Family Governance
Family governance is the structure and process a family uses to make decisions, manage roles, and preserve continuity across generations.
Allocator relevance: A major determinant of mandate stability, decision velocity, and long-term allocator behavior.
Expanded Definition
Governance covers how the family defines objectives, resolves conflicts, delegates authority to professionals, and manages succession. Strong governance reduces the probability that investment strategy changes abruptly due to interpersonal dynamics or leadership transitions.
In family office datasets, governance strength is often inferred from observable structures (council, constitution, IPS, IC) rather than directly disclosed.
How It Works in Practice
Families implement governance via formal documents (charter/constitution), committees (family council, investment committee), and role definitions (CIO/CFO/Executive Director). Education of next-gen members often supports continuity.
Decision Authority and Governance
Governance determines who has veto power, who controls access, and how decisions are escalated. For outreach and diligence, governance also determines how much context and relationship-building is required before decisions are made.
Common Misconceptions
- Governance means “institutional” and not applicable to families.
- Governance guarantees alignment.
- Governance is static once established.
Key Takeaways
- Governance is a real driver of portfolio stability.
- It shapes decision chains and mandate continuity.
- Good governance lowers operational and relationship risk.