ISFB Family Officer Certificate

Content: The ISFB Family Officer Kick-Off marks the launch of the training program dedicated to professionals in global wealth management. The aim of this opening session is to present the structure of the course, its educational objectives, and the key skills developed throughout the program. It also sets out the current challenges facing family officers: a holistic approach to wealth, coordination of experts (legal, tax, financial), family governance, and intergenerational management. The Kick-Off is also an opportunity for participants and speakers to exchange ideas and network, promoting the sharing of experiences and the creation of group dynamics. Finally, it offers an initial strategic perspective on the role of the family officer in a constantly changing regulatory, tax, and economic environment.

Content: This course explores the foundations of family identity in the context of wealth management, focusing on the values, relational dynamics and intergenerational trajectories specific to wealthy families. Using a sociological, psychological and strategic approach, participants learn to decipher a family's
'genetic code': its beliefs, modes of governance, latent tensions and levers of cohesion.

Content: This course explores the challenges of intergenerational inheritance in wealthy families, with a particular focus on supporting the next generation. It enables Family Officers to better understand the expectations, values and aspirations of heirs, who often have different visions to those of their predecessors.

Content: The Governance module aims to provide participants with an overview of the fundamental principles and essential components of family governance systems, including family offices. At the end of this module, participants will understand the needs addressed by family governance and will know when and how it is advisable to implement it.

Content: Following a comprehensive introduction to the issues and fundamental principles of WP, we will cover the topics of tax residence, personal taxation and inheritance from a civil and tax perspective. Practical case studies will illustrate the theory. The aim of the course is to be practical, fun and concrete, with real-life examples thrown in for good measure.

Content: This module enables participants to gain a better understanding of their clients' wealth situation by integrating both financial and behavioral elements. It covers the fundamentals of risk profiling, the basics of behavioral finance, and the importance of customer psychology in wealth advice. Participants learn how to combine the various stages of the investment process to deliver a coherent, personalized portfolio management experience.

The course also covers the main asset classes, their role in investment solutions, and the key notions of asset allocation and portfolio construction, in a global, client-centric approach.

Content: This module enables participants to understand the fundamentals of private markets and their growing role in wealth management, particularly with family offices. It covers the main investment strategies such as private equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure, highlighting their characteristics, risks and opportunities.

Participants discover how to integrate these assets into an overall portfolio strategy, taking into account the notions of return, liquidity, valuation and structuring of investment vehicles. The course also covers methods of accessing alternative investments, and issues relating to value creation and sustainability (ESG).

Content: The aim of this module is to define the concept of hedge funds as an investment vehicle and its use in portfolio construction. The aim is to distinguish hedge funds from traditional funds, through their legal structure, liquidity and investment flexibility. It also explains the benefits of adding hedge funds to a strategic portfolio allocation. In this module, you will be introduced to the different hedge fund strategies available. There are many strategies, some better known than others, that you need to know about. Examples and case studies will be the essential activities of this module.

Content: This course enables participants to understand the challenges and specificities of real estate investment in a wealth management context. It covers the different categories of real estate assets, investment strategies (direct or via collective vehicles), as well as selection, valuation and management criteria.

Participants learn how to integrate real estate into an overall portfolio strategy, taking into account long-term objectives, liquidity constraints, tax aspects and ESG considerations. The course also highlights the role of real estate in wealth transfer and asset diversification within family offices.

Content: This course enables participants to understand the financing solutions adapted to UHNWI (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals) customers, from a wealth management perspective. Despite their financial comfort, these customers regularly call on credit for strategic, tax or liquidity reasons.

The course covers the different types of credit frequently requested, how the interest rate market works, the players in the financing market, and the principles involved in structuring an optimized credit application. Participants also learn how to follow up and monitor a credit portfolio, taking into account performance, risk and service quality issues.

This training course gives Family Officers the keys to effectively advising their customers on financing solutions, while taking into account the specificities of the market and the expectations of this demanding clientele.

Contents: Philanthropy is an increasingly important topic for families today. It represents an essential dimension of their intangible heritage and embodies their raison d'être in today's world. The aim of this module is to help participants gain a better understanding of the issues involved in philanthropic involvement by families, whether they have invested assets or own a family group. It offers concrete examples, practical approaches, as well as useful tools and resources.

For a family officer, several dimensions will be explored. The module begins with an overview of current trends in philanthropy, from traditional giving to impact finance and social entrepreneurship. It then presents eight strategic issues that will enable you to adopt a professional and proactive approach, notably through the Family Philanthropy Navigator developed by IMD and WISE. Particular attention is paid to the specific characteristics of each generation, in families where two, three or even four generations may be involved simultaneously.

Case studies will illustrate the different ways in which families are involved in philanthropy today. Finally, part of the module will be devoted to family foundations, with a presentation of best practices to ensure their effective and sustainable management.

Content: Understanding and applying Swiss regulations is essential to ensure legal compliance and effective risk management within a family office. This module offers an in-depth exploration of the main laws in force, including the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), the Financial Services Act (FINA), the Financial Institutions Act (FINA) and the Data Protection Act (DPA).
A holistic approach to the regulatory framework enables us to analyze the interactions between these different laws, and to understand the relationships with the relevant Swiss authorities, such as FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority), FTA (Federal Tax Administration), Supervisory Bodies (SB) and Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRO). This analysis is particularly relevant for family offices, which, depending on their structure (single or multi-family office), may be subject to licensing and supervisory obligations.
Governance and risk management play a central role in this context. This involves identifying the legal, operational and reputational risks associated with family office activities, and implementing best practices in terms of compliance. This includes documenting financial services, assessing the risks associated with financial instruments, verifying the appropriateness and adequacy of advice, and ensuring transparency with regard to conflicts of interest and remuneration received.
The aim of this module is to provide professionals with a clear and operational understanding of the Swiss regulatory framework, while equipping them for responsible governance in line with current standards.

Content: This module explores the supervision and monitoring mechanisms essential to good governance of a family office. It aims to provide participants with the skills needed to put in place a control framework adapted to Swiss regulatory requirements, while ensuring the transparency, traceability and security of operations.

Through a practical and strategic approach, the course addresses the roles and responsibilities linked to internal supervision, tools for monitoring financial and asset activities, as well as interactions with regulatory bodies (FINMA, SRO, etc.). It also focuses on risk prevention, ongoing compliance and performance evaluation of service providers and partners.

This module is particularly relevant for professionals in charge of management, control or consulting within family offices, whether single or multi-family.

Content: This module explores two essential pillars of modern family office management: information structuring and data protection. On the one hand, it addresses the challenges of global reporting, enabling a consolidated and strategic vision of family wealth, integrating financial, real estate and private assets, as well as extra-financial commitments. On the other hand, it addresses the growing digital risks and cybersecurity measures essential to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations, notably the HPA.

Participants will learn how to design effective reporting systems while implementing robust IT security practices, guaranteeing the reliability, confidentiality and resilience of family office operations.

Content: This module explores how family offices can guide families in developing sustainable investment strategies that align with their values, long-term goals, and intergenerational mission. As part of the global transition to a more sustainable economy, the goal is to mobilize private capital as a driver of change, while aiming for robust financial performance.

Participants will explore the fundamentals of sustainable investing, including ESG risk management, identifying opportunities related to the sustainable transition of the economy, reducing negative impacts, and contributing positively to environmental and social goals. They will learn how to identify families' priorities and design tailored investment solutions aligned with their aspirations, whether in terms of environmental or climate preservation, education, or social inclusion.

Content: Currently being drafted

Content: This course presents the services offered by a Private Office and highlights how it connects the various components of wealth: wealth management, estate planning, asset allocation, real estate, and private equity. It analyzes the integrated approach that ensures strategic consistency, diversification, and tax optimization with a long-term vision. Particular attention is paid to client relations, based on independence, trust, and absolute confidentiality. Practical cases and real-life studies illustrate the structuring of wealth after the sale of a business, the management of complex assets, or the reallocation of concentrated wealth, in order to provide a concrete understanding of the Private Office's role as a conductor.

Content: At the end of the program, reflective feedback enables participants to make the link between the knowledge acquired and its concrete application in a professional context. The aim is to demonstrate the ability to articulate the program's various inputs, to take a step back from one's own practice, and to identify the evolution of personal skills developed throughout the training. It also encourages the transfer of knowledge to real-life situations, taking into account the specific challenges of the Family Officer profession.

The deliverable consists of a group presentation (3 to 4 people) on the implementation of an aspect covered during the certificate, from the perspective of a Family Office provider or owner. The active participation of each member must be clearly demonstrated.

Assessment takes the form of a twenty-minute oral presentation to all participants, followed by a ten-minute discussion with the jury or the audience. Presentation of a visual aid is optional. A grade of 'Pass' or 'Fail' is awarded at the end of the assessment.