How a Chicago Adviser Approaches Family Investment Mandates
At a Family Office Club investor mandate interview, Richard C. Wilson speaks with John about his firm's work with wealthy families.
Richard C. Wilson introduces the interview as a chance to learn about John's firm and share its investment focus with Family Office Club members. John describes a service model that works with families as their chief financial officer, covering liabilities, public market diversification and risk tied to direct investments.
In this video: Richard C. Wilson (Family Office Club host), John (Representative of a broad-based RAA)
What they said
- John's balance sheet view. John says his firm considers allocation across the family's total balance sheet. He says it does not focus on one asset class for every client. (at 2:26)
- John's referral-based relationships. John credits referrals and time spent thinking through decisions. He says the firm prefers fewer, deeper relationships with clients and managers. (at 2:53)
- John's deal discipline. John says not to become emotionally attached to a deal, whether buying or selling. He says maintaining long-term discipline includes being willing to walk away. (at 3:19)
In their words
"It really is taking the total balance sheet and looking at that allocation across the total balance sheet."
Why it matters if you are building or preserving great wealth
A family's deal pipeline can shape its exposure before an investment decision. John points to real estate families seeing technology center and data warehousing deals as clients who may seek opportunities outside property.
From Richard's exclusive Billionaires.com interviews
Lessons from Richard C. Wilson's one-on-one interviews, as published on each interview page.
- Anu Aga: Focus on one main cause. Her family found its giving more satisfying and impactful once it chose primary education for the underprivileged in India.
- Binod K. Chaudhary: Never chase a deal out of desperation. Stay cool and look at every part of the deal. Have your advisers and your finance team review it critically. Your counsel should review it too.
- Larry Connor: Learn from every mistake. Larry's team owns its failures and makes no excuses. They learn, change quickly, and keep getting better.
See the data
Frequently asked questions
What industries do John's clients work in?
John mentions fintech, real estate and agricultural technologies.
What real estate opportunities does John mention?
He gives technology centers and data warehousing as examples of development activity.
Sources
Quotes are copied from the video captions and checked against the transcript. Timestamps link to the moment in the video. General information only, not legal, tax or investment advice.