Articles
Back to Basics: Family Office Guides and Resources
Whether you’re considering starting a family office or looking for a good primer to help orient new employees of an established office, there is a wealth of information available. Here’s a list of recent resources for family office professionals and wealthy families.
Impact Investing Reaches a ‘Tipping Point’
Impact investments achieved a key milestone in 2022: Since that year, they have accounted for a majority of family office investment deals, according to PwC’s “Global Family Office Deals Study 2024.” The report calls this a “significant tipping point” and says next-generation family members are a significant driver of the trend.
Jake Knight: The ‘Huge Missing Component’ in Wealth Inheritance
Jake Knight is a second-generation member of the family that founded Knight Transportation. (His father co-founded the company with his brother and two cousins.) He is also the co-founder, with Marc Hodulich of Enclave, of a peer network and community for rising-gen individuals from ultra-high-net-worth families. He discusses what he’s learned, from his own experience and from talking to peers, about the complexities of inheriting wealth.
Planning Amid Estate Tax Uncertainty
The lifetime estate tax exemption is set to decrease from its current level — $13.9 million per person — to about half that next year. However, with Republicans taking control of Congress and the White House, some expect that the higher exemption could be extended.
Real Estate Deals May Be on the Upswing
There are signs of life in the family office real estate deal market, according to PwC’s Global Family Office Deals Study 2024. The study found that both the volume and the value of family office real estate deals peaked at the end of 2021. And although volume has remained flat, deal values have started trending up again, which could signal a recovery.
Hiring for the Family Office: “Chemistry and Culture”
John Benevides, president and CEO of SFO Briar Hall LLC, highlights the transition in family office staffing towards leaders with sector knowledge and cultural alignment, and the increasing challenge of securing such talent amid generational shifts and integrating AI.
Family Office Deal Volume and Size are Stabilizing
According to PwC’s “Global Family Office Deals Study 2024,” an analysis of how over 11,000 family offices globally invest their capital, family office deal volume and size are beginning to stabilize after declining during the first half of 2022. The study contains a wealth of additional information on trends in family office investments and the demographics of the offices themselves.
‘Nuclear’ Verdicts, Distracted Driving and Unclogged Courts
The liability insurance market is tightening, with coverage limits becoming harder to secure. Families can mitigate risks by maintaining a low profile online, implementing best practices for social media use, and working with security firms to manage their digital footprints and prevent potential liability or safety threats.
The Issues Family Offices Face in 2025
Family offices in 2025 will confront a range of challenges and opportunities driven by factors like the great wealth transfer, NextGen engagement and rapid technological advancements in AI. We asked family office leaders and experts to weigh in.
Custom Residential Real Estate Projects Require Expert Management
Custom residential construction projects for wealthy families and family offices require expert management to navigate complexities such as due diligence, budgeting, and coordination among architects, contractors, and other stakeholders.