Governance
How family offices make decisions and keep them separate from family life: charters, committees, independent directors, conflicts, transparency rules and reporting.
A family office governance framework is a set of documents, decision-making bodies and written policies. Survey data shows how many offices have each component.
A family office investment committee needs a charter, defined membership, voting rules and a cadence. Survey data on prevalence and composition is included.
A shareholders' agreement is a contract enforceable in court; a family constitution usually is not. What each covers and how the two should interact.
Independent directors earn their fee when the family has decisions it cannot referee itself. Data on prevalence, typical fees and where families resist.
Six surveys from 2025 and 2026 measure family office governance. Investment committees are common, succession plans and risk processes are not. Data compared.
Decision rights in a family office are clearest when family, ownership and management are treated as distinct circles with their own forums. How to map them.
A family office conflicts of interest policy covers related-party deals, family employment, staff co-investment and disclosure. What it should contain.
Beneficial ownership rules diverged in 2026. The US exempted domestic companies, the UK added identity checks and the EU limited register access.
Family offices are attacked more often than they prepare for. Survey data from Deloitte, Campden, J.P. Morgan and UBS on incidents, plus minimum controls.
Family office reporting works when it shows a consolidated balance sheet with look-through, performance against policy and liquidity, at a readable cadence.