As Q2 2025 came to a close, the global family office landscape revealed a clear shift in posture: from watching and waiting to actively adapting. Following a policy-heavy Q1, this quarter was defined less by announcements and more by execution. Regulatory compliance moved from boardroom agenda items to active workflow redesign. AI experimentation matured into serious procurement. And across Asia, policy tweaks prompted renewed interest in regional structuring. Our June roundup captured many of these shifts as they unfolded.
What emerges is a picture of quiet acceleration. Family offices are refining how they respond to complexity, turning digital exploration into infrastructure, wealth preservation into mobility, and generational planning into active engagement. Here’s what shaped the quarter.
1. Regulation and Compliance: A Global Squeeze
Regulatory pressure continued to mount, particularly in the U.S. and Europe:
- In the United States, family offices are navigating the still-live implications of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), despite enforcement delays.
- Europe’s AML expansion and renewed pressure from FATF are reshaping the private wealth compliance map.
- In contrast, Asia’s updates, such as India’s Category III AIF tax carve-outs and Hong Kong’s exemptions, offered incentives rather than restrictions.
Is this a new trend?
No, but the momentum is building. Regulatory tightening has been on the horizon for years, but the timeline is accelerating. Enforcement mechanisms are becoming more defined, and jurisdictions once seen as neutral are starting to shift.
The Simple View
Structuring decisions are being reassessed in light of both enforcement risk and competitive regulatory advantages elsewhere. Family offices are placing renewed value on jurisdictional optionality and governance hygiene.
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2. Platform Power: AI & Digital Tools Go Vertical
The hype around AI has given way to a more grounded conversation about infrastructure:
- Eton Solutions’ launch of EtonGPT reflects the rise of domain-specific AI built for the complexity of family office operations.
- AI is being embedded in data room organisation, client reporting, and internal knowledge systems, less about visibility, more about functionality.
- Security is a growing priority, with digital due diligence now essential during vendor evaluations.
Is this a new trend?
Yes, we’re past the “experiment and explore” phase. AI and digital platforms have become active budget lines. Family offices are moving from curiosity to structured procurement cycles.
The Simple View
Family offices are no longer just exploring tech; they’re choosing platforms. The digital stack is becoming a strategic pillar, especially for those seeking operational resilience and generational continuity.
3. Generational Transition & Engagement
Legacy planning continues to evolve, with an emphasis on alignment and action:
- Next-generation members are increasingly involved in driving initiatives through venture studios, impact vehicles, and philanthropic platforms.
- Strategic hires now prioritise cross-generational fluency, not just financial expertise.
- Technology tools are being assessed for their ability to support communication, transparency, and shared decision-making across generations.
Is this a new trend?
Not entirely, but it’s accelerating. Generational transition has long been a focus, but the narrative is shifting from passive succession to active collaboration and education.
The Simple View
The transition from wealth transfer to wealth stewardship is underway. Family offices are building cultures of inclusion, education, and co-creation, not just control.
4. Macro Strategy & Wealth Migration
Geopolitics and taxation triggered new movements in strategy and structure:
- Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore and Hong Kong, continued to draw HNW migration and FO formation.
- U.S. election-driven uncertainty is pushing advisors and clients to pre-emptively shift structures ahead of potential federal tax changes.
- There’s increasing interest in geographic diversification, not only for investments, but for residency, access, and optionality.
Is this a new trend?
Yes, the speed of realignment is picking up. While wealthy families have always sought optionality, they’re now making moves earlier and with more conviction.
The Simple View
Families are planning for flexibility. From tax domicile to liquidity access, wealth mobility is being treated as a strategic asset.
Looking Ahead: Q3 as a Test of Resilience
As Q3 begins, the window for passive observation is closing. Family offices that spent Q1 and Q2 preparing, revising structures, exploring tech, building in governance layers — will now begin to test those systems. For others, the pressure to act will intensify. Whether it’s CTA enforcement or platform consolidation, the second half of 2025 will reward those who have moved from exploration to execution.