Hess, Richard M.

Richard's practice emphasizes wealth preservation and transfer, family philanthropy and the related fields of succession and exit planning for closely-held businesses and professional practices; estate planning; estate and gift tax planning; estate and trust administration; charitable/philanthropic planning, including charitable trusts, tax exempt organizations and private foundations. He assists business partners, professional practices, individuals, and families with preserving and facilitating the transfer of wealth as well as inter-generational philanthropy. This type of planning frequently involves strategies designed to facilitate asset protection as well as addressing specialized family needs and goals. His extensive experience in assisting individuals, corporations and other entities with transactions of all types enables him to use a broad array of planning vehicles in order to address each individual client situation creatively while emphasizing simplicity for long-term management purposes.

A native of New York metropolitan area, Richard pursued a career in financial services upon completing his legal education at Pace University in White Plains, New York. While a member of a fee-based financial planning firm, he obtained a Series 7 securities license and actively worked in the investment, insurance, and tax planning area. In 1985, Richard moved to Denver and, following his admission to the Colorado Bar, entered private practice. Richard and his family, Alison, Matt and Annie, enjoy many family activities including skiing, bicycling, running, swimming, church, community service and their menagerie of pets. Currently, much of the Hess family's time is spent supporting the Regis Jesuit High School's football, wrestling and lacrosse teams as well as the Denver Lacrosse Club.

An active member of many community organizations, Richard lectures frequently to groups of professionals and the public on topics relating to estate planning, estate and gift taxation, estate administration, business planning, professional practice organization, and asset protection including the National Endowment for Financial Education, the College of Financial Planning, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado and various insurance agencies. Richard is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Crestmoor Community Association (Crestmoor Swim and Tennis Club) and Treasurer of the Graland Country Day School Parent's Association. Richard previously served as president of the Wednesday's Child Foundation and president of Mountain International Exchange. He is a member of the Chamber 100, Leadership Denver Class of 2001, Leadership Arts Class of 2002, the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, the Development Committee of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society, the Finance Committee of Friendship Bridge and the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast.