AYU Launches Approved Family Office Programme to Enhance Trust in the Wealth Management Sector
AYU, the global private members’ club for family offices and investment professionals, has launched the AYU Approved Family Office (AFO) Programme, a rigorous vetting initiative designed to foster trust and transparency within the wealth management and family office sectors. The AFO Programme addresses a growing issue of misrepresentation, ensuring that only verified family offices gain access to AYU’s network while providing them with a certified badge to demonstrate they are a genuine family office to the broader industry.
As the family office sector expands globally, driven significantly by generational wealth transfers, AYU has recognised the need to address the rise of “fake family offices” seeking to exploit exclusive access to high value investors and events. The AFO Programme sets a new benchmark by authenticating each family office through a detailed vetting process, setting a new industry standard for transparency and trust.
The programme will also offer certified family offices the opportunity to display an official stamp of verification, signifying credibility and authenticity both within and beyond the AYU network. This mark of trust is designed to help distinguish genuine family offices in an increasingly complex and targeted sector.
AYU’s vetting criteria ensure only credible family offices join the network. Eligible organisations must manage wealth on behalf of one or more ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals or families, with assets under management (AUM)of above $50 million. They must also define their structure whether as a single-family office, a multi-family entity, or a family office offering external services, and demonstrate a commitment to ethical use of AYU’s platform.
There is no cost or obligation in seeking or gaining AFO status, so all genuine family offices will welcome the opportunity to prove themselves. In time, AYU will offer open access to a search function allowing anyone in the world to check if an individual is an approved AYU approved family office.
Gus Morison, CEO and founder at AYU, commented:
“The Approved Family Office Programme is a significant step forward in addressing misrepresentation within the family office sector. By setting high standards and filtering out those who do not meet our criteria, AYU is building a trusted, quality-driven community for family offices. This programme will raise the bar across the industry and help create a benchmark of transparency and integrity in wealth management.”