The Rise of Family Offices in India

Family offices that manage the wealth and affairs of ultra-high networth families are on the rise in India. Both single-family and multi-family offices are gaining prominence.

A single-family office (SFO) handles the investments, taxation, philanthropy, and wealth transfer for a single wealthy family. For instance, the Ambani family relies on its family office team to manage their multibillion-dollar assets and businesses.

Multi-family offices (MFOs) cater to several families by providing a range of services from investment management to succession planning. Waterfield Advisors, Altamount Capital and Anand Rathi Global Finance are leading MFOs in India serving multiple billionaire families.

The need for family offices has increased as first-generation entrepreneurs in India create massive wealth that needs professional inter-generational management. Family offices help streamline decision-making on complex investments in real estate, private equity, VC funds.

Handling succession planning, estate taxes and distributing wealth among family members are major priorities to ensure harmony. Family offices also implement trusts, family constitutions and prenuptial agreements for seamless transition between generations.

Philanthropic initiatives are another key focus area. Family offices set up charitable foundations and NGOs to fulfill owners’ values and legacy goals. They also take charge of daily administrative tasks like accounting, HR and legal compliance for family members.

With wealth creation accelerating, India is poised to have over 1,000 family offices by 2025 as per projections. Their rise underscores the growing demand for sophisticated and tailored wealth management in India.

Established in 2014, 4i Advisory (4iAdvisory) is a globally connected and locally rooted financial services company in India. Led by world-class, multidisciplinary team of seasoned experts, we specialize in taxation (domestic and international), mergers & acquisitions (M&A), compliance, wealth management, restructuring and audit, among others.

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