Frequently Asked Questions about Family Office
Answers to common questions regarding family office.
What is a family office?
A family office is a private advisory firm that manages the financial, legal, and personal affairs of high-net-worth families.
What services does a family office provide?
Services often include investment management, tax planning, estate planning, philanthropy coordination, legal oversight, and lifestyle management.
Is a family office only for ultra-wealthy families?
While traditionally for ultra-high-net-worth families, many families with significant assets benefit from customized or virtual family office services.
Can you help with multi-generational planning?
Yes, we specialize in helping families build lasting legacies through succession planning, education, and governance structures.
How do I know if a family office is right for us?
If your family’s financial and administrative needs are complex or growing, a family office can provide structure, clarity, and continuity—let’s explore if it’s the right fit.
What expertise do CPAs bring to a family office?
CPAs bring the unique ability to see the full financial picture—taxes, wealth strategy, business interests, investments, and estate planning. We offer more than just accounting: we act as financial stewards, helping you make informed decisions that preserve and grow your family’s wealth.
How does this differ from hiring separate advisors?
When you hire separate advisors—attorneys, investment managers, insurance agents—they often operate in silos. A CPA-led family office acts as the integrating force, ensuring all pieces work together: taxes align with your estate plan, your investments support your goals, and your business transitions smoothly.
What does comprehensive family office support include?
Our full-service support typically includes:
Strategic tax planning and compliance
Multi-generational wealth preservation
Trust and estate coordination
Business succession planning
Philanthropic strategy
Investment oversight and reporting
Family governance and education
How does this help minimize taxes over generations?
We use forward-looking tax strategies to reduce income, estate, gift, and capital gains taxes over time. This could include trust structures, charitable vehicles, family limited partnerships, and gifting strategies—all tailored to your unique situation.
Can you guide business succession planning?
Absolutely. We help you design a succession plan that reflects your goals—whether that means keeping the business in the family, transitioning to key employees, or preparing for a sale. We focus on minimizing tax impact, maintaining continuity, and preparing the next generation for leadership.
How do you safeguard our family assets?
We use layered strategies to protect wealth from lawsuits, creditors, and poor planning. This includes entity structuring, trusts, insurance reviews, and legal coordination. We also monitor financial risk and ensure everything remains up to date as laws or your situation change.
What ensures alignment across generations?
Family alignment doesn’t happen by chance. We facilitate regular family meetings, create shared mission statements, and develop governance structures to keep everyone on the same page. We also educate younger generations on wealth stewardship, philanthropy, and responsibility.
How do I get started?
It begins with a conversation. We’ll schedule a confidential discovery meeting to understand your goals, challenges, and current structure. From there, we’ll map out a strategy tailored to your family’s needs—no pressure, no obligation.
Comprehensive family office services to preserve wealth, simplify complexity, and support your family across generations.
