Think in decades, not days
68% of family offices invest with a 10+ year time horizon, and nearly one-third think in multigenerational terms (UBS Global Family Office Report). They tend to be pretty relaxed about short-term fluctuations because the destination is years or generations away. So set long-term rules and let time do the work. It makes for a more relaxing life too. 

Dry powder power
A cash reserve does two things: it protects you from ever having to sell at the worst possible moment, and it lets you turn chaos into opportunity when everyone else is panicking. Campden Wealth reports that family offices hold an average of 13-15% of portfolios in cash or cash-like instruments. For most people, that just means keeping 3 to 6 months of expenses liquid.

Never rely on one income stream
Family offices always have multiple engines: operating companies (72% of FOs according to Campden Wealth), real estate (60% of FOs), public markets (80% of FOs), alternatives. But everyone can build multiple income streams, whether that’s investing in income generating assets, a side-hustle, or even developing skills that create new earning paths.

Protect the downside first
A common theme among wealthy investors is protecting the downside and making asymmetric bets. 54% of FOs say capital preservation is their number one priority (UBS). Everyone can learn from this. Avoid hail-Mary bets, avoid high-fee products, avoid taking risks you don’t understand, and never invest money you need soon.

Boring compounds best
Family offices love simple things that quietly grow: index funds, rental properties, long-term holdings. 70% of family offices index a portion of their public equities (JP Morgan Family Office Trends). Not every portfolio needs to be exciting, and compounding only works if you let it run.

Don’t confuse motion with progress
Activity looks productive, but it often destroys returns. Many family offices rebalance maybe a few times a year. Global family office reports consistently show minimal asset allocation changes each year. You don’t need to touch your money every week or every month.

Build buffers everywhere
Families that stay wealthy have cushions: cash buffers, liquidity buffers, time buffers. Campden Wealth found that 41% of family offices increased their cash buffer in the last 12 months. Everyone can build in reserves: whether it's keeping slack in your calendar, avoiding living at the edge, avoiding over-commitment, or keeping breathing room in your budget.

Track your numbers like a CFO
The best FOs know their net worth, cash runway, liquidity buckets, and commitments. KPMG reports that 67% of family offices produce quarterly reporting. Most people don’t know what they spent last month. A 20-minute weekly, monthly or quarterly review changes everything.

Tax efficiency matters more than returns
Over 70% of family offices cite tax management as a top-three strategic priority (PWC Global Family Office Survey). You don’t need an army of tax advisors. Just good habits: use tax-advantaged accounts, plan sales strategically, avoid unnecessary turnover, and use AI for basic questions and ideas. 

Separate personal life from business life
While embedded family offices are common, best practice is for FOs to maintain clean structures. You should too. Separate bank accounts, separate savings pots, separate investment accounts. Clarity creates control.