What is a Family Office? Complete Guide for 2026
A family office is a private wealth management firm that serves ultra-high-net-worth families. Think of it as a dedicated team that handles everything from investments to tax planning to estate management.
Unlike traditional wealth advisors who juggle hundreds of clients, a family office focuses exclusively on one family's financial needs. This personalized approach helps preserve and grow wealth across generations.
What Does a Family Office Do?
Family offices wear many hats. They manage investments, handle tax strategies, coordinate estate planning, and often oversee day-to-day financial operations.
Core services include:
- Investment management and portfolio oversight
- Tax planning and compliance
- Estate and succession planning
- Risk management and insurance
- Philanthropic advisory
- Family governance and education
- Real estate management
- Legal coordination
Some family offices go further. They might manage household staff, coordinate travel, handle art collections, or even run family businesses.
Types of Family Offices
There are two main types: single-family offices (SFOs) and multi-family offices (MFOs).
Single-Family Office (SFO)
An SFO serves one family exclusively. It's the most personalized option but also the most expensive.
You'll typically need $100 million or more in assets to justify the cost. Running an SFO can cost $1-3 million annually for staff, technology, and operations.
The upside? Complete control, total privacy, and services tailored exactly to your family's needs.
Multi-Family Office (MFO)
An MFO serves multiple families, sharing costs and resources. It's more affordable while still providing sophisticated services.
MFOs work well for families with $10-100 million in assets. You get access to institutional-quality services without the full overhead of a dedicated office.
The tradeoff is less customization and shared attention from advisors.
Why Do Families Create Family Offices?
Wealthy families create family offices for several reasons.
Complexity management. When you have diverse investments, multiple properties, business interests, and philanthropic goals, coordinating everything becomes a full-time job.
Privacy and control. Family offices keep financial matters confidential. There's no public reporting, and families maintain complete control over their affairs.
Generational wealth transfer. A family office creates structure for passing wealth to the next generation. It can educate heirs, establish governance, and ensure continuity.
Cost efficiency at scale. While expensive, a family office can be more cost-effective than paying fees to multiple outside advisors once assets reach a certain level.
How Family Offices Manage Documents
Document management is critical for family offices. They handle sensitive financial records, legal agreements, investment documents, and family governance materials.
Many family offices use secure data rooms to organize and share confidential documents. A data room provides:
- Centralized document storage
- Granular access controls
- Activity tracking and audit trails
- Secure sharing with advisors and family members
Family Office vs. Wealth Manager
What's the difference between a family office and a traditional wealth manager?
Scope. Wealth managers focus primarily on investments. Family offices handle the full spectrum of financial life—investments, taxes, estates, philanthropy, and more.
Dedication. Wealth managers serve many clients. A single-family office serves one family exclusively.
Integration. Family offices coordinate across all advisors and service providers. They act as a central hub for the family's entire financial ecosystem.
Customization. Everything in a family office is built around the specific family's needs, values, and goals.
What Assets Do You Need for a Family Office?
The threshold varies by type.
For a single-family office, most experts suggest a minimum of $100-250 million in investable assets. Below that, the costs often don't make sense.
For a multi-family office, you can typically join with $10-25 million in assets. Some MFOs accept families with as little as $5 million.
These aren't hard rules. Some families with lower assets create family offices for non-financial reasons—like coordinating a family business or managing complex governance needs.
Key Roles in a Family Office
A typical family office includes several key positions:
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) - Oversees investment strategy and portfolio management.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Manages accounting, reporting, and financial operations.
General Counsel - Handles legal matters, contracts, and compliance.
Tax Director - Manages tax planning and ensures compliance across jurisdictions.
Estate Planning Specialist - Coordinates wealth transfer and succession planning.
Smaller family offices might combine roles. Larger ones may have teams under each function.
Family Office Costs
Running a family office isn't cheap. Here's what to expect:
Single-family office costs:
- Staff salaries: $500K - $2M+ annually
- Technology and systems: $50K - $200K annually
- Office space and operations: $100K - $500K annually
- Total: $1M - $3M+ per year
Multi-family office costs:
- Typically 0.5% - 1.5% of assets under management
- May include flat fees for specific services
- Total for $50M portfolio: $250K - $750K annually
The cost-benefit analysis changes as assets grow. At $500 million, a $2 million family office represents just 0.4% of assets.
Benefits of a Family Office
Holistic approach. All financial decisions are coordinated, not siloed.
Privacy. No public disclosures or regulatory filings.
Continuity. The office persists across generations, preserving institutional knowledge.
Customization. Every service is tailored to your family's unique situation.
Alignment. Staff work exclusively for your family's interests.
Challenges of Family Offices
Cost. The overhead is significant, especially for smaller families.
Talent. Finding and retaining qualified staff can be difficult.
Governance. Family dynamics can complicate decision-making.
Succession. Planning for leadership transitions requires careful thought.
Oversight. Without external accountability, mistakes can go unnoticed.
Is a Family Office Right for You?
Consider a family office if:
- You have $50 million+ in assets (MFO) or $100 million+ (SFO)
- Your financial situation is complex
- You value privacy and control
- You want to preserve wealth across generations
- You're willing to invest in professional management
If you're not ready for a full family office, consider starting with a virtual family office. This model uses technology and outsourced services to provide family office capabilities at lower cost.
Conclusion
A family office is a powerful tool for managing complex wealth. It brings together investments, taxes, estates, and family governance under one coordinated structure.
Whether you choose a single-family or multi-family office depends on your assets, needs, and preferences. Either way, the goal is the same: preserving and growing wealth for generations to come.