What is a Family Office? Who Am I to Talk About It?
Broadly speaking, a single-family office (“SFO”) is an investment platform with one investor or a family of investors. These offices come in all shapes, sizes, flavors, and missions. There is a saying: "Once you’ve met one family office, you’ve met one family office." That’s because, just like your family and mine, they’re all completely different. They’ve made their money in different ways and have wildly different ideas about what to do with it.
Some SFOs are newly wealthy folks who just sold a company and are looking to broaden that success. Others are generations deep into their wealth and just trying to keep the garden trimmed for their next backyard John Mayer concert.
These offices are popping up in the news more often as wealth concentrates and these platforms make bigger waves in the investment world. Don’t expect a tell-all exposé here, I don’t know that much, and if I did, I wouldn’t say. Most SFOs value privacy above all else. Trust and discretion aren’t just important—they’re the currency of this world.
Why am I writing about this? Two reasons:
1. I’ve been told I have a knack for simplifying the complex, and...
2. I’m committing to being more vocal in my community. I’m way more a listener than a talker, so I’m breaking out of my comfort zone and throwing my hat in the ring of online talking heads.
The 4 Things I’ve Learned About Family Offices
1. It All Comes Down to the Family
Just like any company, success hinges on the mission and leadership. The twist in the family office world? The family might be deeply involved… or completely hands-off. Some have no business experience, which makes alignment and trust even more critical.
2. Trust Is the Real Currency
This world runs on relationships, not force. Everyone here has the money, power, and lawyers to muscle their way through, but mutually assured destruction keeps egos mostly in check. Building trust on the front end is everything. Referrals, keeping promises, and long-term relationships are table stakes.
Pro Tip: Trying to raise money? Start with a family office you’re connected to. Build trust and perform for them, then ask them to help expand your network. Blind emails and cold intros won’t get you far.
3. Everyone’s a Generalist
Family office teams are small, managing diverse portfolios across industries. I haven’t met an incompetent investor at any family office, they are actually some of the smartest people I know. Their skills are not to show up with all the answers, but to ask the right questions in order to get up to speed quickly and effectively. This aligns nicely with my circus of a resume gaining exposure to several different industries and investment types over the last 20 years.
Pro Tip: If you’re pitching, don’t assume the investor is an expert in your field. Be ready to explain your story well and answer questions clearly.
4. Long-Term Thinking Rules
While hedge funds think week-to-week and private equity focuses on 3–7 years, family offices look decades ahead. The goal? Tax-deferred, above-market returns over the longest horizon possible. This long-term lens is the strategic advantage, allowing for substantial value creation—and real change.
I’m not claiming to be an expert in family offices or writing the definitive guide. I’ve been the CIO of a family office for the last 4 years and have gotten to know several others during this time. In the end, I’m just a guy trying to raise my family to be good people while helping another family realize their goals too.