Single family office, multi family office, embedded services: levels of service vary widely. This guide clarifies what a family office covers — and where a private concierge takes over on lifestyle.
Family office · Levels of service · Clarifying the scope
'What exactly does a family office do?' The answer depends on its level of service. From a simple management office to an integrated family office covering lifestyle, the scope varies enormously. Here is a clarification — and where a private concierge becomes indispensable.
The term family office covers very different realities. Understanding the levels of service makes it clear what is handled in-house — and what should be entrusted to specialised partners.
The main levels of service
1. The core: wealth and financial management
Every family office at minimum handles investment management, wealth consolidation, reporting and tax coordination. This is the historic heart of the profession.
2. The intermediate level: legal, tax and governance
Added to this: estate planning, legal structuring, philanthropy and family governance (charters, family councils, preparing the next generations).
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The most complete family offices handle day-to-day administration: household staff payroll, insurance management, property supervision. But few master operational lifestyle.
Where the family office stops
Coordinating butlers across several residences, organising an international private event in 72 hours, securing exclusive access to an experience closed to the public: these missions belong to a distinct profession. This is precisely where a private concierge steps in, as the lifestyle operational arm of the family office.
Read more: private concierge & family office, the lifestyle operational arm.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different levels of service provided by family offices?
There are generally three levels: the core (wealth and financial management), the intermediate level (legal, tax, governance, philanthropy) and the integrated level (day-to-day administration and supervision of daily life). Operational lifestyle is rarely mastered in-house.
Does a family office manage lifestyle and events?
Rarely in a specialised way. Coordinating private staff, confidential events and exclusive access belongs to a private concierge, which acts as the lifestyle operational arm of the family office.
Single family office or multi family office: what's the difference?
A single family office serves one family; a multi family office pools its services across several families. In both cases, operational lifestyle is often outsourced to a specialised partner.
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Alexandre Emmelin
Founder, AC Private
Alsatian entrepreneur, Alexandre founded AC Private with one conviction: true luxury is reclaimed time. He personally leads the most sensitive missions and writes a monthly editorial sharing his vision of exceptional concierge service.
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