Harper Bernays
Harper Bernays is a Sydney-based Australian boutique investment management firm founded in 1988 that provides discretionary portfolio management, a financial concierge service, and a bespoke client portal to high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Harper Bernays does
Harper Bernays is a Sydney-based Australian boutique investment management firm founded in 1988 and wholly owned by its directors and staff. It operates under Australian Financial Services Licence #230635 (ABN 32 003 148 794) and serves high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, consistent with a boutique wealth manager operating on a relationship-driven, discretionary basis.
The firm's core offering is discretionary portfolio management, complemented by a financial concierge service that handles non-investment administrative work for clients and a bespoke client portal that supports day-to-day client interaction. It operates two named subsidiaries: HB Biotechnology Limited, which provides biotechnology-focused investment exposure, and the Harper Bernays Charitable Trust (HBCT), a philanthropic vehicle for structured giving. The firm's investment philosophy is articulated in founder Peter Harper's 'The Little Green Book.'
Revenue is generated principally through asset-based management fees on discretionary portfolios, with ancillary revenue possible from the financial concierge offering; no fee schedule, performance fee structure, AUM, or revenue figure is publicly disclosed. The firm has no external funding — it is privately held and bootstrapped — and its distribution model is direct-to-client with no disclosed intermediary or asset-gathering partnerships.
Harper Bernays firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Harper Bernays
- Legal name
- Harper Bernays Limited
- Website
- https://harperbernays.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Harper Bernays is a Sydney-based Australian boutique investment management firm founded in 1988 that provides discretionary portfolio management, a financial concierge service, and a bespoke client portal to high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Harper Bernays industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wealth and Investment Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management (FSABADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business Owner & Executive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAO), Advisory Portfolio Management (Non-Discretionary) (FSAAABAD)
Keywords
Where Harper Bernays is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Harper Bernays business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Management Fees: Asset under management (AUM) based fees for investment management services provided to high net worth individuals, families, and not-for-profit organisations through individually tailored portfolios.
- Financial Concierge Services: Fees for comprehensive financial concierge services including entity structuring, financial modelling, asset disposals, estate planning, and dispute resolution.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Harper Bernays product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Harper Bernays provides discretionary and advisory investment management across multiple asset classes for high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations. The firm complements portfolio management with family office services covering wealth structuring, reporting, and financial concierge support, and offers HB Biotechnology as a specialist managed-account product focused on the Australian biotechnology sector.
Product overview
Harper Bernays is an Australian investment management firm founded in 1988, offering a unified service combining Investment Management and Family Office solutions. The core offering includes individually managed accounts with institutional-grade investment capability, supplemented by a Financial Concierge Service addressing broader client needs. The product portfolio encompasses: (1) Investment Management and Family Office Solutions as the primary service; (2) Financial Concierge Service for holistic financial and personal affairs support; (3) Harper Bernays Charitable Trust (HBCT) for philanthropy; (4) HB Biotechnology for specialist biotech exposure; (5) Client Portal for secure portfolio reporting; and (6) The Little Green Book philosophy framework. All services are delivered through individually tailored portfolios held in third-party custody.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HB Biotechnology: A strategy designed to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns via exposure to global small to mid-cap biotechnology and medical technology companies, led by Dr Charles Williams.
Products and services
- Investment Management and Family Office Solutions Multi-asset discretionary and advisory investment management combined with integrated family office services (wealth structuring, reporting, and administration) for high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations.
- Financial Concierge Service A concierge-style financial service providing personalised administrative, advisory, and lifestyle financial support to high net worth clients of the firm, delivered alongside investment management and family office solutions.
- HB Biotechnology Managed Accounts Specialist managed accounts providing Australian biotechnology sector investment exposure, offered to clients of Harper Bernays seeking dedicated biotech mandates alongside or within their broader portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- HB International Equities: +3.4% post-fees for June 2026 quarter, +15.2% for full year ending June 2026 in AUD terms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Harper Bernays
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Harper Bernays technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Harper Bernays partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Harper Bernays Charitable Trust (HBCT)coreEstablished in 2006, the HBCT provides an end-to-end charitable giving solution for Harper Bernays clients. The trust enables clients to support their chosen charitable organisations in perpetuity. Over 100 charitable organisations have been supported through this vehicle, spanning arts, medical research, environment, and poverty relief. Partners include organisations such as Act for Kids, Australian Red Cross, Garvan Institute, and UNICEF Australia.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Harper Bernays competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coutts & Co: Historic UK private bank serving UHNW clients with bespoke investment management and family office services. Comparable in offering integrated concierge, investment, and philanthropy solutions at the HNW level.
- ANZ Private / ANZ Trustees: ANZ's private banking arm provides HNW investment management, superannuation, and trustee services comparable to Harper Bernays' core and concierge offerings. Hugh Hodges was previously CIO of ANZ Private and ANZ Trustees.
- Perpetual Private: Division of Perpetual Limited providing investment management and wealth advice to HNW individuals, families, and not-for-profits in Australia—a closely comparable target market and service mix.
- Macquarie Private Portfolio Management: Macquarie's private portfolio management division serves HNW individuals with individually managed portfolios. Directly comparable client segment and product offering; Harper Bernays has hired several alumni including Senior PM Gareth Hulbert.
- Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management: Global private wealth franchise offering bespoke investment management and family office solutions to UHNW clients. Harper Bernays Director Simon Schudmak was previously an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs Hong Kong.
Direct peers
- Killik & Co: UK-based boutique wealth manager offering personalised investment management and financial planning for HNW clients. Closely mirrors Harper Bernays' boutique, relationship-led, individually managed accounts model.
- Ord Minnett: Australian private wealth manager with discretionary portfolio management, advice, and brokerage for HNW clients. Comparable boutique-like culture; Harper Bernays' Director Fiona Burton previously served as Branch Manager NSW, ACT, Hong Kong at Ord Minnett.
- Shaw and Partners: Australian wealth advisory and investment firm focused on HNW private clients with managed portfolios and personal adviser service. Harper Bernays Director Fiona Burton was previously State Manager NSW at Shaw & Partners.
- Smallco Investment Manager: Australian boutique investment manager specialising in small-cap equities for institutional and HNW clients. Harper Bernays analyst Padraig Bolger previously worked at Smallco, reflecting personnel and business model overlap in the Australian boutique segment.
- Clime Investment Management: Australian boutique investment manager offering individually managed portfolios and direct equity strategies for HNW investors. Stephen Wood, Harper Bernays' CIO, previously worked at Clime, illustrating direct personnel and business model overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Harper Bernays social profiles
Digital presenceHarper Bernays compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Harper Bernays financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Harper Bernays leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Harper Bernays subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Harper Bernays funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Harper Bernays M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Harper Bernays
What does Harper Bernays do?
Harper Bernays provides discretionary and advisory investment management across multiple asset classes for high net worth individuals, families, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations. The firm complements portfolio management with family office services covering wealth structuring, reporting, and financial concierge support, and offers HB Biotechnology as a specialist managed-account product focused on the Australian biotechnology sector.
Is Harper Bernays a public or private company?
Harper Bernays is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Harper Bernays founded?
Harper Bernays was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Harper Bernays based?
Harper Bernays is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Harper Bernays make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are financial Concierge Services.
Who are Harper Bernays's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coutts & Co, ANZ Private / ANZ Trustees, Perpetual Private, Macquarie Private Portfolio Management and Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management. Direct peers are Killik & Co, Ord Minnett, Shaw and Partners, Smallco Investment Manager and Clime Investment Management.
Does Harper Bernays have an API?
No public API is recorded for Harper Bernays.
What industry is Harper Bernays in?
Harper Bernays's product category is Wealth and Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABADAD, Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management, with a secondary code of FSAEAAAO, Business Owner & Executive Financial Planning. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.