If you’re new here, this is the best place to start.
I run what might genuinely be the smallest family office in the world. This is not a billion-dollar endowment fund. It is my own capital, managed with one simple ambition:
Preserve capital and compound it steadily over decades.
This page explains who I am, how I invest, who this publication is for, and what you will find here.
About Me
I work as an airline pilot for a major flag carrier and hold an MSc. Alongside my aviation career, I spent many years working inside a family-owned operating business.
That experience shaped how I think about capital. I saw firsthand how markets with low barriers to entry behave, how quickly competitive advantages can erode, and how disruption actually plays out at the operating level.
A windfall forced me to engage deeply with capital markets and wealth management. I had to determine whether external advisors added any value, or whether I needed or rather wanted to do all the work myself.
Today, I am responsible for managing my own capital and that of my family. The Tiny Family Office documents how I allocate that capital across equities and selected alternative strategies, using an endowment-style framework inspired by David Swensen and adapted to my own managed portfolio.
I have two goals with this publication:
Run my own multi-asset portfolio with a long-term, endowment-style approach.
Document the process in a way that could eventually justify spending most of my time reading, researching, and investing.
Writing The Tiny Family Office forces me sharpen my decisions, think carefully, and it (hopefully) offers something more useful than the typical finance Substack.
Investment Universe
At the heart of The Tiny Family Office is capital preservation and compounding. I think in decades, not quarters, and I care more about resilience than excitement.
A few guiding principles:
Global equity anchor
A broad global equity exposure (index funds / ETFs) forms the base of the portfolio.
A handful of individual companies
Around that, I add carefully chosen businesses with:
strong moats
recurring or highly visible revenues
solid balance sheets
aligned management and ownership
low risk of disruption
Alternatives for diversification
I diversify with uncorrelated or less correlated assets, such as:
hedge funds / absolute-return strategies
credit / fixed income
insurance risk (catastrophe bonds)
gold or commodities
Owner mindset
I always try to think like a long-term owner, I am not a trader. My whole approach is inspired by people like Warren Buffett, Chris Hohn, Terry Smith, Tom Russo, and David Swensen.
What I don’t do
I do not invest in private-equity funds.
Audience
This publication is for people who take investing seriously:
Private investors with a family-office mindset.
High-income professionals who want a framework.
Portfolio managers, analysts, and active capital allocators.
Independent thinkers and students of investing.
What You’ll Find Here
The content on The Tiny Family Office is organized into a few sections:
Portfolio Updates (Monthly)
The core of the project. Detailed portfolio allocation, changes, rationale, performance context, and commentary.
Research
In-depth work on individual companies and broader themes. From hidden European holding companies to on-shoring trends or demographics.
CIO Notes (Weekly)
Notes on what I am reading, watching, and thinking about as an investor: fund letters, interviews, research papers, charts, podcasts, and ideas. Always with portfolio implications in mind.
Free vs Paid
To keep the audience focused and the work sustainable, some content is free and some is paid (for now everything is free).
Free readers get:
Selected research
Weekly CIO Notes (curated intelligence)
Paid subscribers get:
Full Portfolio Updates with detailed allocation and commentary
Access to all research reports (entire archive and all new ones)
Weekly CIO Notes (curated intelligence)
I believe good research has value. Charging for access forces me to stay disciplined, consistent, and accountable to the people who choose to follow.
How to Start
If you’ve just arrived, a simple order works well:
Read the post on Investment Philosophy to understand the foundation.
Read a recent Portfolio Update to see how the portfolio looks today.
Read a Research Report that is interesting for you.
Decide whether a free or paid subscription fits how closely you want to follow along.
Final Word
This project is about long-term thinking, rational allocation, and building something that lasts. I will be here for the next decades.
If that resonates with you, I’m glad you’re here.
Disclaimer: The Tiny Family Office is a personal publication. All content reflects my own opinions, research, and investment decisions. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or tax advice. I am not acting as your financial advisor. Investing involves risks, including the possible loss of principal. Do your own research or consult with a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.