Family office sector ‘growing rapidly’ amid shift towards a more structured approach

The global family office sector is experiencing a period of rapid growth and shifting towards a more structured approach, although operational diversity remains high, according to a report from Knight Frank.

The real estate consultancy’s 2026 Family Office Survey described the rise of the modern family office as a “story about the extraordinary expansion of global wealth”.

Amid this rapid growth, the report highlighted a general shift towards a more structured approach, with portfolios increasingly focused on explicit targets, formal processes, and analysis-based decisions.

Knight Frank pointed to several trends that illustrated this evolution, including increased collaboration through co-investment; professionalisation with the employment of internal specialists in private equity, venture capital, and real estate; and diversification by combining liquid assets with private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, and direct property investments in portfolios.

Despite this shift, the report noted that the global family office sector remained “remarkably diverse” in approach and operation.

Technology, data platforms, and improved data-sourcing tools were found to be enabling institutions to analyse a large quantity of investment opportunities and provide them to clients more efficiently.

The repot noted that agility could become the greatest advantage, with single family offices potentially becoming the most resilient as they will be able to adapt quickly to new opportunities due to their flexibility, speed of decision making, and alignment with a single capital base.

“There is a growing preference for lighter, more flexible structures, reflecting a broader shift in ultra-wealthy lifestyles towards convenience and immediacy,” the report stated.

“Some family offices are applying this internally: keeping structures lean while tapping external expertise when opportunities arise.”

Wealthy families were found to be increasingly establishing themselves in multiple jurisdictions, with London and New York remaining important centres, while newer hubs such as Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore were gaining momentum.

London’s role in the family office space was changing, according to the report, with the city under pressure and sentiment being more cautious than a decade ago.

However, it noted that few believed London’s importance would disappear, as the city’s deep financial ecosystem, global connectivity, and time zone advantages remaining “powerful anchors in an era of mobility”.

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