Roger Cushwa worked as a mechanic at a Myrtle Beach, S.C., shop that specialized in repairing Mercedes Benz and BMW automobiles before becoming an estate manager for the wealthy.
Since pursuing estate management classes at the Starkey International Institute for Household Management in Denver four years ago, Cushwa has worked for three families.
"I felt it was my true calling,” said Cushwa.
An estate manager is like a butler, with the added responsibilities of managing multiple properties and being responsible for a budget that can range from $500,000 to millions of dollars a year, depending on the estate.
Their employers—they’re often called “principals”—are wealthy individuals worth a minimum of $750 million—a demographic that is growing in population around the world, according to those in the industry.
“What I offer principals that they cannot buy is time,” said Cushwa, who is president of the Domestic Estate Management Association (DEMA) in the Tri-State New York area. “If you don’t have to find someone to fix the leaky faucet, change light bulbs or take care of travel arrangements, it creates time.”
And principals pay top dollar to employ an estate manager with the quality of discretion—for example, staff who won’t use the pool when the family goes on vacation.
“It probably happens more often than principals are aware of, but it’s the estate manager’s responsible to stop it or ,better yet, prevent it,” Cushwa told Private Wealth.
An estate manager’s salary typically ranges from $85,000 to $150,000, but it can be higher, according to DEMA, which was founded seven years ago to assist with education.
“In some cases, depending on the job description and the number of properties that an individual is managing, we have seen salaries reach $200,000,” said Matthew Haack, global president and co-founder of DEMA.
Bryan Peele’s asking price is on the higher end of the salary scale that estate managers are paid because he manages multiple properties for his employer in California, Colorado, New York and Mexico.
“I define the protocols, standards and operating procedures for each of my client’s homes so that they run like hotels,” Peele said.
He also trains staff when necessary and oversees maintenance. “Many enter the profession through working as a hotel concierge or from some other private service capacity,” said Peele, who launched the Estate Managers Coalition, a non-profit networking organization. “It helps to be a perfectionist, have an innate desire to please, a sunny disposition and [the ability to] not take comments too personally.”
Certifications in project management, construction, real estate and horticulture can also increase the marketability of a candidate.
“The estate manager’s duties are unique to each client’s requirements,” said Mia Schipani, president of The Calendar Group, a boutique domestic and corporate staffing agency based in Westport, Conn. “They oversee the staffing, facilities, vendor management, operations and event planning,”
What catches Schipani’s eye in a resume is hands-on experience working in fine homes, for high-profile clients.
“Becoming an estate manager does not require a college degree, but rather a service heart and a hospitality mindset,” Schipani said.
Overall, education is secondary to a personality fit.
“A principal will pay for training to educate their estate manager as long as their personality fits,” said Haack. “Personality and getting along with the principal is number one.”
Gaining work experience as a personal assistant, executive personal assistant, house manager or property manager, or working in a family office, are all stepping stones towards becoming an estate manager.
“Oftentimes, principals will promote from within the staff they already employ because of the familiarity and trust that has been established,” said Haack.
DEMA provides classes for estate managers through partnerships with academies, schools and educators.
“The courses include such things as protocol and etiquette, how to dine with a dignitary, proper human resources solutions when managing a staff, communication and management training,” said Haack.
