Family Office Essentials for Wealth Advisors

Understand family office governance, tax strategies, and philanthropy for effective wealth management.

Next intake on 5 August 2026

Up to 70% IBF Subsidy and SkillsFuture Credit Claimable

Programme Overview

Family offices are growing in their significance as a client segment for wealth advisors. This course provides the essential information in the principles, structures, and strategies of family offices. Designed for professionals serving ultra-high-net-worth families, the program explores why family offices are established, their key functions, and how they differ from individual wealth management.

Participants will gain insights into common family office structures and tax strategies, governance frameworks, and investment approaches, including asset allocation and risk management. The course also addresses critical areas such as philanthropy, legacy planning, and succession, equipping participants to integrate family values with long-term wealth objectives.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Evaluate the strategic role of family offices in wealth preservation and succession planning
Differentiate common family office structures, tax strategies, and governance frameworks across jurisdictions
Identify and apply key functions of family offices, including investment management, legal structuring, and family governance
Analyse structural and strategic approaches to family office investments, including asset allocation and risk management
Integrate family values and objectives into philanthropy, legacy, and succession strategies

Course Outline

Section 1: Overview of Family Office

What is a family office and why ultra-high net worth families set-up family offices
Common types of family offices and their functions
Key functions of family offices – investment management, tax & legal structuring, governance & succession, philanthropy, administration & family services

Section 2: Family Office Structures – Tax Strategies and Governance

Common family office and family fund structures including Hold Co, Trust, VCC
Considerations for setting up family offices and family funds in Singapore
Overview of tax landscape – Fund Tax Incentive Schemes, Philanthropy Tax Scheme, etc.
Comparison of schemes for family offices in other jurisdictions
Family office governance and introduction to broader family governance

Section 3: Family Office Investments

Family investments – scope, purpose and strategy
Asset allocation and long-term endowment style investments
In-sourcing vs out-sourcing investments
Investment risk management and governance

Section 4: Philanthropy, Legacy and Succession

Family’s purpose, values and objectives for legacy planning
Understanding the unique challenges and considerations of ultra-high net worth families
Integrating giving with family values and legacy
Roles of advisors to family offices

Section 5: Case Study Assessment

Who Should Attend

Aspiring Family Office Professionals
Wealth Management Associates
Private Banking Associates
Legal, Accounting and Tax Professionals
Financial Planners and Independent Advisors
Philanthropy and Non-Profit Professionals

Useful Links

Download programme brochure

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the programme will be awarded:

Accreditation

IBF Accreditation

This programme is accredited by The Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF). Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are eligible for enhanced funding support of up to 70% course fee subsidy under the IBF Standard Training Scheme (IBF-STS).

Information on IBF-STS funding is available at https://www.ibf.org.sg/home/for-individuals/skills-and-jobs-development/training-support/IBF-STS

Participants are advised to assess the suitability of the courses and their relevance to his/her business activities or job roles.

Certification

Upon completion, participants will be:

Eligible for 8 CPD Hours
Awarded the WMI Certificate in Family Office Essentials

About IBF Certification

The following programme addresses the following Technical Skills and Competencies (TSCs) and proficiency level:

Conflict Management (PL2)
Family Governance (PL4)

Participants are encouraged to access the IBF MySkills Portfolio (https://www.ibf.org.sg/home/for-individuals/resource-tools/myskills-portfolio) to track their training progress and skills acquisition against the Skills Framework for Financial Services. You can apply for IBF Certification after fulfilling the required number of Technical Skills and Competencies (TSCs) for the selected job role.

Find out more about IBF certification and the application process at https://www.ibf.org.sg/home/for-individuals/ibf-certification/why-be-ibf-certified

Fees and Funding

Modules	Full Fees (S$)		Fees after subsidies inclusive of 9% GST (S$) (With effect from 1 January 2023)
Modules	Before GST	After GST	Company-Sponsored	Self-Sponsored

Fees and Funding

Modules	Full Fees (S$)		Fees after subsidies inclusive of 9% GST (S$) (With effect from 1 January 2023)
Modules	Before GST	After GST	Singaporean Aged Below 40 / PR	Singaporean Aged 40 & Above

Fees and Funding

Modules	Fees after Subsidy (incl. of GST)		Fees after subsidies inclusive of 9% GST (S$) (With effect from 1 January 2023)

Category

²


¹		Not Applicable

¹ For Singaporeans aged 40 and above, you are eligible to utilise the SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) further to offset your course fee after the IBF subsidy.

² Fees shown are after IBF-STS funding assuming students meet the minimum academic standards outlined by IBF and are physically based in Singapore. The fees are also subject to IBF accreditation approval for all modules.

Fees and Funding

Modules

Full Fees
(S$)

Fees after subsidies inclusive of 9% GST (S$) (With effect from 1 January 2023)

Before GST

After GST

Singaporean
Aged Below 40 / PR

Company Sponsored/Self Sponsored

Singaporean
Aged 40 & Above

Company Sponsored/Self Sponsored

With IBF Funding

2,000.00

2,180.00

1,180.00

780.00

With IBF Funding and UTAP Subsidies*

2,000.00

2,180.00

907.50

390.00

Fees and Funding

Modules	Full Fees (S$)		Fees after subsidies inclusive of 9% GST (S$) (With effect from 1 January 2023)
Modules	Before GST		Below 40	40 & Above

Note:

*NTUC Starter members can enjoy 50% off unfunded course fees, up to $200 per year, for UTAP-supported courses. Visit their website for more details.

The fees listed above are after IBF-STS funding. Any discrepancies in registration details or failure to meet minimum IBF academic requirements will result in an unsuccessful IBF reimbursement claim and students will be liable for the full tuition fees. For funding eligibility criteria and more information regarding the funding, please visit www.ibf.org.sg/home/for-individuals/skills-and-jobs-development/training-support/IBF-STS.

Eligible SG citizens may utilise Skillsfuture Credits to offset course fees. This is only applicable for the regular Skillsfuture Credit, and not applicable for the SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) additional top-up funding.

The programme is supported under UTAP. As such, NTUC members enjoy 50% unfunded** course fee support for up to $250 each year. NTUC members aged 40 and above will get increased funding support from $250 to $500. NTUC Starter members can enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support for up to $200 per year when you attend courses supported under UTAP.
** Unfunded course fee refers to the balance course fee payable after applicable government subsidy.

For more details on UTAP and claiming process, please visit their webpage.

The information above is correct at the time of publication. The Wealth Management Institute reserves the right to amend the fees and/or terms and conditions as appropriate.