Family Offices Use Encrypted Chats to Share Deal Flow

Family offices use encrypted chats to share deal flow, with WhatsApp increasingly serving as a one-stop network to vet opportunities, find advisers and flag potential scams, even as cyber-security specialists warn that consumer-grade controls can create risks.

Sam Nallen Copley, a London-based adviser, runs a 970-member group for single-family offices and said the chat can quickly “sense check” unknown counterparties and weed out fakes.

Professionals said WhatsApp often beats email and LinkedIn for on-the-go, cross-time-zone messaging, and many groups ban product pitching and screen out vendors.

Unlike regulated banks that have faced penalties for WhatsApp use, family offices typically operate with fewer restrictions.

Experts cautioned that even with encryption, Meta can see metadata and chats sit on devices, creating exposure if phones are lost or employees leave.

They recommend using the channel for routine coordination, not sensitive approvals, as family offices use encrypted chats to share deal flow.