Tailored solutions to preserve wealth, strengthen governance and create lasting legacies across generations.
Wealth Management & Investment Services
Wealth management strategies at Valani Office are designed to ensure your family’s financial security while fostering growth opportunities that align with your values and aspirations. Our process begins with a detailed assessment of your current financial situation, liquidity requirements and long-term goals. From there, we craft bespoke investment strategies that balance risk and reward, ensuring both immediate stability and future prosperity.
Our services include strategic asset allocation, private equity, real estate and alternative investments across global markets. We rigorously oversee external managers to ensure optimal performance while offering consolidated reporting tools that provide a comprehensive view of your family’s wealth. Additionally, we support intergenerational education programs to prepare younger generations for responsible stewardship of family assets.
A third-generation European family faced new challenges after selling their industrial business for €842M. The sale created liquidity but also sparked intergenerational disagreements: the founding generation prioritised capital preservation, the second sought moderate growth, and the third advocated for bold investments in technology.
Valani Office facilitated a three-month alignment process, including individual interviews and family workshops to establish shared priorities. We then developed a tiered investment strategy: 43% allocated to established tech infrastructure and cybersecurity (yielding 4.8% annually), 29% to ESG-focused tech funds (outperforming benchmarks by 2.3%), 21% to venture capital in innovative startups, and 7% reserved for opportunistic investments in AI and data analytics.
Over five years, this strategy achieved a 7.1% annualized return, while reducing family disputes through clear governance protocols. The portfolio transition also successfully integrated €120M into climate and AI-driven ventures, meeting both financial and values-based objectives.
Succession Planning & Governance Advisory
Succession planning strategies at Valani Office go beyond financial arrangements. It fosters family unity and prepares future leaders to carry the legacy. Our approach includes creating family constitutions that codify shared values and decision-making processes while designing educational programs tailored to the next generation’s leadership development.
We also facilitate the establishment of governance structures such as family councils and professional advisory boards to ensure smooth transitions in leadership roles while preserving institutional knowledge. Conflict resolution mechanisms are integrated into these frameworks to address disputes before they escalate into more significant challenges.
A second-generation media conglomerate spanning seven countries (€387M annual revenue) faced succession challenges after the founder’s health crisis revealed critical governance gaps. Four cousins had diverging visions for the company’s future – from digital expansion to traditional publishing – and lacked clear leadership structures.
Valani facilitated a 12-month governance workshop series addressing ownership rights, dividend policies and management roles. A formal Family Assembly was established with rotating leadership positions alongside a “Shadow Board” program for younger members under 35.
Additionally, buyout mechanisms were implemented for disengaged members to exit without disrupting operations.
This structure enabled a smooth CEO transition while maintaining strategic control within the family. It also facilitated a €203M acquisition of a digital content platform (surpassing initial projections by 9%), preserving both the company’s value and its legacy for future generations.
Tax Optimisation & Estate Planning
Navigating complex tax systems across jurisdictions requires expertise in structuring assets efficiently while ensuring compliance with local regulations. At Valani Office, we specialise in cross-border tax optimisation by leveraging bilateral treaties and EU directives to reduce liabilities while safeguarding assets for future generations.
Our estate planning services focus on equitable wealth transfer mechanisms that minimise tax burdens during generational transitions while protecting core assets like businesses or real estate holdings through trusts or foundations tailored to each family’s needs.
Due to differing regulations in France and Germany, a dual-national family faced high tax liabilities on €119M annual dividends. Additionally, inheritance taxes threatened asset liquidation during generational transitions, jeopardising business continuity.
Valani restructured its holdings using an Austrian Privatstiftung as the central vehicle alongside Luxembourg SOPARFI entities for operating companies under EU Parent-Subsidiary Directives. Real estate holdings were reorganised through regulated SICAV-SIF vehicles, which provided liability protection and succession advantages.
This restructuring reduced lifetime tax liabilities by €63M (53% reduction vs the industry average of 48%) while preserving control of core assets and ensuring business continuity during generational transitions without forced asset sales or disputes among heirs.
Philanthropy Advisory
Strategic philanthropy is central to creating meaningful legacies that extend beyond financial wealth. At Valani Office, we help families design charitable giving strategies aligned with their values while maximising social impact through partnerships with vetted organisations across Europe and beyond.
Our approach includes developing giving strategies tailored to specific causes, such as education or environmental sustainability, alongside impact measurement frameworks that track outcomes effectively over time.
A first-generation technology entrepreneur sold his software company for €280M and sought to allocate €50M toward STEM education initiatives. However, the family faced challenges engaging three adult children who had shown limited interest in philanthropy.
Additionally, they lacked experience with structured giving and disagreed on geographic focus and impact measurement.
Valani Office facilitated a three-day “Philanthropy Discovery” retreat to identify shared values and individual passions within the STEM focus. Following this, we developed a hybrid structure combining a €30M traditional foundation for established programs and a €20M venture philanthropy fund for innovative approaches. To amplify the impact, we implemented a matched giving program (€1 family: €2 corporate funding) leveraging the founder’s business network.
To engage the next generation, Valani designed a Board Fellowship program where family members collaborated with experienced philanthropists and subject matter experts. A customised impact dashboard was developed to track quantitative metrics such as 1,200 scholarship recipients and 45 funded research positions, alongside qualitative outcomes.
Additionally, each family member was allocated €500,000 annually through a “Philanthropy Lab” to test innovative funding approaches tailored to their interests.
Over three years, this strategy achieved a 78% heir participation rate (up from an initial 33%), with two family members transitioning to full-time foundation roles. The matched giving program unlocked €27M in additional corporate contributions, while the venture philanthropy fund supported eight educational technology startups that collectively reached 140,000 underserved students. Most importantly, the initiative fostered a shared family purpose that strengthened relationships and established a lasting legacy beyond financial wealth.
Supported Organisations
