Skip to content
Get in touch

Glossary

Single Family Office

A Single Family Office is an organisation that manages and supports the wealth of one single family exclusively. It is usually owned by the family itself and employs its own experts for assets, law, tax and administration. In Switzerland, anyone managing only the assets of economically or family-connected persons is exempt from the wealth manager authorisation requirement. Because of the high fixed costs, a dedicated Single Family Office generally only becomes worthwhile for very large fortunes.

At a glance

01

A Single Family Office serves exactly one family, whereas a Multi-Family Office serves several families at the same time.

02

If a family office manages only the assets of economically or family-connected persons, the FINIG wealth manager authorisation requirement does not apply (SR 954.1).

03

The high fixed costs of dedicated staff make the model economically viable only for very large fortunes.

Frequently asked questions

A Single Family Office works exclusively for one single family, whereas a Multi-Family Office serves several families at once and thereby shares costs and expertise. The Multi-Family Office gives many families access to structures that a dedicated Single Family Office could not financially justify.
If the Single Family Office manages exclusively the assets of economically or family-connected persons, it does not fall under the wealth manager authorisation requirement under FINIG. However, as soon as the assets of unconnected third parties are managed, authorisation may become necessary. The specific classification should be clarified legally.

Sources: Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht (FINMA) · Systematische Rechtssammlung (fedlex), FINIG SR 954.1