Advisory specialization has long been the default. One professional handles tax. Another manages investments. A third oversees legal structure. The family coordinates.
But what does genuine integration look like, and what must a firm build to achieve it?
Tom McCullough, Managing Director of Thought Leadership and Strategy at the UHNW Institute, investigates this question in a newly published article. The piece challenges a common assumption: that integration and specialization are the same thing, when in fact, they are not.
McCullough argues that integration is its own capability. Most advisors are trained in depth within a single domain. The transition from individual expertise to coordinated team function requires a deliberate approach to hiring, a commitment to development across traditional boundaries and a firm culture that values collaborative work.
For advisors and the families they serve, the implications are significant. Firms that build teams this way operate differently. The article provides a practical framework for understanding what that architecture entails.
Members can access the article here.
Meet the Author
Tom McCullough
Partner, Corient
Managing Director of Thought Leadership and Strategy, The UHNW Institute
