FAMILY COUNCIL ADVISORY

Structure, governance and clarity for families whose wealth has outgrown informal decision-making.

Ideal advisory for founder-led and multi-generation families — without the cost of a full Family Office.

Who We Work With

You've built something worth protecting. Now it needs structure.

You’re a founder-led or second-generation family with real, growing complexity — multiple entities, trusts and investment structures. The business has outgrown the kitchen-table conversation. Succession is on the horizon, and keeping everyone aligned is harder than it used to be. You don’t need — or want — the cost and overhead of a full Family Office. You need governance, structure and a trusted independent facilitator in the room.

The Profile, At a Glance

$5M–$50M+

Net Family Wealth

2–4+

Generations Involved

Multi-entity

Trust & Structure Complexity

50+

Founder / Decision-Maker Age

Melbourne

Founder or 2nd-Gen Family

The Challenge

The pressures that build behind the scenes

Four categories of strain we see consistently in families at this stage — often all at once.

Governance

  • No clear decision-making framework
  • Informal arrangements no longer sufficient
  • Active & passive members misaligned
  • No forum for structured family decisions

Succession

  • Succession timing unclear or avoided
  • Next generation not prepared or agreed
  • Founder reluctant to step back
  • No transition plan for business or wealth

Structure & Tax

  • Multiple entities with no oversight hub
  • Advisers uncoordinated across disciplines
  • Complex trust & tax planning not integrated
  • Capital allocation decisions contested

Family Dynamics

  • Fear of conflict and avoiding hard decisions
  • Misalignment between family members
  • Transparency concerns eroding trust
  • No mechanism to depersonalise disputes

Our Service

Structure and discipline, without Family Office cost

We sit deliberately between traditional compliance and a full Family Office — governance-first, cost-effective, and built to scale as your family’s complexity grows.

Fees agreed upfront, no surprises — every engagement begins with a clear scope and cost before any work starts.

01 ESTABLISHMENT

Foundation, Charter and Council design

A structured 3–6 month phase to build the governance framework, agree the Family Charter, and establish the Council.

02 ONGOING

Quarterly / annual advisory & oversight

Regular, independently-facilitated sessions that keep decision-making disciplined and the family aligned.
03 EVENT-BASED

Transaction, succession & dispute support

On-call support for the moments that matter most — liquidity events, succession, and resolving disagreement.

HOW WE WORK

An independent facilitator — not another product-seller

We facilitate — the family retains every decision right

We earn trust slowly; this is a long-term family relationship
We integrate across your legal, tax, wealth and business advisers
We lead with governance and alignment, never compliance alone
“Your advisers are good. Is there a room where they all report?”

What Families Tell Us They Want

  • Clear governance structure for family decisions
  • A trusted, independent facilitator — not a product-pusher
  • Succession planning with clarity & family buy-in
  • Coordinated oversight of tax, structure & estate planning
  • A Family Charter to align values, roles & expectations
  • Structure & discipline without Full Family Office cost

Fit Check

Is Family Council Advisory right for your family?

This is likely a strong fit

  • Family wealth of $5M+, held across multiple entities
  • Genuine appetite for structured governance
  • Openness to bringing other family members into decisions
  • Wants strategic advisory, not compliance alone
  • 2–5 years out from a planned succession or exit event
  • Currently juggling multiple, uncoordinated advisers

Probably not the right fit

  • Family wealth under $4.5M, or a single simple entity
  • No genuine appetite for structured governance
  • Family conflict too entrenched — legal intervention needed
  • Seeking investment management rather than governance
  • Founder unwilling to involve other family members
  • Wants compliance only, resistant to strategic advisory

Let’s Start The Conversation

Your family has built something worth governing well.

If informal decision-making no longer fits your family’s complexity, we’d welcome the chance to talk. A first conversation is about understanding your family’s situation — not a sales pitch.

Fun Fact...

Monday through Friday, Linda keeps our partners and admin team in check, but in her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and (very big) dog!

Fun Fact...

You often hear Mik before you see her, which isn’t a bad thing. Mik brings a wonderful ‘spark’ to the office vibe, even though her stories are a few decibels too loud.

Fun Fact...

Our queen of marketing, design, and all things social, Beckie keeps the office vibes up while liasing with the partners for office decisions.

Fun Fact...

If you’re ever wondering what to get Steph for a gift, well anything sausage dog related will get you a five-star rating from her. With 2 little dachshunds of her own, she’d tell you herself, she’s rather obsessed.

Fun Fact...

You wouldn’t pick it because Lachlan is a gentle, calm person but this guy loves some heavy metal tunes. Wild!

Fun Fact...

Those same keyboard tapping fingertips that crunch your tax numbers are also the best manicured nails in the office…and they’re done by Sarah herself!!

Fun Fact...

When he’s not lodging your BAS, Josh is playing footy. We joke that one day, all of us will turn up to one of his games with ‘Go Josh’ banners and streamers, just like the proud affinity fans we are for Josh!

Fun Fact...

A self-proclaimed culinary extraordinaire, Lachlan enjoys exploring new recipes and making a mess in the kitchen.

Fun Fact...

Aaron is our quiet achiever in the office – his work speaks volumes though!

Fun Fact...

Nicknamed ‘The Chief’, Amy is a keen sailor who also happens to be able to blow the wind outta your sails with one of the loudest sneezes you’ve ever heard!

Fun Fact...

Her knowledge for tax is only matched by her love for a glass of Moscato or two!

Fun Fact...

Part-time netball umpire and crochet enthusiast.

Fun Fact...

The woman with a million different scrunchies! Megan has a different colour for every outfit. It’s certainly something to behold.

Fun Fact...

You know those people who happen to know random one liners from every movie ever made, yep that’s Joel.

Fun Fact...

Often mistaken for many famous celebrities, Chris has been given titles such as ‘The Rock without the Rig’ and ‘The Italian Vin Diesel’.

Fun Fact...

Loves football, golf and travel! He has been to 22 countries and working on seeing the remaining 173.

Fun Fact...

We agree, Will does look like he’d be great at playing the keyboard! In fact, once upon a time Will found himself playing live with the singer, Jewel on breakfast TV, Good Morning Australia!

Fun Fact...

Being a country boy, on the weekends Scott sometimes drives his tractor for the morning coffee run!

Fun Fact...

JP loves a Post It note! Josh’s desk often looks like a coloured jigsaw puzzle. Legend has it there are a couple notes that date back to pre-2000 times!

Fun Fact...

Customer service is very high on Adam’s priority list. In fact, it sits at number 2 right behind golf!