Family office services: PwC

The importance of a family office

Many families consider a family office as a way to meet their financial needs, to provide greater control over their wealth and to handle their affairs. Since every family has its own unique set of requirements, there are as many types of family offices as there are families. Some provide basic administrative support while others oversee the management of investments and coordinate all of the family's financial and lifestyle needs.

Once the family office is established, it is likely to serve multiple generations, across which there may be a range of different needs that require various wealth management strategies. A well-run family office successfully integrates these strategies to ensure that they support the goals of the family as a whole.

Considerations for creating a family office

Because of the growing complexity of managing, protecting and growing family wealth, family offices have evolved to address a range of challenges and needs:

Protecting family wealth — by ensuring the right structures are in place to comply with relevant legislation and regulation requirements

Managing investment risk — by diversifying family wealth

Improving family cohesion and generational transition — by enabling debate and active communication within the family around goals, strategy and key decisions.

Clarifying governance over how the family stewards its wealth — by establishing proper processes and oversight to manage the assets

Managing the personal affairs of family members — by providing support around financial and lifestyle requirements

Define your family office vision

A family office helps manage the financial needs of a family in order to maximize investments, reduce complexity and handle the family’s personal affairs.

Regardless of the size, type or complexity of your organization, our team can help you determine the structure that best serves your needs. Setting up a family office starts with defining your vision for the office and purpose for the wealth. We can help you build the office components so they work together seamlessly to support your family’s legacy.

Setting up the family office to focus on a future legacy

At PwC, we want the family office to support the strategy and legacy of your family. A family-owned business often strives to find a good balance between professional management, responsible ownership and a healthy family dynamic. A family office can take the weight off family members by delivering professional services and management of many business and personal needs.

Creating a successful family office requires strategic planning and design. With decades of experience, we can prepare you for each step of the way – from assessment and visioning to work plans and implementation. Together, we can help you design a strategy to manage the complexity that comes with a family-owned business.