Family Office Stories

Key topics we discuss include: The practical barriers to private market investing : why information gaps, network-driven access and ongoing administration continue to challenge lean family office teams. Funds versus deal-by-deal investing : the trade-offs shaping how families balance commitment, liquidity and control across their private market exposure. The role of late-stage, pre-IPO technology...

Key topics we discuss include: “KYC is not just KYC” : why family offices need a joined‑up view that goes beyond AML and source of wealth to include reputational risk, sanctions exposure, PEP relationships and adverse media—and how these factors can affect assets and structures.  Building a fact‑based “financial biography” : documenting how wealth was accumulated—from the first dollar to the most...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, Lisa Cornwell speaks with Hugh Obbard, founder of London-based advisory firm Obbard, which has helped global families navigate Prime Central London real estate for more than 30 years – a market that has long been a preferred destination for internationally mobile families seeking stability and long‑term value. They discuss how the market has shifted ov...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, Lisa Cornwell chats with Danielle Valkner, who heads our US family office practice and guides some of the world's most influential families. They explore how US family offices are evolving—transforming into efficient, business-like entities by integrating the right talent, processes, controls, and technology. The discussion delves into what it means to...

In this episode of our “Family Business Stories” podcast Lisa Cornwell, who leads our private clients and Family Offices team, engages with philanthropy consultant Diego Estrada to explore how private foundations and grant-makers can boost their impact sustainably. They discuss enhancing operations and governance, fostering trust-based partnerships, and why Switzerland stands out as a hub for inno...

In episode 24 of our Family Business Stories Podcast, PwC’s Lisa Cornwell talks to Gilles Erulin, a longstanding family office practitioner and founder of Westwick Melrose & Cromwell (WMC), a hands-on consulting firm that supports families with family offices in managing extraordinary situations. Among other things, they look at Gilles’s learnings from decades at Financiere Pinault, the family off...

In this episode of our “Family Business Stories” podcast the last our mini-series focussed on the upcoming Switzerland Inheritance Initiative, PwC’s Lisa Cornwell talks to Alexandra Bertschi, PwC Switzerland’s family governance specialist. They talk about some of the more family-related and emotional aspects of the new tax inheritance initiative, due to go to the vote in the coming months. If appr...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, Lisa Cornwell talks to Jürg Niederbacher, who leads PwC’s private wealth practice across Switzerland, about the latest practical developments in the Inheritance Initiative. Now that the proposal and the alternatives have been rejected by the two chambers of parliament, what are the chances of a Yes vote later this year?

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, we talk to PwC Switzerland’s head of tax about how wealthy families are tackling the issue of inheritance – in particular in light of the upcoming inheritance initiative in Switzerland. This is the first of three editions of the podcast devoted to inheritance and succession, a technically complex but also emotionally charged issue for the people involv...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, we talk to Nick Bedford, investment advisor at NFG Partners, about the growing popularity of Outsourced Chief Investment Officers (OCIOs) among family offices. Nick shares some insights into why more family offices are embracing the OCIO model to access top-tier investment expertise and resources without the need for an extensive in-house team. He expl...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, we talk to Anita Mikkonen, partner and head of PwC Switzerland’s real estate tax and legal practice, and explore the opportunities for family offices to invest in Swiss real estate. She talks about real estate as a popular investment for family offices, focusing on Swiss property. She gives insight into listed real estate investment companies, investme...

Managing substantial wealth can be a difficult business at times. The provision of accurate information is critical to deal with tax, legal, regulatory and compliance matters, and many families have to duplicate time and effort with every request for information. In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, Tomas Hurcik, CEO of ORCA, introduces the business he founded to deal with these challenge...

This episode of our Family Office Podcast looks at how family offices are dealing with the new data protection legislation and what family offices can do to protect themselves from problems arising from this regulation. Comprehensive new legislation governing data protection and privacy – in particular the EU’s GDPR and the new Swiss Data Protection Act – is posing major challenges for organisatio...

This episode of our Family Office Podcast features Patrick Rooney, partner and head of business development at ProMeritum. ProMeritum is a UK-based hedge fund specialising in absolute return emerging markets fixed-income. In the podcast, Patrick explores the way his clients are currently responding to the widespread uncertainty globally and specifically how uncertainty in the US is prompting famil...

The topic of sustainability can be tricky to navigate given the many and varied regulatory challenges, but it is certainly on the agenda of many family offices as they seek to match the values and passions of the family members with the sustainability investment environment. Antonios Koumbarakis, partner in PwC Switzerland’s Sustainability Competence Centre, works with a range of clients to tackle...

In this episode of our Family Office Podcast, we speak with Chris Edward, a UK-regulated advisor and Sales Director for Lombard International Assurance, who has been dealing with UK resident clients for nearly 25 years in the wealth planning space. His expertise are primarily focused on trust and insurance based planning solutions.

In this episode of our Family Office podcast, we talk with Johannes Smits, Partner in People and Organisation at PwC Switzerland, where we discuss how Family Offices of all shapes and sizes manage the challenges faced and strategies to use when attracting and retaining talent.

Diversification is a key consideration for families and family offices making investments. Understanding and assessing opportunities available outside of the ‘traditional’ investment universe can be challenging. In this episode, we talk with Pascal Schneidinger, CEO and founder of Partasio, a company providing access to art investment. Pascal walks us through art as a diversifying asset class, tou...

Corporate Governance, Family Governance und Rollen im Familienunternehmen: diesen drei Themen widmen sich Reto Blaser, Catharina Prym und Roman Leimer. Aufbauend auf der bisherigen Family Governance Podcast Serie, erhalten Sie in dieser Ausgabe weitere Insights unserer Family Business Experten und wie Sie diese Themen in Ihrem Familienunternehmen angehen können.

In dieser Episode des Family Governance Podcasts führen Roman Leimer und Catharina Prym durch die ersten drei Zimmer des Strategiehauses: Mitgliedschaft, Selbstverständnis, Geschäftsmodell. In 18 Minuten vermittelt Ihnen unsere «Hausbesichtigung» wertvolle Einblicke in einen Beratungsprozess, der Familienunternehmen systematisch zur nachhaltigen Strategie begleitet – Ziel für Ziel, Zimmer für Zimm...

This episode focuses on sustainability. We will take a look at the different approaches to defining it. We will also talk about its impact, sustainable investments and the opportunities that it presents for family businesses and family offices. Lastly, we will consider how the next generation can use sustainability to contribute to companies and growing wealth.

Mit einer Inhaberstrategie erhalten Sie ein einheitlicheres Bild davon, was Familie, Unternehmen und deren Zusammenspiel bedeuten. Die Familienverfassung als verbalisierte Form erleichtert Ihren zukünftigen Dialog miteinander.

Aus dem Spannungsfeld von Geld, Macht und Liebe gehen unterschiedliche Ansprüche hervor. Mit einer Family Governance schaffen Sie Klarheit über Bedürfnisse, Ziele und Verhalten. Es ist nie zu früh, die Zukunft abzusichern.

More and more wealthy people and business-owning families are considering moving abroad, whether for private, professional or business reasons, as a result of COVID-19 or because a new chapter in their life is beginning. This episode of our podcast looks at aspects that you should consider and clarify before moving. Topics include tax residence, tax privileges, flat-rate taxation, freedom of movem...

New taxation rules, which have been adapted to the international standard, entered into force in Switzerland on 1 January 2020. The fifth episode of our Family Business Stories is dedicated to the effects and opportunities arising from this tax reform. We explain why international multi-corporations with the previous tax regimes are not the only companies that should pay attention to the new provi...