The responsible stewardship of wealth in relation to family offices

Matthew Millard-Beer
Matthew Millard-Beer

Managing Partner

With great wealth comes great responsibility, it is essential for family offices to adopt a responsible stewardship approach towards their client's wealth.

As the number of wealthy families continues to grow, so does the emphasis on responsible stewardship of wealth, particularly as succession planning takes places for wealth transfers to the next generation of a family. In the current commercial and regulatory environment, adopting a sustainable approach insulates UHNW families from several critical risks. If unaddressed, these risks could result in financial loss and fines, the inability to conduct business and reputational damage. Equally, it presents the opportunity to develop greater commitment to responsible wealth stewardship and create a lasting legacy for a family.

The surge in ESG investing highlights a clear interest in sustainability and social impact among UHNW individuals. A survey by U.S. Trust found that 78% of wealthy individuals believe that giving back to society is important, with 57% of millennials stating that a company’s commitment to social or environmental causes is a factor when making investment decisions. Despite this, a 2022 Wealth Report by Knight Frank found that the biggest barrier to future stewardship investment is the uncertainty around the topic and ‘lack of opportunities’.

At Itriom, we believe incorporating discussions around Legacy, Engagement, Impact, and Purpose (LEIP) into succession planning helps to overcome this, by integrating a sense of unifying purpose into a family office or institution that considers the global demand for change, as well as considering the benefits for future generations to come.

Factoring in Legacy, Engagement, Impact, and Purpose

At Itriom, we believe incorporating discussions around Legacy, Engagement, Impact, and Purpose (LEIP) into succession planning helps to overcome this, by integrating a sense of unifying purpose into a family office or institution that considers the global demand for change, as well as considering the benefits for future generations to come.

By embedding LEIP investment strategies and broader wealth stewardship plans into the family office, they are best equipped to meet their own financial goals, while aligning with a global regulations and climate goals. More importantly, the family office becomes a key contributor in generating a positive impact on both the environment and society.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that responsible stewardship of wealth is not only an ethical obligation but also a necessity in the current business environment. Family offices need to adopt a sustainable approach towards wealth management and invest a greater sense of purpose and value creation into their investment strategies. By doing so, they can ensure that their clients’ wealth is used to benefit, current and future generations guarantee a family legacy to remember.

About the author:

Matthew Millard-Beer is CEO & Founder, based in Itriom’s London Office.

About Itriom

Itriom is the global impact platform helping leading families shape a better world. Itriom’s platform enables families to refresh and redesign their values, aligns them with the right UN Sustainable Development Goals, combining them in an agreed purpose and a Family Impact Charter. Itriom’s platform supports the development of impact initiatives and whilst providing discrete and secure spaces for peer-to-peer messaging and collaboration. Itriom’s core practices in leadership, geostrategy, and sustainability benefit clients by developing strategies to engage and support the next generation in building a lasting legacy of which families can be proud. 

About Itriom's Leadership Practice

Itriom’s leadership and resilience practice instils all-encompassing leadership in support of principals of leading families and the next generation preparing for family succession, transition and evolution. 

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Alizah Beg

ESG Consultant

Alizah is an ESG Consultant and researcher. She supports Itriom developing sustainability related products and services, helping our clients identify potential opportunities for creating positive environmental, social and sustainable impact.

Georgina Murrin

ESG Analyst

Georgie is an ESG Analyst and researcher. She researches trends, develops insights and reports, and writes insight articles on sustainability and ESG related topics to ensure Itriom’s clients are up to date on the latest policy, progress and initiatives to inform the platform and help our clients maximise their positive impact.

Tim Boughton

Senior Partner
Practice Leader – Leadership & Resilience

Renowned family office thought leader, Tim works with UHNW families to ensure they are fully equipped to deliver their legacies inter-generationally and effectively.

Dr. Herb Castillo

Associate Partner
Practice Leader – Sustainability

Dr. Herb creates methodologies and frameworks for managing, measuring and assessing sustainability performance. His work identifies where maximum impact can be made.

Simon Hulland-Lucas

Senior Partner
Practice Leader – Geostrategy

Simon harnesses research, liaison and networks globally to identify opportunities for Itriom, building the knowledge needed to deliver intergeneration legacies for UHNW families.

Matthew Millard-Beer

Managing Partner
Practice Leader – Strategy

Matthew is Founder & CEO of Itriom, providing solutions and a global platform for Ultra High Net Worth Principals and their families to engage in unifying purpose, enduring legacy, and sustainable impact.