What is a family office?

The roots of family offices can be traced back to antiquity – to king’s stewards responsible for managing the regal wealth; who over time widened their stewardship to include the aristocracy.

The modern concept of a family office was developed in the 19th century by J.P. Morgan and the Rockefeller family who developed family-owned organizations to manage both their private wealth and family affairs. Over time, as experience and expertise grew, offices opened up their services to other non-related families, evolving from single-family offices into multi-family offices.

This is the definition we hold to be the truest form of a multi-family office – a very different proposition from a private bank or other financial organization. Built to serve the unique needs of a family of wealth, then evolved over time to bring unfettered independence, real understanding, deep knowledge and first-hand experience to your family’s unique needs.

Our family office members have evolved and pioneered this model in their respective countries.

Why consider a family office?

You want to preserve and enhance your wealth while ensuring it benefits the people and the causes you care about. Our members have developed their extensive, singular approaches to do just that. There are many reasons why setting up a family office could be the right route for your family. Here is a non-exhaustive list of benefits to consider:

Consolidation

By consolidating your financial, fiduciary and family affairs, you will gain greater control, reduce complexity and lower costs.

Alignment

Aligning your family’s values, investment strategy, philanthropic aspirations and future ambitions ensures a clear, united purpose.

Governance

Establishing proper processes to deal with the complexities of your family’s wealth transparently will help you avoid future conflicts.

Privacy

A dedicated family office provides the best protection for the family’s privacy and security of financial information.

Education

By helping to nurture your family’s human capital – informing the current custodians and readying the next generation.

Customization

Offering a complete service – from asset allocation and impact investing, to the educational needs of your family office – developed with your family, for your family.

Access

Benefit from a broad advisor network and pooled assets delivering economies of scale that unlock preferential deal access and products.

Freedom

Take the burden of managing the day-to-day from your desk. Have your administration handled efficiently, expertly and without fuss.

Choosing your family office

Choosing a family office is one of the most important decisions a family can make. It will not only influence the fortunes of the present but can have a profound and lasting effect on the future wellbeing and prosperity of the generations to come.

What matters to you, matters to us.

Can my wealth work in all the ways I want it to?

To map out and meet the requirements of that question, without constraint or compromise, we believe it takes two key attributes – real understanding and first-hand experience.

Real understanding

Real understanding expertly addresses every aspect of a family’s affairs. Unfettered and independent, Wigmore members draw on in-house expertise and an extensive advisor network to deliver:

Best-in-class investment management, financial planning, governance, advisory and strategy services that adapt to your specific requirements – from asset allocation to succession planning and from impact investing to real estate.

A positive impact on your family and its future legacy – understanding that prosperity is made of more than wealth, Wigmore family offices work with you and your family to realize hopes and dreams and passions throughout your wealth journey.

First-hand experience

Our members’ unique heritage and know how will provide you with a deeper connection through:

The insight to anticipate your needs, spot opportunities and mitigate challenges, based on what is important to you and your family.

A discreet environment in which to ask questions and explore your available options with specialist experts who understand the complexities and sensitivities of managing family wealth.