The Family Office Handbook

Making the decision to establish a family office

When significant wealth is created, it can open up new opportunities as we all as new challenges for individuals and their families as they acclimatise to the increased complexities of wealth. One important decision may be to step away from a reliance on financial institutions and establish a family office to oversee the financial affairs of the family.

This is a big step, and one that involves many logistical, operational, and even emotional considerations. Yet more and more wealthy families have made this move in recent decades, taking more hands-on control over investment policy decisions as a result of continued capital market uncertainty and their desire to commit resources to making an impact in the world now and in the future. And in an era of increasing risk, investment fraud, and cybercrime, more families are adopting an institutional approach to family risk management, aided by the advancement of and growing reliance on technology in family financial affairs.

Deloitte’s Family Office Handbook

Deloitte’s Family Office Handbook is a starting point for wealthy families looking to set up a “single family office”: private organisations established by families to oversee, directly and indirectly, their financial affairs. The handbook is designed to help families build on their current understanding of what a single family office is, consider factors that have contributed to the success of other family offices, and formulate a plan that leads to the creation or expansion of their own family office.

• Family office fundamentals 
  • characteristics of a family office
  • when is the right time?
  • services to be provided
• Operational considerations
  • governance 
  • cost structures
  • talent
  • technology
• Management considerations
  • risk management and controls
  • legal, tax and regulatory
• Bringing the family office vision to life 
  • investing and managing family wealth
  • philanthropy
  • the impact of global reach