【Hong Kong Family Office Series · Part 1】Do You Need Billions to Have a Family Office?

(Originally published in the print edition of Hong Kong Economic Journal – March 25, 2026)

Ever since I left the big banks and started my own firm a few years ago, friends still ask me, “That multi-family office thing you’re running—what exactly is it?”

Their tone is often sympathetic: “Isn’t that industry only for ultra‑rich tycoons? How does someone like you even get into that circle?”

And that, in fact, is precisely why we started this business—to challenge the misconception that family offices are only for the ultra-ultra‑wealthy.

The people who need family offices the most may not be the richest ones

From what we see on the front lines, the group that most urgently needs family‑office support is not the billion‑dollar elite.

Instead, it is the segment of high‑net‑worth individuals who qualify as private‑bank clients, but are not considered “top‑tier”—those with a few hundred million Hong Kong dollars in assets, spread across several private banks, yet never quite making it onto the banker’s priority list.

Why? Because in the wealth‑management food chain, they are in the most awkward position.

These individuals are industry leaders—CEOs of listed companies, self‑made entrepreneurs, or highly specialised professionals. But once they step into the investment world, facing derivatives, structured notes, and a jungle of funds, even multiple MBAs may not help them see through the complexity.

And although they have sufficient wealth to qualify for private banking and access sophisticated products, their “commercial potential” still pales in comparison to billion‑dollar clients — or even to certain retail clients who are often charged disproportionately high fees.

This isn’t discrimination—it’s reality. Bankers have limited time and heavy sales pressure, so naturally they must focus on the clients who generate the highest revenue.

The result?

When these clients need help—whether it’s a technical question or a meeting with a specialist—they often wait days or even weeks for an appointment. By the time the meeting happens, the market opportunity may have passed, or the issue may have become more complicated.

It’s not that bankers aren’t trying. It’s the system.

If you’ve ever had a similar experience, what you really need is a guide.

A family office: your personal guide through the financial jungle

A true family office—one that stands firmly on your side—is your dedicated guide in the financial wilderness, helping you navigate complexity and avoid pitfalls.

Family‑office professionals typically come from the banking world. They understand the rules of the game, but are no longer constrained by internal resource allocation or sales targets.

That means your questions become their priority.

Some may wonder: “Doesn’t this kind of personalized service cost a fortune?”

It’s true that a Single Family Office—built for one family only—requires substantial assets to sustain. But the increasingly popular Multi‑Family Office model allows multiple families to share the cost of a professional team, making it possible for more high‑net‑worth families to access the same level of expertise once reserved for the ultra‑rich.

From investment advisory and tax planning to trust structures and next‑generation financial education, the role of a family office is to provide tailored guidance throughout your wealth journey—helping you move forward with greater clarity, stability, and peace of mind.

[Hong Kong Family Office Series · Part 1] Do You Need Billions to Have a Family Office?

---

Closing Note

Did you read the Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKEJ) today? 📰

Ever since I started working in Hong Kong, HKEJ has been my daily must‑read. If I haven’t finished it in the morning, it feels like stepping out the door without makeup — I’m just not ready to face anyone. 

I’m always worried a client will call out of the blue and ask, “Did you see that article? What do you think?” and I’ll be caught off guard. After years of this routine, I’ve developed a kind of “information anxiety,” and the only thing that calms it is getting through the HKEJ every morning.

This was especially true during the pandemic. We couldn’t meet clients in person, and I was constantly afraid of not taking good enough care of them. Back in those pre‑AI days, I woke up at 5 a.m. to read the news. I’d finish three newspapers — including HKEJ — and before 7 a.m., I’d send clients a summary of the key overnight stories, tailored to their portfolios and interests.

My husband used to tease me for “wasting time.” But persistence has its rewards. A few clients really did feel my sincerity, and they’ve stayed with me ever since. They eventually became the strongest supporters behind the founding of Jadewell Family Office.

To be honest, after so many years as an investment advisor in private banking, I’ve never been the wine‑and‑dine type of relationship manager. I can’t drink (I order juice at a bar), and dining out isn’t easy either (I need to go home to cook dinner for my son). All I’ve ever been able to offer clients is my stubborn drive and my anxious, wholehearted commitment to staying informed.

So when I saw the Jadewell Family Office advertisement printed in the HKEJ this time, I felt genuinely moved. It felt like I was reaching back through time to wave at the rookie version of myself from 18 years ago — the one eating breakfast while poring over the HKEJ — and say:

“You’ve worked hard. Keep going.”