The wealthiest families in Canada are redefining what they expect from their advisors. Investment performance remains important, but families now seek a trusted partner who can coordinate business succession, estate planning, tax strategy, family governance, and philanthropic intent within a single advisory model.

Approximately 85 percent of family offices report income derived from family-owned businesses, according to Nour Private Wealth, a Toronto-based firm. Around 60 percent expect a leadership transition to the next generation within the next decade.

The urgency is visible in the data. Only about 30 percent of family businesses survive to a second generation. Fewer than 10 percent reach a third. Without deliberate planning, the likelihood of a successful generational transition declines sharply.

"Families no longer measure the value of an advisory relationship solely by investment performance," said Elie Nour, founder and chief executive of Nour Private Wealth. "They expect coordinated advice that brings together investment strategy, succession planning, governance, tax, and legacy under one framework. That is what defines the modern multi family office and creates lasting value across generations."

The multi-family office model addresses this complexity by bringing together an integrated team rather than relying on multiple disconnected advisors. Every element—establishing a family trust, preparing for a business sale, implementing an estate strategy, developing a family governance framework—is considered within the context of the family's broader objectives.

Canada is now home to more than 81 multi-family offices in operation, and that number is growing. Globally, family office assets are projected to reach $5.4 trillion by 2030. Canadian offices tend to be more conservative in their allocation strategies. Over 80 percent hold less than 40 percent of assets in alternatives. Real estate and private equity lead those allocations, reflecting a preference for tangible, income-generating assets.

Nour Private Wealth has built its model around integrated stewardship. Rather than treating investments, tax planning, estate strategies, governance, and succession planning as separate disciplines, the firm brings them together through a coordinated advisory framework designed to support families across generations.

For families engaged in business succession, this coordination is particularly valuable. Phased ownership transfers, family councils, and clearly documented succession roadmaps reduce conflict and tax exposure while ensuring continuity of leadership and values.

Roughly 70 percent of Canadian family businesses anticipate an ownership change within the next 10 years. Estate planning that incorporates multi-jurisdictional trust structures can reduce probate fees and capital-gains tax exposure, the firm said.

Nour Private Wealth is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. The firm provides private wealth management services, including multi-family office solutions, discretionary portfolio management, governance coordination, and integrated planning across public and private markets.