How to Start a Family Office

Starting a family office is a significant undertaking that involves careful planning, organization, and implementation. A family office is a private advisory firm that serves one or more high-net-worth families and provides a range of services, including investment management, financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, and philanthropy. The main purpose of a family office is to preserve and grow family wealth over multiple generations.

This 7-part series is a guide on how to start a family office, where we discuss each part in detail every week.

Part 1: Define your purpose

Part 2: Decide between an SFO and MFO

Part 3: Set up systems and technology

Part 4: Build your team

Part 5: Develop investment policies & procedures

Part 6: Create a governance structure

Part 7: Establish relationships with service providers

Part 1: Define your purpose

It’s always important to start worth “Why?” The purpose of a family office could be anything from preserving and growing family wealth to supporting charitable causes. It's essential to have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the family office to develop the right structure, staffing, and investment strategy.

Part 2: Decide between an SFO and MFO

Choose between a Single-Family Office (SFO) or Multi-Family Office (MFO) depending on the size and complexity of your family's assets and needs. An SFO offers control, and an MFO provides shared resources and economies of scale. Consider the advantages and disadvantages and be open-minded. Many family offices are collaborating with other family offices or specialist advisers to help lighten the internal workload.

Part 3: Set up systems and technology

For your family office to be efficient and to provide decision-makers with the information and reports they need when they need it, you need to set up the right systems and technology. Consider what systems you are going to use for data aggregation, investment tracking and reporting, accounting, and team collaboration, as well as cybersecurity. Avoid being a technology laggard by having the right technology infrastructure to ensure your family office's long-term success.

how to start your family office

Part 4: Build your team

Like all aspects of business, having the right talent on your team will determine your long-term success. Depending on the size and complexity of your family office, you may need a CEO or managing director, investment manager and/or analysts, accountants, and administrative support. Staffing needs will be a factor in the services the family office plans to offer, the size and complexity of the family's assets, and the budget.

Part 5: Develop investment policies & procedures

Your family office will need to set parameters for how the family’s assets are managed. It should have investment policies and procedures that outline how investments are selected, monitored, and managed. Formally documented investment policies and procedures will lead to better outcomes and reduce the risk of internal conflict over negative outcomes.

Part 6: Create a governance structure

You should establish a governance structure that outlines decision-making processes and define the roles and responsibilities of family members and team members. The governance structure should reflect the practical realities of how decisions are made within the family to ensure it is workable and embraced. You should consider also formalising communications with a family council that serves as a forum for family members to discuss family objectives and investment matters.

Part 7: Establish relationships with service providers

You will need to establish relationships with service providers, such as custodians, lawyers, accountants, and investment managers, to support your family office's operations. Choosing the right service providers and having a formal selection process and will ensure that the external team is aligned with the internal team on delivering on your family's values and objectives.