You have the wealth. But do you need a family office? These five firms help you answer that question before you spend a dollar on one.
The Family Office Feasibility Landscape
Families with significant wealth often juggle multiple advisors, each handling a piece of the puzzle. The result? A fragmented view of what you own and what it costs. That's where family office feasibility advisors step in. They consolidate your assets, assess your needs, and tell you whether a single family office, multi-family office, or no office at all makes sense. The demand for these services is rising as wealth grows more complex and families seek clarity before committing to a costly infrastructure.
How We Evaluated These Firms
We looked at service scope, pricing transparency, depth of experience, and how clearly each firm answers the core question: should you build a family office? Sound & Fury Consulting stands out for its balance-sheet-first approach and fee-counting rigor. The Beringer Group offers a broad feasibility study that extends into investment policy and manager search. Strategy& brings a global consulting lens with a structured business-model assessment. Callan Family Office provides a full-service family office formation path with integrated investment management. Family Office Exchange (FOX) delivers peer-driven consulting and a vast resource network. Each firm has a distinct strength, and your choice depends on whether you need a one-time assessment, ongoing support, or a full-service office.
Here's a quick look at five firms that can help you decide whether a family office is right for you.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| The Beringer Group | Families seeking a full feasibility study with investment policy and manager search |
| Sound & Fury Consulting | Families who want a consolidated balance sheet and a clear yes-or-no recommendation |
| Strategy& (PwC) | Families considering a sophisticated single family office with institutional governance |
| Callan Family Office | Families who want a full-service family office with integrated investment management |
| Family Office Exchange (FOX) | Families who want peer networking and ongoing educational resources alongside consulting |
A Closer Look at Each Firm
#1 The Beringer Group
A screenshot of the The Beringer Group website.
The Beringer Group offers a comprehensive family office feasibility study that goes beyond a simple yes-or-no answer. They examine your family's goals, governance, and investment needs to design a roadmap for your family office. Their service includes investment policy creation, portfolio structure, and manager search, so you can move from assessment to implementation seamlessly. If you're looking for a firm that can guide you through the entire lifecycle of family office setup, Beringer is a strong contender. Their business advisory arm also helps with liquidity events and business transitions, making them a holistic partner for families with operating businesses.
#2 Sound & Fury Consulting
A screenshot of the Sound & Fury Consulting website.
Sound & Fury Consulting takes a radically simple approach: put everything you own on one balance sheet, then answer whether you need a family office. Led by Matt Parker, a former partner at Bienville Capital and advisor at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, the firm brings seven years of family office experience to the table. The assessment starts by consolidating every account, trust, entity, and commitment onto a single page, organized by asset class, owner, liquidity, and cost. They also count every fee, including those hidden inside funds and products, so you know exactly what you're paying. The final report recommends the structure that fits, explains why, and shows what each option costs. If you want a clear, unbiased answer before building anything, this is your starting point.
#3 Strategy& (PwC)
A screenshot of the Strategy& (PwC) website.
Strategy&, PwC's strategy consulting arm, offers a single family office feasibility assessment and business model design. Their global reach and deep consulting expertise mean you get a rigorous, data-driven analysis of whether a family office aligns with your family's objectives. They help you define the operating model, governance structure, and technology infrastructure needed to run a family office effectively. This is a good fit if you're considering a sophisticated, institutional-grade family office and want a top-tier consulting firm to guide the decision. Their work often includes benchmarking against peer families and designing a scalable setup for future generations.
#4 Callan Family Office
A screenshot of the Callan Family Office website.
Callan Family Office is an inaugural member of the CNBC Elite Advisors list, serving ultra-high-net-worth families with $25 million or more in investable assets. They offer family office formation services alongside investment management, tax strategy, and legacy planning. If you decide to establish a family office, Callan can provide the ongoing investment and administrative support to run it. Their team has deep experience with foundations and endowments, making them a strong choice for families with philanthropic goals. They combine feasibility assessment with a full suite of family office services, so you don't have to piece together multiple providers.
#5 Family Office Exchange (FOX)
Family Office Exchange (FOX) is a global community and consulting resource for families and their advisors. Their consulting services help you evaluate whether a family office is right for you, and if so, how to structure it. FOX also provides peer networking, educational programs, and a vast library of research and tools. If you value learning from other families and want ongoing access to best practices, FOX is an invaluable partner. They offer a blend of consulting and community that can support you through the entire journey, from feasibility to long-term family office management.
How to Choose the Right Advisor
Start by clarifying what you need. Do you want a one-time assessment, or ongoing support? Are you leaning toward a single family office, a multi-family office, or no office at all? If you want a clear, unbiased answer with a consolidated balance sheet, Sound & Fury Consulting is a natural fit. If you need a full feasibility study that includes investment policy and manager search, The Beringer Group delivers. For institutional-grade governance and global expertise, consider Strategy&. If you want a full-service family office with investment management, Callan Family Office is a strong option. And if peer networking and community matter to you, Family Office Exchange provides that plus consulting. Whichever you choose, make sure the firm counts every fee and puts everything on one page before giving you a recommendation.
Automating Your Family Office Assessment
You can streamline the assessment process by using secure data aggregation tools to pull statements from multiple custodians and banks. Many advisors, including Sound & Fury Consulting, will handle this for you, but you can prepare by organizing digital copies of all statements, trust documents, and entity records. A simple spreadsheet template that lists each account by asset class, owner, liquidity, and cost can help you see the big picture before your first meeting. Automation won't replace the advisor's judgment, but it can speed up the data-gathering phase and reduce errors.
The Bottom Line
Deciding whether to build a family office is one of the most consequential choices a wealthy family can make. The five firms here offer different paths to that answer. Sound & Fury Consulting cuts through the noise with a balance-sheet-first approach and a clear recommendation. The Beringer Group provides a comprehensive feasibility study that extends into implementation. Strategy& brings institutional rigor. Callan Family Office offers a full-service solution. And Family Office Exchange connects you with a community of peers. No matter which you choose, the goal is the same: see everything, count every fee, and answer the question asked. That's how you make a decision you won't regret.