PRESS RELEASE

AYU Launches Approved Family Office Programme to Enhance Trust in the Wealth Management Sector

AYU Strengthens Its Family Office Network with Comprehensive Vetting Programme

London, 3rd November 2024, AYU, the global private members’ club for family offices and investment professionals, has launched the AYU Approved Family Office (AFO) Programme, a rigorous vetting initiative designed to foster trust and transparency within the wealth management and family office sectors. The AFO Programme addresses a growing issue of misrepresentation, ensuring that only verified family offices gain access to AYU’s network while providing them with a certified badge to demonstrate they are a genuine family office to the wider industry.

As the family office sector expands globally, driven significantly by generational wealth transfers, AYU has recognised the need to address the rise of “fake family offices” seeking to exploit exclusive access to high value investors and events. The AFO Programme sets a new benchmark by authenticating each family office through a detailed vetting process, setting a new industry standard for transparency and trust.

The programme will also offer certified family offices the opportunity to display an official stamp of verification, signifying credibility and authenticity both within and beyond the AYU network. This mark of trust is designed to help distinguish genuine family offices in an increasingly complex and targeted sector.

AYU’s vetting criteria ensure only credible family offices join the network. Eligible organisations must manage wealth on behalf of one or more ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals or families, with assets under management (AUM)of above $50 million. They must also define their structure whether as a single-family office, a multi-family entity, or a family office offering external services, and demonstrate a commitment to ethical use of AYU’s platform.

There is no cost or obligation in seeking or gaining AFO status, so all genuine family offices will welcome the opportunity to prove themselves. In time, AYU will offer open access to a search function allowing anyone in the world to check if an individual is an approved AYU approved family office. 

Gus Morison, CEO and founder at AYU, commented:

“The Approved Family Office Programme is a significant step forward in addressing misrepresentation within the family office sector. By setting high standards and filtering out those who do not meet our criteria, AYU is building a trusted, quality-driven community for family offices. This programme will raise the bar across the industry and help create a benchmark of transparency and integrity in wealth management.”

ENDS

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Sam Shelton
E: sam@finchpr.com
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Notes to Editors

About AYU
AYU is an international private members' club that connects hedge funds, family offices, and alternative investment professionals through a dedicated digital platform and curated networking events. By bringing together an audience of over 10,000 global investment professionals—including family offices, fund managers, allocators, and select hedge fund service providers—AYU fosters meaningful professional relationships and facilitates investment opportunities. The members are carefully vetted to ensure trust and high standards, while also supporting philanthropy through the AYU Foundation. With a focus on integrity, exclusivity, and global reach, AYU redefines professional networking in the investment industry.

For more information, please visit www.thisisayu.com

About the Approved Family Office Programme
The AYU Approved Family Office Programme is a comprehensive vetting initiative designed to distinguish genuine family offices and support trust within the wealth management sector. Eligible family offices must manage wealth exclusively for one or more ultra-high-net-worth families, with assets under management starting at $50 million and beyond. Applicants are required to demonstrate their structure, whether as a single-family office, a multi-family entity, or an organisation offering external services, and must confirm adherence to AYU’s ethical standards and commitment to platform integrity.

The verification process includes providing references from industry contacts or existing AYU members, as well as a banking reference from the family office’s primary private banking provider. AYU ensures confidentiality during the approval process, avoiding any requirement to disclose proprietary information such as precise AUM or business holdings unless voluntarily offered. Successful applicants are granted the AFO badge, a mark of trust recognised both within and outside the AYU network. The programme does not substitute for regulatory compliance such as Know Your Customer (KYC) or Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures but instead focuses on fostering a trusted and transparent community of family offices.

For more information, please visit www.thisisayu.com/afo