Every family of wealth has its cast of trusted professionals: the estate planning attorney who drafts the documents, the wealth manager who invests the assets, the CPA who monitors the tax implications, and the family lawyer who protects personal and business interests.
Each does their job with precision. But rarely do they operate as a true team.
The estate attorney creates a trust, but the RIA doesn’t always retitle the assets correctly. The wealth manager crafts an investment plan, but the CPA isn’t consulted until filing season. The family lawyer handles a complex business transition, but no one ensures the next generation is being prepared for what they’ll inherit.
For the client — often a high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth family — the result is frustration. They become the go-between, trying to interpret legal documents for their advisor, or investment reports for their attorney.
Why Collaboration Is Not Optional
In today’s world, wealthy families demand something more than siloed expertise. They need integration. They want to know that their tax strategy aligns with their estate planning, that their investment accounts reflect their trusts, and that their family governance reflects both their legal and financial reality.
The stakes are too high for anything less. A missed beneficiary designation can undo years of careful planning. An overlooked liquidity issue can complicate an otherwise elegant estate plan. A miscommunication between attorney and advisor can cost not just money, but trust.
The Role of a Fractional Family Office President
This is where Select Advisors Institute steps in. Under the leadership of Amy Parvaneh, we act as a Fractional Family Office President — not replacing attorneys, advisors, or CPAs, but ensuring they are all working together seamlessly on behalf of the client.
For estate planning attorneys, that means your documents don’t sit on a shelf — we make sure they are implemented, funded, and aligned with the client’s advisors.
For family lawyers, it means your client’s financial and estate strategy reflects the realities of marital, business, or legacy transitions.
For wealth managers, it means your portfolios and strategies are contextualized within the client’s broader legal and tax framework.
What Clients Notice
When professionals collaborate under a unifying role, clients experience:
Fewer meetings where they repeat themselves.
No conflicting advice.
Confidence that nothing slips between the cracks.
A team that feels like one unified office, not separate silos.
And for the professionals themselves? Referrals grow stronger, client loyalty deepens, and reputations are enhanced.
The Future of Professional Collaboration
In an era when wealthy families have more choices than ever, the professionals who succeed will be those who put collaboration at the center. Estate attorneys, family lawyers, and wealth managers each bring critical expertise — but together, under the coordination of a trusted family office-style partner, they bring unmatched value.
At Select Advisors Institute, that is exactly what we do: build the bridge, lead the coordination, and give families the confidence that their team is working as one.
Important Disclosure: Select Advisors Institute provides coordination and consulting services only. We do not provide investment advice, manage client assets, prepare tax returns, or provide legal services. All investment, tax, and legal matters should be addressed with licensed professionals. Clients are responsible for engaging, retaining, and compensating their own advisors. All references to other professionals are illustrative.
Choosing between Merrill Lynch and an independent RIA can significantly impact your financial future. This in-depth comparison by Select Advisors Institute breaks down the core differences between wirehouse advisors and independent Registered Investment Advisors, evaluating compensation models, investment flexibility, fiduciary responsibilities, and client experience. Learn how each model aligns with high-net-worth individuals, and why more affluent investors are gravitating toward RIAs. Whether you're evaluating your current advisor or exploring your next financial move, this guide offers deep insights to help you make an informed decision. Get the clarity you need to choose between a Merrill Lynch advisor and an independent RIA.