Family offices ramp up professionalisation and diversification amid geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty
A new TMF Group report has found that family offices are now accelerating efforts to diversify, professionalise and align investments with next-generation values, in response to the geopolitical instability and shifting regulations that are reshaping the global wealth landscape.
‘Redefining resilience: how family offices are adapting to global uncertainty and next generation priorities’ draws on insights from leading private wealth and family office (PWFO) professionals, and reveals that political changes in key jurisdictions have prompted increased efforts around wealth relocation, restructuring and governance.
Four key trends shaping family offices’ strategies are outlined by the report:
Geopolitical volatility fuels diversification: Families are entering new markets and industries, often beyond their traditional areas of expertise, to mitigate jurisdictional risk and capture growth in regions with strategic trade access or emerging economic clusters. Decisions are increasingly shaped by scenario planning, with risk-weighted models used to evaluate jurisdictional resilience under multiple geopolitical outcomes.
Stability and regulation drive jurisdictional choice: While tax remains a consideration, institutional stability, transparency of legal systems, depth of local capital markets and enforceability of cross-border agreements are becoming decisive factors. Families are prioritising jurisdictions with predictable policy environments and streamlined regulatory regimes that balance investor protections with operational efficiency.
Next-generation wealth continues to focus on ethical investing: The appetite for socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and well-governed investments continues to grow. For many next-generation leaders, these priorities are embedded into long-term portfolio strategy, with capital allocated to sectors such as renewable energy, climate technology and sustainable agriculture, and accompanied by active involvement in philanthropic ventures to ensure measurable outcomes.
Professionalisation of family offices: The transition from loosely structured advisory arrangements to fully integrated, multi-jurisdictional operations is accelerating. This includes appointing C-suite executives with international experience, adopting enterprise-level governance frameworks and building internal compliance capabilities that can manage varying regulatory standards across multiple territories simultaneously.
Regional spotlights from the report include:
Middle East: Family offices’ investment strategies in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are becoming more sophisticated. This evolution is driven by the professionalisation of family offices, which are hiring C-Suite staff to manage their investments more effectively. As family offices seek to employ top talent, including CFOs, tax advisors and transaction lawyers, they must consider offering incentives and benefits to retain them.
Asia Pacific: Hong Kong and Singapore remain preferred hubs due to their connectivity to global capital flows, though heightened due diligence and anti-money laundering requirements are extending onboarding timelines and increasing operational costs. Strategic presence in these markets now requires balancing access to regional wealth networks with the resource demands of compliance.
North America: Market conditions are prompting some family offices to reassess the geographic spread of their portfolios and operational structures. Interest in alternative jurisdictions reflects a desire to diversify exposure and enhance flexibility in asset deployment.
UK and Channel Islands: Post-election reforms, including changes to the ‘non-dom’ rules and inheritance tax, are driving both inbound and outbound movements of wealth, while Jersey’s appeal continues to be strengthened by its robust legal framework and alignment with international transparency standards.
The private wealth sector is undergoing a fundamental shift. Families are not only seeking to safeguard their assets in a volatile world, they are actively redefining what resilience means, with a sharper focus on diversification, operational excellence and ethics. The most successful family offices will be those that can combine strategic agility with robust governance.
The full report is available to download here.
Media Contacts
Marina Llibre Martin, Global PR Manager
marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com
