Key Takeaways
- • 84% of surveyed family offices expect direct private equity investments to match or exceed 2025 performance over the next two to five years, signaling broad confidence in PE valuations and deal flow following a strong 2025.
- • AI emerged as the #1 investment priority for the next 12 months among 85% of family offices surveyed, with 50% reporting AI is now embedded and essential to their operational workflows.
- • 74% of family offices anticipate private equity funds will match or beat 2025 performance, indicating sustained optimism in fund-based strategies alongside direct investment appetite.
- • 23% of surveyed family offices experienced a generational transfer over the previous five years, highlighting active wealth succession activity within the sector.
- • 50% of family offices have integrated AI into core workflows, though significant operational gaps remain—particularly in investment reporting, which continues to rely on manual processes according to RBC's assessment.
Summary
The 2026 North America Family Office Report, released Tuesday by RBC and Campden Wealth, documents a marked shift toward optimism among North American wealth management family offices regarding private equity and artificial intelligence investments. The survey, which included 155 single-family and private multi-family offices, reveals that this confidence follows strong overall performance in 2025, which has reset expectations for the coming years.
Private equity sentiment is notably robust. According to the report, 84% of surveyed family offices expect direct private equity investments to match or beat 2025 returns over a two-to-five-year horizon. Fund-based private equity strategies show similar confidence, with 74% expecting comparable or superior performance. This dual optimism—spanning both direct deal participation and fund investments—suggests family offices view the PE market as well-positioned despite macroeconomic variability.
Artificial intelligence has captured dominant mindshare as an investment opportunity and operational tool. The survey found that 85% of family offices identified AI as their top investment priority for the next 12 months. Beyond capital allocation, AI adoption is advancing operationally: 50% of surveyed offices report that AI is now embedded and essential to their workflows, reflecting a material acceleration from prior year adoption rates. However, Manju Jessa, Vice President and Head of Family Office and Strategic Clients at RBC Enterprise Strategic Client Group, noted a critical implementation gap: while family offices embrace new AI capabilities, "many core processes—particularly investment reporting—remain highly manual." She emphasized that the sector's future challenge will center on integrating tools, data, and workflows to reduce complexity and allow professionals to focus on family-specific needs.
Generational wealth transfer activity continues to shape the family office landscape, with 23% of surveyed offices reporting they experienced a transfer over the previous five years. This metric underscores ongoing succession planning and capital redeployment within the sector.
Private equity sentiment is notably robust. According to the report, 84% of surveyed family offices expect direct private equity investments to match or beat 2025 returns over a two-to-five-year horizon. Fund-based private equity strategies show similar confidence, with 74% expecting comparable or superior performance. This dual optimism—spanning both direct deal participation and fund investments—suggests family offices view the PE market as well-positioned despite macroeconomic variability.
Artificial intelligence has captured dominant mindshare as an investment opportunity and operational tool. The survey found that 85% of family offices identified AI as their top investment priority for the next 12 months. Beyond capital allocation, AI adoption is advancing operationally: 50% of surveyed offices report that AI is now embedded and essential to their workflows, reflecting a material acceleration from prior year adoption rates. However, Manju Jessa, Vice President and Head of Family Office and Strategic Clients at RBC Enterprise Strategic Client Group, noted a critical implementation gap: while family offices embrace new AI capabilities, "many core processes—particularly investment reporting—remain highly manual." She emphasized that the sector's future challenge will center on integrating tools, data, and workflows to reduce complexity and allow professionals to focus on family-specific needs.
Generational wealth transfer activity continues to shape the family office landscape, with 23% of surveyed offices reporting they experienced a transfer over the previous five years. This metric underscores ongoing succession planning and capital redeployment within the sector.
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