Sam Kang: What Today’s Ultrawealthy Families Expect From Advisors

20 Jan 2026 · 38 min
Episode

20 Jan 2026 · 38 min

0:00

In this Barron's Advisor podcast, host Steve Sandusky interviews Sam Kang, head of Charles Schwab’s invitation‑only family office platform. Kang explains the rapid growth of single‑family offices (SFOs) and multi‑family offices (MFOs), noting roughly 1,000 such offices worldwide and a ten‑year boom. He breaks the family‑office service model into three pillars—quantitative (financial planning, investment management, reporting), qualitative (family dynamics, philanthropy, governance, education, family constitutions) and administrative/lifestyle (bill‑pay, concierge services, digital vaults). The conversation covers the expanding investment universe for ultra‑high‑net‑worth (UHNW) families, including alternatives, crypto curiosity, tax‑advantaged strategies, and impact investing. Kang stresses the critical importance of wealth‑transfer planning, citing the classic “short‑sleeve” statistic (70% of wealth lost by the second generation, 13% by the third) and the massive $2‑3 trillion annual transfer pipeline. He describes Schwab’s open‑architecture technology platform, AI pilots, and security concerns, and outlines emerging pricing models that blend AUM fees with retainer‑based charges. For advisors aspiring to become MFOs, Kang advises segmentation at the $30 million net‑worth threshold, building internal talent, leveraging concierge teams, and focusing on referrals and centers of influence rather than heavy marketing. He highlights the future skill set for advisors: becoming a trusted, general‑expert first‑call resource across finance, health, travel, and more, while integrating AI responsibly. The episode concludes with Kang’s mantra that the most successful MFOs will put clients first, nurture multi‑generational relationships, and balance technology with trust.

Chapters

More from Michael

PodcastThe Future of Discount Flying
Podcast

The Future of Discount Flying

5mo ago
PodcastAnthony Scaramucci: How Inflation and Populism Change Financial Advice
Podcast

Anthony Scaramucci: How Inflation and Populism Change Financial Advice

5mo ago
PodcastBlowout Earnings, Food Dividends, Psychedelic Stocks
Podcast

Blowout Earnings, Food Dividends, Psychedelic Stocks

5mo ago
PodcastState Street’s Yie-Hsin Hung: We’re Not Done Innovating
Podcast

State Street’s Yie-Hsin Hung: We’re Not Done Innovating

5mo ago
PodcastSpace, Freedom, and Physics Envy
Podcast

Space, Freedom, and Physics Envy

5mo ago
PodcastNine Converging Forces in Financial Advice
Podcast

Nine Converging Forces in Financial Advice

5mo ago
PodcastA Value Investor’s Guide to Software Stocks
Podcast

A Value Investor’s Guide to Software Stocks

6mo ago
PodcastOmani Carson: What He Learned After ‘Winning’ the Game
Podcast

Omani Carson: What He Learned After ‘Winning’ the Game

6mo ago
PodcastThe Cheapest Stocks in America
Podcast

The Cheapest Stocks in America

6mo ago
PodcastAlex Shahidi: How to Build a ‘Truly Diversified Portfolio’
Podcast

Alex Shahidi: How to Build a ‘Truly Diversified Portfolio’

6mo ago
PodcastWhy Stocks are Pricier than they Look
Podcast

Why Stocks are Pricier than they Look

6mo ago
See all content