It seems almost daily that headlines reveal high-net-worth families falling victim to sophisticated scams. In one recent case, hackers used deepfake audio of a trusted advisor to trick a family member into wiring millions to criminals, resulting in financial loss and reputational harm. These incidents aren't isolated. Family offices and the families they serve face cyberattacks involving multimillion-dollar ransomware demands and breaches exposing sensitive personal and financial data. Wealth attracts risk, and the consequences extend far beyond monetary loss, threatening privacy, trust and long-term family legacy. This paper examines the key risks facing single-family offices (SFOs) and outlines insurance strategies to mitigate those risks.
Single-family offices encounter a diverse range of risks that can significantly affect both the family and the entity. Operational risks include internal fraud, governance failures and vendor mismanagement, which can lead to financial losses and reputational harm. Financial risks arise from market volatility, liquidity constraints and poor investment decisions, potentially jeopardizing long-term wealth preservation. Cybersecurity risks are increasingly prevalent, with threats such as data breaches, ransomware attacks and identity theft targeting wealthy families and their offices. Reputational risks can stem from public exposure or social media incidents, which may damage the family’s image and business relationships. Finally, family-related risks encompass personal liability, domestic staff employment liability, loss of property due to hurricanes and wildfires; theft of valuables such as art and jewelry and exposures linked to global travel, all of which require proactive planning.
To address these risks, SFOs must implement comprehensive insurance programs that cover both organizational and personal exposures. At the entity level, coverage should include property and casualty insurance to protect physical assets, Professional Liability, Directors & Officers (D&O), Trustee Liability, Fiduciary Liability and Employee Practices liability insurance to protect against errors in the services and financial oversight performed on behalf of the family. In addition, the family office should carry cyberinsurance to mitigate digital threats, crime insurance to cover employee/non-employee crime and employment practices liability insurance to cover workplace-related issues.
For family members, insurance needs are typically comprehensive. Primary residences and vacation homes require specialized property insurance tailored to regional risks such as hurricanes, wildfires, or flooding. High-value automobiles, including luxury cars and collector vehicles, demand agreed-value policies to ensure full reimbursement in case of loss. Families with gentleman farms or equestrian properties need tailored farm liability and livestock coverage to protect against accidents, property damage and animal-related risks. Specialty coverage for fine art, jewelry, yachts and aircraft remains essential, as these assets often involve complex valuations and global transit exposures. The risk of kidnap and abduction is always a concern, especially for international travel, so Kidnap and Ransom coverage is essential. Additional protections include personal excess liability to provide higher limits for major claims; builders risk insurance for properties under construction or renovation and workers’ compensation for household staff to cover workplace injuries. Coordinating these policies under a unified risk management strategy helps avoid gaps and overlaps, ensuring seamless protection across all family holdings.
Cybersecurity risks for SFOs and their families have grown exponentially in both frequency and sophistication. Threat actors increasingly target wealthy families through social engineering attacks, phishing schemes and ransomware campaigns aimed at extorting large sums. Personal devices, home networks and smart home systems present vulnerabilities that can lead to identity theft, financial fraud and unauthorized access to sensitive family information. Additionally, the rise of deepfake technology and online impersonation poses reputational risks, as malicious actors can fabricate content to damage credibility or manipulate markets. Families with global travel patterns face heightened exposure to unsecured networks and data interception abroad. To mitigate these risks, SFOs should implement multi-layered defenses, including endpoint protection, encrypted communications, continuous network monitoring and cyberinsurance policies that cover both entity-level and personal exposures.
The risk landscape for Single Family Offices is evolving rapidly. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, requiring advanced security measures and insurance solutions. Regulatory changes related to global tax compliance and privacy laws demand constant vigilance to avoid penalties and reputational damage. Global mobility introduces geopolitical risks and travel-related exposures, particularly for families with international residences or business interests. Additionally, climate-related risks — such as extreme weather events — pose threats to properties and investments, necessitating climate-conscious planning and coverage.
Despite best efforts, many single-family offices face coverage gaps. Common issues include underinsurance of high-value assets and inadequate cyber coverage. Multi-jurisdictional complexities often result in misaligned policies between the family and the SFO entity, creating vulnerabilities. Addressing these gaps requires a coordinated approach that aligns insurance strategies with family governance and operational structures.
SFOs can strengthen their risk posture through several strategic initiatives such as working with a trusted set of advisors, including an insurance broker who has the background and experience in managing the risk to the single-family office and its family members. Most importantly, that insurance professional should be able to assist when a covered loss occurs to make certain that the SFO receives an appropriate settlement.
Proactive risk management and comprehensive insurance planning are indispensable for single-family offices. By regularly reviewing policies, aligning strategies with governance and embracing innovative tools, SFOs can safeguard family wealth, protect assets and ensure long-term stability in an increasingly complex risk environment.
SFOs encounter a broad spectrum of risks, including operational challenges like internal fraud and governance failures, financial risks from market volatility and significant cybersecurity threats such as data breaches and ransomware. Reputational risks and family-related exposures, like personal liability and global travel concerns, also demand proactive management. We recognize that wealth attracts risk, and our approach is to address these comprehensively.
Cybersecurity risks have escalated dramatically in both frequency and sophistication. Threat actors increasingly target wealthy families through advanced social engineering, phishing and ransomware attacks. Personal devices, home networks and smart home systems present vulnerabilities, and emerging threats like deepfake technology can pose significant reputational risks. We believe multi-layered defenses and robust cyberinsurance are essential to protect sensitive information and assets.
For the SFO entity, a comprehensive insurance program should include property and casualty insurance, Professional Liability, Directors & Officers (D&O), Trustee Liability, Fiduciary Liability, and Employee Practices Liability insurance. Additionally, cyberinsurance, crime insurance and employment practices liability insurance are vital to mitigate digital threats, internal fraud and workplace-related issues. We advocate for a holistic approach to safeguard the office's operations.
Family members require extensive coverage tailored to their assets and lifestyles. This includes specialized property insurance for primary and vacation homes, agreed-value policies for high-value automobiles and specific coverage for gentleman farms or equestrian properties. Specialty coverage for fine art, jewelry, yachts and aircraft is also essential, alongside personal excess liability and Kidnap and Ransom coverage for international travel. We emphasize coordinating these policies for seamless protection.
Many SFOs face challenges like underinsurance of high-value assets or inadequate cyber coverage. Multi-jurisdictional complexities can also lead to misaligned policies. To address these, we recommend a coordinated approach that aligns insurance strategies with family governance and operational structures. Working with experienced advisors, particularly an insurance broker specializing in SFO risks, is key to identifying and closing these gaps.
Our core recommendation is proactive risk management and comprehensive insurance planning. This involves regularly reviewing policies, aligning strategies with governance and embracing innovative tools and expert advice. By doing so, SFOs can effectively safeguard family wealth, protect assets and ensure long-term stability in an increasingly complex and evolving risk environment. We're confident that with the right strategies, SFOs can navigate these challenges successfully.
WTW hopes you found the general information provided here informative and helpful. The information contained herein is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with your own legal advisors. In the event you would like more information regarding your insurance coverage, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. In North America, WTW offers insurance products through licensed entities, including Willis Towers Watson Northeast, Inc. (in the United States) and Willis Canada Inc. (in Canada).
