Entity structure is often treated as a legal or tax decision made late in the investment process. For family offices, ownership structure should be viewed as a strategic choice with long-term implications for governance, control, and wealth transfer.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) offer flexibility and operational control. Limited Partnerships (LPs) can facilitate pooled family capital and clearly defined roles. Trust structures may support estate planning, asset protection, and intergenerational transfer. Each structure carries trade-offs that extend well beyond tax efficiency.

Choosing the wrong structure can complicate decision-making, create unintended control issues, or limit exit options. Conversely, a well-designed ownership framework can simplify reporting, clarify authority, and align economic interests across family members.

Families benefit from evaluating structure early, in parallel with strategy development, rather than retrofitting entities after assets are acquired.