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Family Office

Do I Need a Family Office?

This is a question many people ask me. Our friends have one. When is the right time or stage to do this? Should we setup a single family office, join a multi family office, or do something else? We want to understand what others are doing, but someone told me “if you’ve seen one family office, you’ve seen one family office”. Is it any wonder people are confused?

A great place to start is with Family Office Essentials – a broad guide to many of the things you should know, or think about, before you embark on the journey.

Other articles of interest: gender in family offices, family office priorities, as well as the ultra high net worth and family governance topics.

How I can help

I consult to family offices, help set them up, help families establish the rules and governance required so that they meet the family’s needs, and am setting one up for my own family.

What I do now is help others who are on similar journeys to the ones I’ve traversed. That way, I can have real empathy, and provide advice and guidance from both experience and deep subject knowledge.

I start by asking lots of questions, some of which might be confronting but may open you up to considering things you haven’t but should: What is the family wealth for? What sort of life do you aspire for you and and your family? What do they want? Asking the right questions is the starting point to getting meaningful answers. That is how to start the journey.

What next?

Book a free 30 minute discussion where I will provide some feedback and guidance on your situation and your aspirations. If you find that helpful and we proceed no further, I’m happy to have provided my time. If you then decide I can help, then I’m even happier.

What People Say About David

David brings his professional and spiritual self to everything he does. This shows up so well in his work with families. As we all know wealth means well-being and financial capital is something else. David understands the profound difference a families’ experience of well-being will be as he helps it unpack this vast difference in consciousness and its outcome for them. .He helps the family put its efforts towards enhancing each individual’s and the whole families’ well-beings towards theirs and its flourishing.

James E Hughes Jr - author of Family Wealth

David has been an inspirational and insightful thought leader as a member of PWN. He has presented for us on many occasions and always done an excellent job, with different and compelling content and ideas. Furthermore, he writes beautifully and express complex ideas through his writing exceptionally well. As an advisor he offers a unique perspective and an important offering for business families, focusing on releationship and succession challenges without having any conflicts of interest. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend his services and I often do.

Richard Milroy, Private Wealth Network

David chairs the advisory board of GBA Capital and board of Koa Capital. He has excellent commercial acumen, good humour, and the ability to maintain our strategic focus. As a consultant, or board member, David is a trusted adviser and ongoing source of wisdom.

Sebastian Jurd, Managing Director of GBA Capital, Co-Founder of Koa Capital

David is one of the most insightful thought leaders on family dynamics. I regularly read his newsletter and value his perspectives. I read his book “Transition” when I first started studying and applying the intellectual discipline of family business succession planning. It sits on the bookshelf beside my desk and I often refer back to it. Its wisdom is universal and timeless.

Henry Brandts-Giesen, Dentons Kensington Swan