The Family Office Maturity Model
Family offices are grown, not bought. Five stages describe the typical path — and the capabilities that appear at each one.
Personal accounts, one advisor, taxes once a year, documents in email.
Consolidated statements, a written plan, an estate binder, a team of advisors who talk to each other.
First dedicated hire or fractional team, real reporting software, documented processes.
A real organization: investment function, finance function, governance calendar.
Teams by asset class, in-house legal/tax, audited financials, multi-generational governance.
Stage 1 — Individual Investor
Personal accounts, one advisor, taxes once a year, documents in email.
Typical capabilities: Brokerage/bank accountsAn advisor or self-directed investingAnnual tax filingA will (sometimes)
Stage 2 — Organized Wealth Management
Consolidated statements, a written plan, an estate binder, a team of advisors who talk to each other.
Typical capabilities: Written investment planConsolidated reporting from the advisorCoordinated CPA + attorney + advisorBasic entity hygieneInsurance reviewed
Stage 3 — Micro Family Office
First dedicated hire or fractional team, real reporting software, documented processes.
Typical capabilities: 1–3 dedicated professionalsEntity-level books and consolidated net-worth viewInvestment policy statementBill-pay controls & wire proceduresPassword manager + MFA everywhereOutsourced specialists under coordination
Stage 4 — Established Single Family Office
A real organization: investment function, finance function, governance calendar.
Typical capabilities: CIO-led investment processController-run monthly closeDirect/alternative investment programFamily meetings & educationFormal risk & insurance programVendor & cyber management
Stage 5 — Institutional Family Office
Teams by asset class, in-house legal/tax, audited financials, multi-generational governance.
Typical capabilities: Asset-class teams & committeesIn-house counsel and taxAudited statementsFamily constitution & councilsNext-gen development programsEnterprise technology & security operations
Where Are You Today?
Quick questions, scored the same way for everyone. Nothing is stored.
Your stage today
Educational self-assessment — not advice.