Household Mapping

Definition

Definition Household mapping is the process of connecting individuals, family entities, and related structures into one coherent “family unit” view. In the family office world, decisions rarely sit in a single corporate entity; they sit across people and vehicles tied to the same household. Context A family’s investment activity may touch multiple nodes: a family office entity, a holding company, a foundation, a trust structure, and operating businesses—often with overlapping decision-makers. Household mapping solves the practical question: “Who is connected to whom?” and “Where does influence actually sit?” It reduces the risk of treating each entity as independent when, in reality, they are part of one decision ecosystem. Why It Matters Household mapping improves routing and research. It helps avoid fragmented outreach (contacting multiple entities that roll up to the same household with inconsistent messaging) and improves understanding of true exposure and preferences. Without household mapping, you can’t reliably assess whether your “coverage” is broad or just repeatedly touching the same family through different entities. Key Takeaways Families often operate through multiple entities and vehicles Mapping reveals true decision ecosystems Prevents redundant outreach to the same household Improves clarity on control, influence, and context