2025 Symposium Recap—The Firm of the Future: Living in the Real World – The Toolkit in Action

2025 Symposium Recap—The Firm of the Future: Living in the Real World – The Toolkit in Action

Thank you to everyone who joined us in New York for the 2025 UHNW Institute Symposium. Over two days, attendees explored real-world applications of the Institute’s tools and frameworks, learned from leading practitioners and engaged with new research on integrated advisory models. From the debut of the Family Needs Assessment to deep dives on the AIM Framework™ and the Integration Spectrum, the event highlighted how advisors are putting the Toolkit into practice to better serve UHNW families.

2025 UHNW Institute Symposium Summary
The Firm of the Future: Living in the Real World – The Toolkit in Action

On November 17 and 18, the 2025 UHNW Institute Symposium brought together leading thinkers, advisors, family office executives and next-gen voices for two days of learning, collaboration and practical application. This year’s theme, The Toolkit in Action, highlighted real-world implementation and showcased how the Institute’s expanding suite of frameworks and tools is shaping stronger outcomes for UHNW families.

Monday, November 17: Training & Exploration

Day 1 began with a behind-the-scenes tour of the New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, led by Institute librarian Tara Kehoe. Attendees explored rare materials, historic reading rooms and the legacy of the nation’s largest public library system.

The afternoon continued at the Paramount Club with focused, small-group trainings:

SFO Circle Clinic
Led by Eugene Lipitz, Family Office CEO, this private session explored the core policies and procedures every modern single-family office should have in place. The discussion emphasized how thoughtful design—supported by technology, culture and process—can streamline operations and reduce risk.
AI Lab: Practical Innovation for Wealth Management
Led by Tania Neild, founder of InfoGrate, this hands-on session provided a grounded look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping UHNW advisory. Through demonstrations and case studies, attendees examined adoption pathways and learned how to separate true utility from hype.
Advanced Training on the Ten Domains & the New AIM Framework™
Led by Jim Grubman, Founder, Family Wealth Consulting, and Tom McCullough, Founder and Chairman, Northwood Family Office, this interactive session deepened participants’ understanding of the evolving Ten Domains framework. Using a new Genially-based format, the facilitators showcased the expanded AIM Framework™ and how it overlays the Ten Domains to strengthen integrated family wealth management. Members can now access this interaction framework in the portal here.

These smaller-format sessions set the stage for the deeper discussions to come.

Tuesday, November 18: The Main Event

Hosted at PwC’s Madison Avenue headquarters, Day 2 delivered a full, highly engaging program centered on the real-world application of integrated family wealth management.

Emerging Leader Perspectives
Day 2 opened with high energy as Amy Hart Clyne, Chief Knowledge & Learning Officer at Pitcairn, and Kristen Oliveri, Founder & CEO of Wealth Reimagined, took the stage to a rock-anthem walk-up. Their conversation with rising-generation leaders—Alexys Febonio, Luk Jernagan, Lauren Phillips and Meredith Straight—explored diverse backgrounds, personal “whys,” and what each panelist would choose to learn if given a full day of exploration.

The Ten Domains Family Needs Assessment: Starting the Conversation
The next session, led by Kristin Keffeler, Chief Learning Officer, Johnson Financial Group, Angelique LeDoux, Managing Editor, UHNW Institute and Tom McCullough, introduced the soon-to-launch Family Needs Assessment, a diagnostic tool grounded in the Ten Domains of Family Wealth™. Designed to elevate client–advisor conversations, the tool helps identify needs, priorities and opportunities across the full wealth spectrum. McCullough also introduced the Spencer family case study, used throughout the day to demonstrate how the tool—and others—operate in real-world contexts. Flexible by design, the assessment can be completed by either advisor or client to initiate deeper planning discussions.

The Institute’s Toolkit in Action – Applications for Advisors and Families
In the following session, Jim Grubman, Owner, Family Wealth Consulting, Wally Head, Founder & Principal, Personal Fiduciary Advisors, LLC and Kim Kamin, Partner and Chief Wealth Strategist, Gresham Partners LLC, showcased four of the Institute’s core tools: the Wealthesaurus™, Ten Domains of Family Wealth™, AIM Framework™, and the Advisory Business Model (ABM) Survey.

Using the Spencer family case study, they demonstrated how these resources clarify needs, guide strategy and improve client outcomes. The session focused heavily on the AIM Framework™ and recent updates to the ABM Survey/Grid, offering a practical, interactive look at how advisors can assess alignment, identify gaps and elevate engagement.

Real-World Service Delivery Models for Integrated Advice
A panel led by Tom McCullough, Chairman & CEO, Northwood Family Office, featuring Richard Joyner, Managing Director, AlTi Tiedemann Global, Kathy Lintz, Partner & Managing Member, Matter Family Office, Thom Melcher, Managing Director & Director of Private Wealth, Glenmede and Michael Zeuner, Managing Partner, WE Family Offices, examined findings from a comprehensive research project on how leading family offices and advisory firms deliver integrated advice. Drawing on interviews and case studies, the panel explored service models, team structures, technology, governance and client engagement—highlighting what drives success, the challenges of scaling and the evolving expectations of UHNW families.

The Integration Spectrum: Key Decisions & Value Drivers in Practice

The final panel of the day—featuring Joe Calabrese, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Key Wealth, Kevin Casey, Managing Director, Corporate Development & Strategy, Pathstone, Bill Hedden, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Summit Rock Advisors, Kevin Moran, President & Chief Operating Officer, AlTi Tiedemann Global and Charlie Willhoit, Founder, IWP—focused on the real-world decisions that shape integrated advisory models. The conversation centered on the tactical drivers of profitability, the trade-offs embedded in different operating models and how firms’ structure affects partnerships and outsourcing arrangements to deliver scalable, differentiated client experiences.

Panelists also explored how firms encourage collaboration both internally and externally, who ultimately determines the “right” margins for an integrated business and why investing in human capital remains essential to sustaining growth and quality of service.

The Symposium concluded with a festive cocktail reception and dinner at the Bryant Park Grill, where attendees gathered against the glow of the park’s winter lights. It was a warm, celebratory finish to two days of learning and collaboration.

Main session replays are now available to members in the Portal and Resource Library.

An in-depth report will be published next month.

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