Morgan Stanley Family Office Framework Addresses Governance and Succession

A new Morgan Stanley family office framework aims to help ultra-high-net-worth families strengthen governance, investment management and operational resilience as wealth management requirements become increasingly complex.

Morgan Stanley Family Office has published The Adaptive Family Office: A Framework for Alignment Amid Change, outlining approaches to coordinating family office activities and long-term objectives.

The paper identifies six areas requiring alignment: mission and purpose, governance, investment strategy, operations, risk management and family support.

It also introduces a four-stage process comprising Adapt, Reorient, Shape and Calibrate.

The approach is designed to help family offices reassess their strategies, operating structures and decision-making processes as family circumstances and external conditions change.

Morgan Stanley said the framework addresses challenges including succession planning, cybersecurity, investment complexity and family governance.

The publication also includes a questionnaire to support leadership assessments, governance reviews and transition planning.

The framework reflects growing demand for more structured and adaptable management of multigenerational family wealth.