Family Office Creation Case Studies and Lessons

Richard C. Wilson speaks in a module from his family office creation miniseries, using anonymized client examples.

Richard C. Wilson uses anonymized client examples to show the range of challenges involved in creating and expanding family offices. The video also covers his approach to working with clients, sourcing opportunities, and preparing family office structures for changing circumstances. Across the examples, he describes both operational questions and the way his team works with families.

In this video: Richard C. Wilson (Host)

What they said

1. Family office structure. Richard describes a second-generation family whose son is beginning to take over. The parents are hesitant to transfer full control until he is older and more ingrained in the family culture. Separately, the family has not defined its values, filled out its dashboard, set a formal family office structure, defined its direct investment buy box, or set real estate strategies. (at 0:05)
2. Planning for liquidity. Richard describes another family whose money is tied up in one overseas business that produces profits each year and a couple big pieces of real estate. He says they want a couple liquidity events spread across other assets, but still need a direct investment strategy and real estate partners. (at 0:53)
3. Relationships bring opportunities. Richard says his team brings opportunities first to people who are enjoyable to work with. He says being polite, professional, communicative, and engaged can matter more than wealth level in their experience. (at 1:26)
4. Richard on deal sourcing. Richard says his team helps clients shape direct investment strategies by acquiring choke points, gaining access to more deal flow, building a deal flow funnel, and running a private equity quality deal origination process. (at 3:43)
5. Prepare before major events. Richard says it is 10 times more powerful to be well structured beforehand. He ties that view to preparing before an exit, a liquidity event, or a major issue. (at 6:07)

In their words

"I don't want to get bored of my own events."

"it is not the most important thing in life."

Why it matters if you are building or preserving great wealth

Richard says a family's son was starting to take over while his parents waited to transfer full control. In that case, deciding when to hand over authority sits alongside defining family values and formalizing the office, so the timing of succession can shape how the next generation participates.