    • The coordination of written agreements and processes requiring collective agreement of all parties to move to the next phase.
    • Agreement amongst all parties who will take a leadership role, who are the future contributors to family and generational wealth and who would be participants in receiving resources without being contributors to the wealth.
    • Agreement upon the amount of resources that would be withdrawn commensurate to contribution and or lifestyle.
    • Creating a higher awareness as to resources, withdrawals, tax resources & strategies.
  3. Implementation. We then execute on the knowledge transfer process using the written plan as a basis to develop investment strategies that include the intergenerational participants.This is a feature of our tiered approach to empowering people within their knowledge base. There are both advanced adopters and resistant adopters in every project implementation. Including and empowering the resistant participants breaks down their barriers and allows them to see the benefit of the planning process to their own personal well-being. Ideally, they would understand, if not comply with, the need to think about the good of the whole family and not just their own needs. We undertake strategic investment analysis of all family assets in order to seek to maximize and conserve value. Investment strategies are tailored to the growth and withdrawal needs of the family, taking into consideration unique tax issues, possible capital needs and short-term and long-term investment strategies and the short-term and long-term impacts to the withdrawals to the asset base.
  4. Monitoring. We employ a system of accountability applied on an on-going basis as evidenced by:
    • A regular review of investment strategies to be sure they are meeting the needs of the family.
    • A monitoring of and adjustments to changes in family dynamics, economic conditions and family conditions.
    • Changes in public policy or tax treatment of various entities or asset classes.
    • Monitoring of adherence to agreements for all the family members.
    • The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all individuals or will yield positive outcomes. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor before implementing a plan.

Disclosures

Investment advice offered through Shepherd Financial Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Shepherd Financial Partners and LPL Financial are separate entities.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all individuals or will yield positive outcomes. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor before implementing a plan.

Tracking #: 1-592232

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May 22, 2025

Moody’s Downgrade of U.S. Debt

  • Coffee Commentary
  • Financial Planning
  • Market Research
  • Wealth Management
April 09, 2025

Significant Updates in the Trade War and Market Responses

  • Coffee Commentary
  • Financial Planning
  • Market Research
  • Wealth Management
April 09, 2025

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  • Market Research
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April 08, 2025

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  • Market Research
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  • Wealth Management
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  • Client Experience
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Office Location

1004 Main Street
Winchester, MA 01890

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Phone: +1 (781) 756-1804
Fax: +1 (781) 729-4356

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Shepherd Financial Partners Form CRS

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Summary Form ADV Part 2A (Brochure)

Summary Form Part 2A Appendix 1 (Wrap Fee Program Brochure)

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The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Please see Important Disclosure Information at https://www.shepherdfinancialpartners.com/important-disclosure-information/. Financial planning and investment advice offered through Shepherd Financial Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Shepherd Financial Partners and LPL Financial are separate entities. Additional information, including management fees and expenses, is provided on Form ADV Part 2, available upon request or at the SEC’s Investment Advisor Public Disclosure site, https://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/Firm/169093. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The LPL Financial registered representatives associated with this website may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

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