Big Picture Family Wealth collaborates with families to define bespoke, holistic wealth strategies informed by a client’s values and goals. Client engagements empower families and their teams while placing advice and action plans in the larger context, or the “big picture”.
The firm’s approach is to help optimize operational, tactical, and strategic elements of a family’s wealth program. Big Picture invariably examines elements of a traditional, integrated wealth management program (such as investments, tax, legal/structures) and how a family organizes itself to promote family continuity and well-being. Alignment of the family and its total wealth is a crucial factor for success. For initiatives larger in scope, governance and related processes become part of the equation in addition to sophisticated planning and design components that inform execution.
Big Picture partners with families that own substantial, multi-generational financial assets. The firm is prepared to team up with the family and its trusted advisors. The firm is independent and 100% aligned with clients, earning fees for its advice to families and not from any other source.
Family values and goals inform the purpose of the wealth and shape of the overall strategy.
Wealth Management Program
- Building blocks and plan for integrated wealth management
- Business plan for diversified investments “business plan”
- Execution of wealth management plan
- Family office “go-no-go” decision and office design, blueprint, or assessment
- Benchmarking and best practices
Family Continuity and Well-Being
- Alignment of the family and the wealth
- Synthesis of family, financial, philanthropy, and any OpCo or HoldCo (source of wealth)
- Strategic planning and transition
- Governance/structures, leadership and succession, communication, and education
- Family legacy and sustainability
Big Picture employs a robust and disciplined process customized to the family’s requirements. A written scope of work outlines the collaboration with a purpose statement, timeline, enumeration of deliverables, and fees all plainly articulated. The process emphasizes development of a clear approach with fact finding, issue spotting, options, and recommendations. Written deliverables and discussion define current state and future state. The focus is on practical solutions that fit the client’s requirements and can be effectively implemented as part of an agreed-upon plan.
The process is interactive and engages the client on a continuous basis to enhance the outcome.
Big Picture works with families on shorter-term, finite assignments or endeavors that have longer-term, even indefinite, timelines. As always, what meets the client’s requirements is paramount.
1.
Define scope, goals, and process–affirm buy-in of client and other key stakeholders
2.
Perform 360° discovery–interview family and trusted advisors plus document review
3.
Document findings, recommendations, and a plan–in writing and during discussion
4.
Devise benchmarks–support as needed execution and ongoing adjustments
With over 20 years of experience in the wealth management and family office space, Charlie founded Big Picture in 2025. He has advised clients across the globe. Prior to Big Picture, Charlie served as Managing Director for five years at Cambridge Associates where he founded and led Family Enterprise Solutions (FES). He was Managing Director at Family Office Exchange (FOX) in the advisory practice from 2010 to 2020. For 10 years prior, Charlie served as Chair of the Management Committee and Managing Director at Ashbridge Investment Management, a multi-family office. He currently serves as Chair of the Board for the single-family office, Ashbridge LLC. On the philanthropic side, Charlie is President of the Board of Trustees for the Isaac H. Tuttle Fund.
Charlie regularly attends and presents original content at industry leading wealth management conferences such as Campden Wealth, Global Families in Business at Harvard Business School, and Family Office Exchange (FOX). He has led workshops and webinars on design and execution of family offices and broader family enterprises. He is Chair of the Finance & Investment Management Domain at The UHNW Institute. He has been quoted in and written for many publications such as: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Crain Currency, and Investment & Wealth Review.
Charlie received a JD from Washington College of Law, MA (history) from American University, and BA from Bates College.
Charles B Grace III, Founder
Big Picture Family Wealth LLC
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 1-917-930-5198