What does WE Family Offices do?
WE Family Offices is the advisory service currently serving around 100 families in the US and international markets.
The firm, an independent, SEC-registered, client-fee-only multi-family office, advises on approximately $15.4 billion and reports on an additional $2.2 billion.
The firm states that it may function either as a fully outsourced family office or in a support role alongside an existing single-family office, depending on client needs.
How it works
WE Family Offices Advisors operates on a non-discretionary basis, meaning clients retain final decision-making authority while the firm provides strategic advice and recommendations.
When starting to work with a family, the process begins with a comprehensive review of a family’s financial situation and objectives, followed by the development of a long-term asset allocation framework and, when appropriate, tactical adjustments.
It recommends unaffiliated third-party managers and investment vehicles using both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The firm does not take custody of assets and clients.
What are WE Family Offices' key services?
WE Family Offices is designed primarily for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families seeking coordinated, independent family office and investment advisory support.
Its key services include:
- Non-discretionary investment advice
- Strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction
- Financial planning, including family governance and succession planning
- Investment strategy design (active, passive, and alternative strategies)
- Third-party investment manager and fund selection
- Ongoing portfolio review and reassessment
- Values-aligned investing
- Consolidated “global” portfolio reporting
- Coordination of clients’ professional service providers
- Investment transaction verification
- Wealth enterprise diagnostic services
What is WE Family Offices’ investment philosophy?
WE Family Offices approaches asset allocation as a structured, client-specific process rather than a product-driven one.
As mentioned, advisors begin by evaluating a client’s objectives, risk tolerance, asset-class preferences, time horizon, liquidity needs, and expected-return assumptions.
By considering these elements alongside broader economic and market views, the firm develops a strategic asset allocation designed to balance expected risk and return.
Once the allocation framework is set, the firm typically recommends combinations of investment strategies within each asset class.
What are the pros and cons of WE Family Offices?
Here’s a summary of the key advantages and disadvantages to help you decide if WE Family Offices is the right choice for you.
Pros of WE Family Offices:
- Comprehensive family office services: Services extend beyond investment advice to include financial planning, governance, succession planning, provider coordination, and consolidated reporting.
- Independent, fee-only model: The firm states it does not receive transaction-based compensation or compensation from recommended managers or funds.
- Customized, boutique family office services: It describes its services as tailored to ultra-high-net-worth families.
- Broad access to investment strategies: The firm may recommend a wide range of investment vehicles, including mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts, hedge funds, and private equity.
- Structured asset allocation framework: Investment advice is centered on strategic asset allocation, diversification across asset classes and global markets, and long-term portfolio construction.
Cons of WE Family Offices:
- Designed primarily for ultra-high-net-worth families: The service is not suitable for mass-market or emerging high-net-worth investors.
- High minimum-fee guidelines: The firm’s current flat-fee guidelines begin at $200,000 per year. At this level, the service is financially viable only for families with very substantial net worth.
- Client involvement is required in trade execution: As the firm operates on a non-discretionary basis, it may require a higher level of ongoing involvement and responsiveness compared to discretionary advisors.
- Additional third-party fees apply: Clients separately pay fees charged by outside managers, funds, custodians, and other providers.
WE Family Offices fees: How much does WE Family Offices cost?
WE Family Offices primarily uses a flat annual fee structure, starting at $200,000 per year and increasing based on the client's net worth.
In some legacy arrangements, fees may instead be calculated as 0.45% to 1.50% of assets under advisement (AUA).
Ongoing family office services:
The firm prefers flat-fee arrangements. Current guidelines are:
- $200,000 minimum annual fee
- $250,000–$500,000 for clients with a net worth of $50 million to $250 million
- $500,000–$700,000 for clients with a net worth of $250 million to $500 million
- $700,000–$1,000,000 for clients with a net worth of $500 million to $1 billion
- $1,000,000+ for clients with net worth above $1 billion
Wealth enterprise diagnostic (project-based):
The wealth enterprise diagnostic is a project-based engagement priced at $50,000 to $100,000.
Additional third-party costs:
WE’s advisory fees do not include fees charged by:
- Third-party money managers
- Mutual funds or ETFs (internal expense ratios)
- Alternative investment vehicles
- Custodians or brokers (commissions, transaction fees, wire fees, etc.)
What is WE Family Offices’ minimum account size?
WE Family Offices does not disclose a formal minimum investment amount. However, the firm’s published flat-fee guidelines begin at $200,000 annually, with higher fee tiers corresponding to higher client net worth ranges.
As fees are negotiated based on the complexity of a client’s financial affairs and the scope of services provided, the effective entry point is shaped more by the firm’s fee structure than by a stated asset minimum.
Who should choose WE Family Offices?
WE Family Offices work well for:
- Clients with complex wealth structures: The firm provides strategic asset allocation advice, manager selection, governance planning, service provider coordination, and consolidated reporting across financial and certain non-financial assets.
- Clients who prefer an independent, fee-only advisor: The firm states it does not receive transaction-based compensation or payments from recommended managers.
- Families seeking access to a broad range of third-party strategies may be recommended mutual funds, ETFs, managed accounts, hedge funds, and private equity through unaffiliated managers.
- Clients who want to retain decision-making authority: As a non-discretionary advisor, the firm provides recommendations, but clients approve investment decisions and trades.
- Multi-generational families planning for succession and governance: The firm includes family governance and next-generation education in its advisory scope.
Who might not benefit as much:
- Investors seeking lower-cost advisory relationships: The firm’s flat-fee guidelines begin at $200,000 annually, making the service economically impractical for families without substantial wealth.
- Individuals with relatively simple financial needs: The firm primarily serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, and its structure is geared toward complex, multi-entity wealth management rather than straightforward portfolio management.
- Those looking for fully discretionary portfolio management: The firm operates on a non-discretionary basis and does not execute trades without client authorization.
- Clients seeking custody and execution under one firm: WE does not take custody of client assets; assets are held with third-party custodians.
WE Family Offices: Is it secure?
WE Family Offices is considered secure. It is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The firm does not take custody of client assets; instead, clients select independent third-party custodians to hold their assets. This structure separates advisory services from asset custody, reducing direct custody risk at the advisory firm level.
WE also disclose cybersecurity and disaster recovery risks and state that we maintain cybersecurity and business continuity plans, while acknowledging the inherent limitations of such systems.
As with any investment adviser, regulatory registration and operational safeguards do not eliminate market risk, and investing involves the risk of loss.
WE Family Offices: Customer service
WE Family Offices delivers services through a designated advisor-led relationship model. Each client is served by a team led by a primary advisor and supported by in-house investment professionals and subject-matter specialists.
As part of its family office structure, the firm also coordinates with clients’ broader network of service providers, including banks, brokers, asset managers, accountants, and legal professionals, to support overall wealth management objectives.
The firm has office locations in New York and Miami.
WE Family Offices: Mobile app
WE Family Offices does not appear to offer a dedicated proprietary mobile app.
The firm provides consolidated portfolio reporting as part of its family office services, but does not have a standalone mobile platform.
Is WE Family Offices worth it?
WE Family Offices may be worth considering for ultra-high-net-worth families seeking independent, non-discretionary family office oversight with customized portfolio construction, third-party manager access, and coordinated reporting across complex wealth structures.
However, its high flat-fee structure and non-discretionary model mean it is suited to families with substantial assets who want to stay involved in key decisions, rather than those seeking lower-cost or fully hands-off portfolio management.
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