Guide
Partnership & Infrastructure
To serve clients, independent wealth managers need a reliable operational base, from connectivity to custodian banks through custody and reporting to the technology that carries day-to-day business. Offering wealth management to clients means deciding not only on the investment strategy but also on custodian relationships, data flows, and the infrastructure for reporting and compliance. A multi-family office can provide this infrastructure as a partner, so that the manager focuses on clients and investment decisions. This knowledge hub explains what matters in the operational and technological base and how a partnership covers it.
The essentials
- Offering wealth management as an independent manager requires access to one or more custodian banks at which client assets are held and traded.
- Custody, data connectivity, and consolidated reporting determine how efficiently and transparently a manager can run a mandate.
- A shared infrastructure through a partner lowers fixed costs and complexity compared with building proprietary systems, particularly for smaller teams.
- What matters is that technology and operations support the manager's regulatory duties rather than replace them; responsibility for the mandate remains with the manager.
Sources: FINMA · FinIA
Frequently asked questions about Partnership & Infrastructure
You need authorisation as a wealth manager, an appropriate organisation with risk management and internal controls, and the operational connection to custodian banks at which client assets are held and traded. Reporting and compliance processes are added to this. You can build this infrastructure yourself or obtain it through a partner.
Client assets are held at a custodian bank, while the manager makes the investment decisions on the basis of a mandate. A clean connection governs trading, custody, data flows, and permissions between manager, client, and bank.
Proprietary systems offer maximum control but entail high fixed and maintenance costs. Infrastructure shared through a partner lowers complexity and costs and is often more economical, particularly for smaller teams. The choice depends on size, business model, and the degree of independence desired.
No. Technology and operations support your duties but do not replace them. Responsibility for the mandate, investment decisions, and compliance with supervisory requirements remains with the manager.
More questions?
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