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A Family Investment Company (FIC) is a bespoke corporate structure—typically a UK limited or unlimited company—designed to facilitate long-term wealth preservation, efficient succession planning, and intergenerational asset transfer.
Unlike trusts, where control rests with independent trustees, FICs empower founders to retain day-to-day management and strategic oversight while gradually sharing economic benefit with the next generation.
For many UHNW individuals and families, the FIC offers a desirable blend of control, discretion, and tax efficiency, especially when managed alongside other structures such as Private Trust Companies (PTCs) or foundations.
UK-resident families often establish UK-incorporated entities. International families, by contrast, may prefer to incorporate in stable offshore jurisdictions—depending on their tax profile and succession priorities. Even where the entity is offshore, UK tax residency can be maintained via UK-based management and control, ensuring alignment with family objectives.
A limited company provides shareholder protection, shielding personal assets in the event of insolvency. However, where FICs are unlikely to incur debt, an unlimited company can provide greater privacy, as it is exempt from filing financial statements with Companies House. This discretion is often a decisive factor for UHNW families.
Founders typically subscribe for initial subscriber shares and subsequently create tailored share classes to separate voting rights, income, and capital entitlements. This enables families to implement sophisticated ownership frameworks—retaining control while gradually integrating younger generations through non-voting equity.
Provisions restricting share transfers can be embedded within the Articles of Association to ensure the company remains firmly within the family’s control across generations.
Two common methods are used to capitalise FICs:
Oak Group provides end-to-end support to UHNW families in the implementation and administration of Family Investment Companies (FICs). Whether managing the proceeds of business exits, coordinating cross-border tax exposure, or planning for succession, our director-led approach ensures each structure is robust, compliant, and aligned with long-term family goals.
FICs are often integrated into broader frameworks alongside trusts, Private Trust Companies (PTCs), or foundations to provide flexibility and control across generations.
With expertise spanning jurisdictions and generations, Oak Group delivers confidence, continuity, and clarity for families with complex and evolving needs.
For UHNW families seeking both strategic control and discretion, the Family Investment Company offers a compelling platform. When implemented carefully—with professional advice and multi-jurisdictional insight—it becomes a cornerstone for resilient, long-term wealth preservation.
At Oak Group, our multi-disciplinary teams are trusted by some of the world’s most discerning families to deliver the insight, independence, and integrity required to manage legacy wealth across generations.
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