2025 Lyneer Search Group

MFO Salary Guide

Salary Guide for Family Offices, Multi-Family Offices (MFOs), and Wealth Advisory Platforms, (U.S.)


Discover Comprehensive Benchmarks for Accounting & Finance Roles in this 2025 Family Office & Multifamily Office Industry Salary Guide


Make smarter hiring and compensation decisions with salary data tailored for the wealth management industry—CFOs, Family Office Controller, Senior Accountant, Bookkeeper, Estate Plan Analyst, Tax Manager, Trust Accountant, and more roles are covered in this comprehensive compensation guide.



The Lyneer Search Group 2025 Wealth Management Salary Guide offers compensation benchmarks across the unique organizational structure of U.S.-based family offices and multi-family offices (MFOs). Whether you're managing a single ultra-high-net-worth family or overseeing a shared platform of private clients, this guide covers key roles in finance, investments, legal/risk, client services, and operations. Salary data reflects national U.S. market trends based on aggregated data from compensation surveys, public postings, and proprietary MFO placements.

Use this guide to benchmark current team structures, budget for future hires, and align your compensation strategy with evolving talent expectations in private wealth.


Finance & Accounting

Role 25th %ile Median 75th %ile 90th %ile
Chief Financial Officer $225,000.00 $275,000.00 $325,000.00 $375,000.00
Family Office Controller $135,000.00 $165,000.00 $185,000.00 $200,000.00
Senior Accountant / Bookkeeper $80,000.00 $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00
Bill Pay & Expense Coordinator $60,000.00 $70,000.00 $80,000.00 $90,000.00
Reporting Analyst $90,000.00 $105,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00
Trust/Entity Accountant $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00
Tax Manager / Liaison $135,000.00 $160,000.00 $180,000.00 $200,000.00
Estate Plan Analyst $120,000.00 $140,000.00 $160,000.00 $180,000.00
Investment Reporting Specialist $100,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00 $150,000.00
Cash Management Analyst $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00
Capital Call / Distribution Coordinator $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00


Risk, Legal & Compliance

Role 25th %ile Median 75th %ile 90th %ile
General Counsel / Legal Advisor $180,000.00 $220,000.00 $250,000.00 $275,000.00
Trust Administrator $85,000.00 $100,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00
Entity Compliance Specialist $90,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00
Enterprise Risk Analyst $100,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00 $150,000.00
Insurance Advisor $90,000.00 $105,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00
Governance Policy Manager $110,000.00 $130,000.00 $150,000.00 $165,000.00
Technology Risk Analyst $95,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00 $145,000.00
Vendor Risk Coordinator $85,000.00 $100,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00


Investment Function

Role 25th %ile Median 75th %ile 90th %ile
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) $275,000.00 $325,000.00 $375,000.00 $425,000.00
Investment Analyst / Associate $100,000.00 $125,000.00 $145,000.00 $165,000.00
Portfolio Manager $150,000.00 $180,000.00 $210,000.00 $240,000.00
Research Analyst $105,000.00 $125,000.00 $145,000.00 $165,000.00
Direct Investment Due Diligence Specialist $125,000.00 $145,000.00 $165,000.00 $185,000.00
Private Equity Operations Analyst $115,000.00 $135,000.00 $155,000.00 $170,000.00
ESG Research Analyst $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $130,000.00 $145,000.00
Impact Investing Coordinator $90,000.00 $105,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00


Client Services & Lifestyle Management

Role 25th %ile Median 75th %ile 90th %ile
Client Service Director $150,000.00 $185,000.00 $210,000.00 $235,000.00
Family Relationship Manager $120,000.00 $145,000.00 $165,000.00 $185,000.00
Multi-Gen Planning Associate $95,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00 $145,000.00
Lifestyle Director / Personal Assistant $85,000.00 $100,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00
Travel & Event Planner $70,000.00 $85,000.00 $95,000.00 $105,000.00
Financial Literacy & Next Gen Coordinator $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00
Family Meeting Facilitator $100,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00 $150,000.00


Operations & Technology

Role 25th %ile Median 75th %ile 90th %ile
Family Office COO / Director of Operations $190,000.00 $225,000.00 $255,000.00 $275,000.00
Workflow and Policy Coordinator $95,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00 $145,000.00
Family Office Technology Manager $130,000.00 $150,000.00 $170,000.00 $185,000.00
Data Integrity Analyst $95,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00 $140,000.00
Custodian / Fund Admin Liaison $85,000.00 $100,000.00 $115,000.00 $130,000.00
External Advisor Coordinator $90,000.00 $105,000.00 $120,000.00 $135,000.00


Role-Specific Salary Table with AUM Breakdown

Role / AUM Tier < $500M $500M–$1B > $1B (median) Top Decile (> $1B)
CEO n/a ~$314K ~$314K $638K+
CFO n/a ~$277K ~$277K $460K+
CIO n/a ~$384K ~$384K $573K+
COO n/a ~$332K ~$332K $575K+
Controller (mid-tier) $150K $192K $192K $247K+
Investment Analyst $66K $86K $86K $119K
Portfolio Manager $185K $279K $279K $375K
General Counsel / CLO $274K ~$373K ~$373K $546K+
Client Service Director $185K $279K $279K $373K+
Lifestyle Director/PA $120K $180K $180K $300K+
Philanthropy Director $147K $220K $220K $294K+
ESG Analyst n/a $134K $134K $190K+

Small tiers (<$500M) typically cannot sustain C‑suite hires due to overhead (~$1.8M annual costs).


Custom Role Insights


  • Tax Manager / Liaison, Estate Plan Analyst, Trust Administrator, Risk Analyst, Technology Manager align with support roles (~$150K–$260K median).
  • Philanthropy / ESG Coordinator: Mid-tier AUM pay ~$220K median, rising to ~$294K for larger offices.
  • Concierge/Lifestyle roles show wider variation based on family complexity and location: from $120K in smaller setups to $400K+ in large offices.
  • Long-Term Incentives & Bonus Structures:
  • U.S. firms heavily utilize discretionary bonuses (76%), performance bonuses (69%), co-investment (48%), and carried interest (31%)
  • Global averages fall between 21–30% of base; APAC slightly higher



National Base Salary Ranges by Function (All Tiers)

2025 U.S. MFO / Family Office salaries by state (NY & CA) across key roles, adjusting for regional premiums and typical AUM tiers2025 U.S. MFO / Family Office salaries by state (NY & CA) across key roles, adjusting for regional premiums and typical AUM tiers

Role 25th Median 75th 90th+
CEO / Managing Partner $456,000 $794,000 $1.05M $1.6M+
CFO (Family Office) $101,500 $151,300 $182,500 $257,500
COO / Director of Ops $199,000 $397,000 $573,000 $1.26M
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) $456,250 $735,000 $1.1M $1.6M+
Portfolio Manager $185,000 $279,000 $514,000 $643,000
Investment Analyst (National) $66,500 $85,800 $99,500 $119,500
Controller / Senior Accountant $150,000 $192,000 $247,700 $280,000
Client Services Director $185,000 $279,000 $373,000 $514,000
Lifestyle/Concierge $120,000 $180,000 $300,000 $400,000
General Counsel / Legal Advisor $273,000 $373,000 $546,000 $1M+
Philanthropy / ESG Coordinator $134,000 $220,000 $294,000 $525,000

Key Insights

New York (NYC)

  • CFO: $154K–$437K+
  • Controller: $58K–$166K
  • Investment Analyst: $73K–$131K
  • Client Services / Lifestyle: $180K–$400K
  • Market Premium: 20–30% over national medians


California (SF Bay & LA)

  • CFO: $178K–$321K
  • Controller: $135K–$212K
  • Investment Analyst: $100K–$119K
  • General Family Office Staff: ~$165K median
  • Market Premium: 25–35% (especially Bay Area)


Illinois (Chicago)

  • CFO: $156K–$311K+
  • Controller: $103K–$297K
  • Investment Analyst: $83K–$123K
  • Wealth Manager: ~$201K median
  • Market Premium: 5–15% over national, varies by firm size/suburb


Washington (Seattle)

  • CFO: $208K–$297K+, Total Comp ~ $330K
  • Investment Analyst: $83K–$118K
  • General Office Staff: $104K–$191K
  • Market Premium: 10–20%, high variance by tech-adjacent firms


Compensation by AUM Tier

AUM Tier Typical Staff C-Suite Median Base Notes
<$500M 5–10 N/A or low six-figures May not sustain full C-suite
$500M–$1B 10–25 CEO $314K / CFO $277K Use hybrid/shared functions
>$1B 25–50+ CEO/CIO $735K+, CFO $384K Fully staffed with premium pay

In today’s wealth management landscape, the competition for elite finance and accounting talent is intensifying.

Multi-family offices must be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to compensation strategy. This guide provides benchmarks and insights leaders need to retain top-tier professionals and ensure long-term continuity across generations.

- Vincent Crochunis - Senior Client Partner, Lyneer Search Group

Strategic Recommendations


1. Regional Benchmarking

  • Apply regional premiums:
  • NY, CA: +25–35%
  • Chicago, Seattle: +10–20%
  • Adjust comp based on cost of living and competition (especially fintech/VC influence in SF and NYC).


2. AUM-Based Structuring

  • <$500M: Use fractional or dual-role execs (e.g., CFO/COO).
  • $500M–$1B: Staff lean but fully covered.
$1B: Compete at top decile, invest in CIO, risk, and ESG layers.

3. Role Definition by Family Complexity

  • Large, multi-generational families demand:
  • Strong compliance/governance teams
  • Client experience/lifestyle staff
  • Generational education/philanthropy teams

4. Total Compensation Strategy

  • Base + Bonus + LTIP or co-investment:
  • Execs: Bonus (30–50% of base); co-investments used in 48%+ of MFOs
  • Investment roles: Performance-linked pay; carried interest
  • Support roles: Retention-based bonuses or annual discretionary


Ready to Hire Smarter for Your Family Office or MFO?

Compensation is just the start. Success comes from finding the right fit.


Whether you're seeking a CFO who can manage consolidated family reporting, a Family Office Controller to manage the accounting, financial reporting, and tax functions for a family office, or a Senior Accountant who manages the financial records and reports for a family office, overseeing a range of accounting and financial tasks for high-net-worth individuals and their entities – Lyneer has your next strategic hire, in our sites. 


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