How an OCIO achieves better outcomes
As I reflect on the work I do with Canadian families, one theme that continually stands out is that families who operate like institutions create better outcomes.
I talk about clients adopting an institutional mindset, by applying the discipline, governance, and clarity that endowments and pension plans use every day. Those organizations don’t rely on instinct, but on process and that same structure has enormous power for private wealth.
That’s why the outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) model can be a winning solution, because it delivers professional oversight without the loss of control. This is something that high-net-worth individuals and their families appreciate.
Traditional discretionary management often means handing over the wheel entirely, while the OCIO approach allows the family to set missions, goals, and parameters. My team then manages the execution, complexity, monitoring, and rigor behind the scenes. It’s a governance framework that empowers rather than replaces the client.
In practice, this means institutional tools such as stress testing, liquidity mapping, and asset-liability modeling are embedded directly into a family’s blueprint. These tools aren’t meant to slow decisions down but to strengthen them. They provide clarity, discipline, and confidence, allowing families to act with intention instead of reacting to markets.
Access is another powerful advantage and is something that we can provide which would not typically be within the reach of families.
Through our network of institutional managers, research partners, and independent analysts, clients gain insights and opportunities that normally sit behind institutional walls. When paired with objective analysis it leads to portfolios built on due diligence, diversified intelligence, and rigorous data rather than simply gut feelings or market noise.
For multigenerational families, the OCIO structure becomes even more valuable because it centralizes reporting, communication, and governance so that decision making remains coordinated, consistent, and aligned across generations. It creates a unified view of the portfolio and a framework for rapid but thoughtful decisions.
Ultimately, delegating oversight to an OCIO frees families to focus on what actually matters, their purpose, mission, and long-term vision. My role is to handle the day-to-day oversight and discipline so clients can remain the architect of your wealth, not the operator.
That balance of structure with control is where long-term success is built.
