Best tools to prep for a family office job
TL;DR
Family offices manage the wealth of one family or a small group. The work is multi-asset, low volume and highly trust-based. Prep by understanding allocation across asset classes, direct deal work and how curation beats deal volume.
What family offices actually do
A single-family office manages the assets of one family. A multi-family office (MFO) serves several. Both allocate across private equity, venture, private credit, real assets and, at many offices, direct investments and co-investments alongside external managers.
Deal flow is rarely the constraint. Curation is. The analyst's job is filtering many opportunities down to the few that fit the family's mandate, and running clean diligence and reporting on those.
How to prep
Learn asset allocation basics across five categories. Read one endowment style investment policy statement. Build one direct co-investment memo. Understand the difference between a network deal and a fund commitment.
How this shows up on the job
First month you are reading manager updates and building the quarterly report. First quarter you are supporting a direct co-investment memo and updating the allocation model. Discretion and consistency matter as much as analysis.
How Reuben AI helps
Reuben AI is used by family offices and family office networks to run curated pipeline, direct deal diligence and consolidated reporting on one workspace. Students can practise the same workflow through the Free workspace.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How is a family office different from a fund?
A fund raises capital from outside investors. A family office invests the family's own capital. Governance and reporting are different.
What is a co-investment?
The family invests directly into a specific deal alongside a fund, usually with lower or no fees.
How important are networks?
Very. Most of the best family office opportunities come through relationships rather than a broker.
Do family offices publish returns?
Generally no. Discretion is part of the model.
Do I need PE experience?
Helpful, not required. Curiosity across asset classes is often more valued.
Learn on the platform you will use on the job.
Start with the Free workspace to practise IC memos, LBOs, DCFs and private-capital workflows. Faculty, program leads and student investment club leaders can book a demo to discuss teaching seats and program access.