Family Office, Insights

The Role of Women in Modern Family Offices

by Sequoia Financial Group

March 17, 2026

For ultra-high-net-worth families, the landscape of wealth stewardship is evolving. As the largest intergenerational transfer of capital in history unfolds, women are increasingly shaping the future of family wealth—not only as inheritors and beneficiaries, but also as creators of wealth, entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders guiding multigenerational strategy.

At Sequoia Sentinel Family Office, we see this transformation every day. Women are stepping into prominent roles within family governance, investment decision-making, and legacy planning. Our role is to help families navigate this evolving landscape with clarity, coordination, and confidence through an advisory experience that is truly BUILT FOR YOU.

The Great Wealth Transfer: A Defining Financial Moment

Over the coming decades, approximately $124 trillion in wealth will transfer across generations, representing the largest shift of capital in modern history. Women are expected to inherit a significant share of this wealth due to demographic trends such as longevity and intra-spousal transfers. Widowed women from Baby Boomer and older generations alone are projected to inherit nearly $40 trillion, or roughly one-third of total wealth transfers.^1,2

This historic transition is reshaping financial leadership within families. As wealth moves into the hands of spouses, daughters, and next-generation leaders, women are playing a larger role in defining how capital is governed, invested, and used to advance family values and legacy.

At the same time, women are not only inheriting wealth—they are increasingly building it. Female founders, executives, and investors are creating substantial personal wealth and establishing new family offices, further expanding their influence across the wealth landscape.

Women’s Expanding Leadership in Family Offices

Across the family office ecosystem, women are assuming more visible leadership roles as trustees, investment committee members, family council leaders, and primary stewards of multigenerational capital.

At Sequoia Financial Group’s Sentinel Family Office, we partner with many of these leaders. They bring intellectual curiosity, thoughtful collaboration, and a strong focus on long-term impact, often prioritizing disciplined planning, purposeful investing, and meaningful philanthropy.

Industry data reflects this broader trend. Approximately 29% of family offices report women in executive or management roles, with many serving directly on governance or investment committees that shape strategic direction.^3,4

While women are playing an increasingly visible role, Sentinel’s mission extends beyond any single demographic group. Our responsibility is to simplify complexity for every family we serve, coordinating the financial, legal, tax, and investment elements that accompany significant wealth.

Navigating Complexity with Confidence

With great wealth often comes significant complexity. Research shows that many women—particularly those inheriting wealth—seek education and trusted advisory relationships to feel confident managing sophisticated financial decisions.⁵

This is where a fully integrated family office can make a meaningful difference.

At Sequoia Sentinel Family Office, our role is to bring clarity to complexity and provide coordinated guidance that helps families make informed decisions with confidence. Whether wealth was inherited, created through entrepreneurship, or built across generations, our team works alongside clients to align strategy, governance, and long-term vision.

A Family Office Experience BUILT FOR YOU

Sentinel Family Office was designed to help ultra-high-net-worth families simplify financial complexity and coordinate every dimension of their wealth.

Our advisory model combines deep technical expertise with highly personalized planning, allowing us to support families through generational transitions, governance decisions, and evolving leadership roles.

Key elements of our approach include:

Customized Wealth Planning: Integrated strategies that align investment management, tax planning, estate strategy, and risk management with each family’s long-term goals.
Educational Empowerment: Structured education and ongoing dialogue that help current and next-generation leaders confidently steward family wealth.
Inclusive Governance Support: Thoughtful frameworks that support family councils, investment committees, and multigenerational decision-making.
Holistic Legacy Advisory: Guidance that extends beyond financial performance to include philanthropy, family values, and the preservation of legacy across generations.

As wealth leadership evolves, the role of the family office must evolve as well. Sequoia Sentinel Family Office partners with families to simplify complexity, align strategy, and support the thoughtful stewardship of wealth for generations to come.

Sources

Cerulli Associates / Great Wealth Transfer projections.
https://www.cerulli.com/press-releases/cerulli-anticipates-124-trillion-in-wealth-will-transfer-through-2048
Forbes: Women Are Inheriting Trillions. This Is A Seismic Power Shift.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmichelson2/2025/07/31/women-are-inheriting-trillions-this-is-a-seismic-power-shift/
LinkedIn / Study: Women Are Taking Charge at More Family Offices.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/study-women-taking-charge-more-family-offices-susan-lindeque-lxfec
PWMnet / Female leadership trend in family offices.
https://www.pwmnet.com/content/418b5377-4a46-4e5e-90a0-e6acbf6a4fa2
M&G Thought Leadership / Women and inheritance planning insights.
https://www.mandg.com/pru/adviser/en-gb/about/thought-leadership/woman-and-passing-on-wealth

The views expressed represent the opinion of Sequoia Financial Group. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Sequoia believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and Sequoia’s view as of the time of these statements. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative as they are based on assumptions that may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investing in equity securities involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. While equities may offer the potential for greater long-term growth than most debt securities, they generally have higher volatility. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Investment advisory services offered through Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Investment advisory services offered by Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Diversification cannot assure profit or guarantee against loss. There is no guarantee that any investment will achieve its objectives, generate positive returns, or avoid losses. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, reliability, or utility of information obtained from third-parties. Certain assumptions may have been made by these sources in compiling such information, and changes to assumptions may have material impact on the information presented in these materials. Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice.