Ranking the Top Family Offices: How We Crunched the Numbers

Our ranking of family offices is based on data compiled by Bloomberg from information self- reported by family-office firms.

Bloomberg surveyed more than 1,000 money management firms worldwide, using a database obtained from Portland, Oregon-based Family Offices Group. More than 130 firms responded; we ranked the top 50 by assets under management.

We requested that each family-office firm exclude money they manage for pension funds and other institutions and include funds managed for private foundations.

Family offices are included in the ranking only if they provide both comprehensive investment and non-investment services to multi-generational families. Seventy-six percent of the ranked family offices manage family assets directly, while 24 percent provide only investment-advisory services and outsource money management.

The ranked firms provide a wide variety of non-investment services, including organizing family meetings, art consulting, estate planning, foundation management and concierge services such as property management, private travel arrangements and shopping assistance.

Private banks are included if the bank has a unit that offers direct and comprehensive investment and noninvestment services to families.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Serrill at mserrill@bloomberg.net.