The launch is another step in a series of offerings from the non-profit think tank, with which this publication is exclusive media partner.

(An earlier version of this article appeared in late September on Family Wealth Report, sister news service to this one. FWR is exclusive media partner to the Institute. The think tank – based in the US which also has an international reach – is why we are republishing the article here.)

The US-headquartered think tank, UHNW Institute, has formally launched the Single-Family Office Circle, aimed at operational professionals with thought leadership, peer learning and curated experiences. 

As part of the rollout, the Institute announced that Kristen Oliveri, a wealth management journalist and thought leader who has engaged with the sector for more than 20 years, joined earlier in 2025 to conceptualise and head the offering. 

“The ultimate mission of this new offering is to provide an intellectual framework and shared understanding of how SFOs operate and evolve with education and peer to peer learning at the core of the SFO Circle,” Steve Prostano, co-founder, chairman and CEO of the Institute said. 

Single-family offices (SFOs) inside and outside the US are invited to get involved, the Institute said in a statement yesterday.

The Institute is seeking to tap into a global market for SFOs. According to one measure from Deloitte in 2024, there are more than 8,000 single-family offices and there could be more than 10,000 by the end of the decade.

The new initiative comes as the Institute continues to develop a framework for advisors and others serving ultra-wealthy families working with clients. See more here and here. And see this interview with the authors of "Wealth 3.0," The Future Of Family Wealth Advising.

The SFO Circle will cover the following areas: 

Thought leadership and tools – original and curated faculty content, case studies, a resource library based on the Institute’s Ten Domains of Family Wealth framework, and practice-management pillars tailored to SFOs; 

Peer community and knowledge sharing – SFO-only forums, regional meetups, and clinics that create a trusted space for benchmarking approaches and solving real-world challenges; 

Purpose-built programming – interactive clinics, study groups, roundtables, a dedicated SFO quarterly podcast series, and an annual symposium designed to professionalise and future-proof operations; 

Member access and events – private portal with directory and discussion boards, including access to master classes, webinars, and select UHNW Institute-wide programming; 

Talent development – risk management “bootcamp,” emerging leader retreats, and topical intensives for rising SFO professionals; and 

Advisory and training support – concierge advisory calls, strategic consulting sessions, and tailored training for executives, staff, and family members.

Preparing the ground
“We began exploring the SFO Circle offering over two years ago, connecting with SFO leaders to learn more about where and how the UHNW Institute could provide value to professionalise, future-proof, and align their office operations,” Oliveri said. “We heard [that] they wanted value-added content that was relevant, actionable, and objective. Additionally, we believe we can provide support and guidance around many of their operational needs, which we identify in our practice management pillars, as infrastructure/operations, talent, stakeholders, and principal services.”

A prospective member must be either a senior-level executive or an experienced professional with at least five years of experience in a family office. The office must serve a single family and may or may not operate an active business alongside the single-family office. All applicants are vetted by the UHNW Institute to ensure alignment with membership standards. Membership options include individual and enterprise membership.

The Institute, a non-profit, hosts its 5th Annual UHNW Symposium on 17 to 18 November 2025, in New York City.