The client
A third-generation family with substantial property assets looking to ensure wealth enhancement for the next generation.

Their challenge
Designing a long-term business vision and strategy to efficiently allocate family and group capital, including borrowings, for 20 years across existing business financial interests and opportunities.

How we helped
We conducted detailed analysis of the existing businesses, gathering insights on existing activities, threats, opportunities and challenges. We developed a future-focused vision along with the human and financial resources strategy to deploy it, including manager search and modelling of risk-adjusted capital and long-term return assumptions, collaboratively developed with input from the family Chair and executive team. The result was a long-term allocation model with 20 year projections, along with buy-in for additional risk and flexibility for family members to invest individually in tax advantaged VC.

The client
A $1bn+ family office with offshore trusts, preparing to transition to new management and requiring a stronger governance framework.

Their challenge
The family were seeking support in reviewing their existing investment proposition, process, team skillset, governance, documentation and technology platform to ensure the new leadership could follow strong practices in stewarding the family's wealth.

How we helped
We conducted a strategic review, evaluating their investment approach and recommending improvements, analysing and challenging the robustness of their finance, operations, administration and IT functions and exposing several gaps in governance and process. We then implemented formal decision making, trustee reporting and investment policy statements. In turn, we strengthened compliance, governance, accountability, operations procedure and job roles and objectives, as well as initiating a search for an integrated technology platform to give the family peace of mind their assets were being robustly managed to the highest standards.

The client
A $2bn+ family office looking to enhance and professionalise its investment strategy, operations, and governance framework.

Their challenge
The board, Investment Advisory Committee, family office, the middle office and investment managers were operating in silos and not operating holistically. Therefore, the stakeholders at times lacked the information required to make well informed decisions.

How we helped
We reviewed the existing investment objectives, strategy and risk framework, and challenged its alignment with the performance and income objectives of the family. This included a review of the strategic asset allocation, the role of third-party advisers, and helped develop a model for quarterly rebalancing. We helped in the selection of a best in class consolidated reporting platform with detailed attribution analysis to better understand the drivers of performance. We identified the need to strengthen the investment resources of the family office and managed with a specialist headhunter the recruitment process. All the stakeholders are now better aligned and able to address the goals of the family more holistically and successfully.

The client
A family needed independent advice in appointing a new wealth manager to deal with their changed circumstances.

Their challenge
Who to trust and where to start, perpetuating a 'paralysis of inaction'. The family needed unbiased support in reviewing their balance sheet, developing contingencies and determining their investment objectives and appointing a complementary wealth manager.

How we helped
We conducted a deep dive on the family's multigenerational assets, reviewing both historic patterns and determining future facing requirements and appetites for key family members and developed key roadmaps, strategies and defined objectives for investment going forward with appropriate risk protection. Concurrently we worked to understand their unique requirements for a new wealth manager and commenced a process with bfinance to review 40+ candidates. We organised a 'beauty parade' of four vetted finalists and assisted with the on-boarding of the chosen wealth manager. We continue to advise the family on an ongoing basis.

The client
A busy entrepreneur needing a private office to oversee the family's financial affairs and remove time consuming headaches.

Their challenge
With their increased wealth and change in domicile, the family's financial and legal affairs had become increasingly complex. They spent too much time coordinating advisers and lacked the time to fully understand what was in place, where things were, and why certain structures had been set up.

How we helped
With their existing private bank, we designed a long-term investment strategy with clear decision-making protocols, with complementary third-party managers and a sufficient liquidity buffer. The burden of tax reporting was streamlined by the removal of silos from their existing ecosystem of advisers. We reviewed their trust structures and ensured that their wills and letters of wishes were up-to-date and multijurisdictional. In addition, we restructured the ownership of a luxury asset to mitigate against VAT and limit personal liabilities. The client is happy knowing that we sit on their side of the table, understand the full picture, and they have the time to focus on the things they enjoy.