Top Family Offices in Cleveland 2026

Key Market Facts

• Cleveland family offices number more than 20 in Northeast Ohio, spanning single family offices (SFOs), multi-family offices (MFOs), and family office-oriented registered investment advisers (RIAs).
• The three largest Cleveland-area MFOs collectively manage over $75 billion: MAI Capital Management ($29.6B), Clearstead ($24B in AUM, $50B in assets under advisement), and Sequoia Financial Group ($23B).
• Office activity clusters in downtown Cleveland, the eastern suburbs of Beachwood and Pepper Pike along the Chagrin Boulevard corridor, and Akron as a secondary hub.
• Active SFOs such as Bratenahl Capital Partners and Walnut Ridge focus on direct private equity deals and lower middle market control positions with patient capital.
• The market grows through strategic deals. Sequoia added Zeke Capital and Cirrus Wealth Management, while One Seven acquired TruClarity Wealth Advisors in 2023.
• A state-backed Ohio venture fund raised roughly $240 million in its first year, targeting advanced manufacturing, biotech, real estate, and Ohio-based startups.
• Capital deployment themes center on lower middle market operating companies, long-term hold strategies, and sectors tied to Cleveland's industrial roots: manufacturing, healthcare, and business services.

Northeast Ohio Family Office Landscape

Cleveland's family office ecosystem grew from the city's manufacturing and industrial heritage. Many SFOs trace their origins to founder-led businesses in rubber, automotive parts, and specialty manufacturing. The Kanfer family built Walnut Ridge on the back of GOJO Industries (maker of PURELL), while the Howley family launched Bratenahl Capital Partners to invest alongside private equity sponsors. These SFOs operate next to large MFOs and RIAs that serve dozens of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families with full-service wealth advisory.

The market spans roughly 20 offices spread between downtown Cleveland, Beachwood, Pepper Pike, and Akron. Downtown Cleveland hosts five or more offices, including MAI Capital and Ancora Holdings Group. Beachwood is home to Stratos Wealth Advisors and One Seven, while Pepper Pike anchors Carnegie Investment Counsel on the Chagrin Boulevard corridor. Akron serves as a secondary hub through Sequoia Financial Group and Walnut Ridge.

Growth runs on RIA consolidation and new capital formation. Sequoia expanded through the Zeke Capital and Cirrus Wealth Management deals. One Seven acquired TruClarity in Florida to broaden its national footprint. Virtual and fractional family office models are also emerging, with local CPA firms now offering fractional chief financial officer services for families that need office-level oversight without building a standalone operation.

Family Office Comparison at a Glance

The table below compares the leading wealth management firms and family office-oriented RIAs in the greater Cleveland market. Offices are sorted by AUM where available, with SFOs that do not disclose assets listed at the bottom.

Family Office	Type	AUM Estimate	Investment Focus	Key Services	Location
MAI Capital Management	MFO/RIA	$29.63B	Alternative investments, wealth management	Wealth management, family office, iCapital alternatives	Cleveland, OH
Clearstead	MFO/RIA	$24B AUM / $50B AUA	Private wealth, family office, alternatives	Tax (40+ professionals), trust, ClearAccess® platform	Cleveland, OH
Sequoia / Sentinel Family Office	MFO/RIA	$23.03B	Full-service financial planning, alternatives	14+ service lines including oversight, education	Akron, OH
CBIZ Investment Advisory	RIA	$10.49B	Fiduciary advisory, retirement plans, trusts	Investment consulting, oversight, fiduciary education	Cleveland, OH
Carnegie Investment Counsel	MFO/RIA	$6.52B	Custom portfolios, estate planning	Investment, financial, retirement, and tax planning	Pepper Pike, OH
Stratos Wealth Advisors	MFO/RIA	$4.91B	Independent advisor platform	Wealth management, financial advisory	Beachwood, OH
TFO Wealth Partners	MFO/RIA	$4.85B	Traditional and alternative investments	Advisory, tax, estate, family oversight	Maumee, OH
One Seven	MFO/RIA	$4.85B	Diversified portfolios	Investment management, holistic planning	Beachwood, OH
Ancora Holdings Group	MFO/RIA	$4.48B	Portfolio management, private wealth	Wealth advisory, insurance, retirement plans	Cleveland, OH
CM Wealth Advisors	MFO	$2B+	Generational wealth, charitable giving	Full-service: tax, bill pay, concierge, education	Cleveland, OH
GFP Private Wealth	MFO/RIA	$1.7B	Investment management, alternatives	Financial planning, family office services	Cleveland, OH
Bratenahl Capital Partners	SFO	—	PE funds, co-investments, secondaries	Single-family investment office	Cleveland, OH
Walnut Ridge (Kanfer Family)	SFO	—	Lower middle market control deals, health tech	Direct investments, philanthropic foundations	Akron, OH
Daisy Hill Partners	SFO	—	B2B control investments, patient capital	Hands-on management and operational support	Cleveland, OH

MAI Capital leads the market in total AUM, but Clearstead's $50 billion in assets under advisement signals the broadest institutional reach. Among SFOs, Walnut Ridge and Bratenahl Capital represent two distinct models: one acquires and operates companies directly, the other invests alongside top-tier private equity general partners.

Top Picks by Strategy

• Largest AUM: MAI Capital Management, with $29.6 billion under management and alternative allocation access through its iCapital integration, ranks as the biggest MFO in the Cleveland market.
• Most Complete Platform: Clearstead combines $24 billion in AUM with its proprietary ClearAccess® alternatives program (roughly $3 billion in illiquid private holdings) plus 40 tax professionals on staff.
• Best for Direct PE Deals: Walnut Ridge (Kanfer Family Office) actively acquires lower middle market companies with EBITDA up to $12 million, deploying equity checks of $15 million to $50 million in healthcare, manufacturing, and business services.
• Strongest Deal-Driven Growth: Sequoia Financial Group built a $23 billion platform through strategic purchases including Zeke Capital and Cirrus Wealth Management, expanding its Sentinel Family Office offering.
• Top Co-Investment Access: Bratenahl Capital Partners operates as a pure private equity SFO, making fund commitments, co-investments alongside GPs, and secondary transactions for the Howley family.
• Leading Generational Wealth Specialist: CM Wealth Advisors has served multi-generational families since 1983, offering concierge lifestyle services, bill pay, charitable giving programs, and financial education alongside portfolio management.
• Most Active Deal Maker: Next Sparc Growth Partners has closed 13 deals spanning professional services, SaaS, consumer brands, and health and wellness businesses, backed by patient capital and operational expertise.

Leading Offices in Greater Cleveland

MAI Capital Management

Cleveland's largest multi-family office manages $29.6 billion for high-net-worth individuals, UHNW families, financial advisors, and institutional investors. MAI differentiates through its iCapital partnership, which gives clients direct access to alternative allocations that most advisory firms cannot offer. Families seeking a blend of scale, product breadth, and dedicated wealth management find MAI's platform hard to match in Northeast Ohio. The firm has operated since 1973, giving it one of the longest track records in the region.

Clearstead

No other Cleveland office matches Clearstead's blend of institutional consulting and private wealth advisory. The firm manages $24 billion in AUM while advising on $50 billion total, serving both wealthy families and large institutions through a shared research platform. Its ClearAccess® program channels roughly $3 billion into illiquid private holdings, including private equity, real estate, and private credit.

Clearstead also employs more than 40 tax professionals. This makes it a rare MFO that handles tax preparation, trust administration (through Clearstead Trust and Avalon Trust), and estate planning under one roof.

Sequoia Financial Group / Sentinel Family Office

Akron-based Sequoia has built a $23 billion wealth management platform through organic growth and targeted purchases, most recently adding Zeke Capital Advisors and Cirrus Wealth Management. Its Sentinel Family Office division serves UHNW families with 14 or more service lines, from pre-transaction planning and banking to family oversight and next-generation education.

Business owners preparing for a liquidity event benefit from Sequoia's integrated approach. The firm handles sell-side preparation, wealth transfer, and ongoing portfolio management as a single team. Sentinel also provides access to both liquid and illiquid alternative asset classes.

CM Wealth Advisors

Cleveland's most mission-driven MFO manages over $2 billion with a focus on generational wealth preservation and transfer. CM Wealth stands apart by offering services most offices do not: bill pay, concierge lifestyle coordination, and structured financial education programs for younger family members.

Its charitable giving advisory helps families align donations with long-term legacy goals. Families that want a single team to handle portfolios, tax preparation, estate strategy, and day-to-day financial administration will find CM Wealth's scope among the broadest in Northeast Ohio.

Bratenahl Capital Partners

This SFO exists for one purpose: to invest in and alongside private equity sponsors on behalf of the Howley family and The Howley Foundation. Bratenahl Capital makes primary fund commitments, co-invests in individual deals, and participates in secondary transactions.

The firm takes a long-term partnership approach with high-quality general partners, avoiding the short-term deal churn common in institutional allocator models. Families with their own SFOs may study Bratenahl's structure as a template for building a focused PE co-investment program.

Walnut Ridge (Kanfer Family Office)

The Kanfer family's private wealth office grew from the fortune generated by GOJO Industries, which invented PURELL hand sanitizer in Akron in 1946. Today, Walnut Ridge pursues control positions in profitable lower middle market businesses, targeting EBITDA up to $12 million with equity checks of $15 million to $50 million.

Its sectors include business services, specialty manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare products. The firm also backs early-stage health tech ventures and manages two philanthropic foundations. Walnut Ridge reflects a builder's approach: operational involvement, long hold periods, and deep care for company culture.

Cresset (Cleveland Office)

National scale meets local access through Cresset's downtown Cleveland office, backed by more than 20 locations. The firm operates under a True Fiduciary® commitment, meaning advisors earn no commissions on products and put client interests first in every decision.

Cresset's Cleveland team focuses on business owners, founders, and multi-generational families. Barron's, Forbes, and Crain's rank the firm among top advisory platforms. Founders navigating complex post-sale wealth structuring gain access to Cresset's national deal flow and planning resources through the local office.

Daisy Hill Partners

Patient capital and hands-on management define this Cleveland SFO's approach to privately owned B2B companies. Daisy Hill's purchase of Corporate Charters in 2017 illustrates its model: take a controlling stake, provide operational support, and hold for the long term.

The firm targets owners who want liquidity but care about preserving their company's legacy and workforce. Daisy Hill does not operate on a private equity fund timeline; it holds positions without a forced exit date. Midwest business owners seeking a buyer who will keep operations local find this approach rare among institutional options.

How Cleveland's Family Office Market Is Evolving

Direct Deals and Lower Middle Market Focus

Cleveland SFOs actively acquire founder-owned and family-owned businesses with EBITDA up to $12 million. Liberty Hill Equity Partners closed four deals in 2023 alone, including FWL Surface Solutions and Precision Vehicle Logistics. Walnut Ridge and Daisy Hill Partners use patient capital with no fixed exit timeline. This structure appeals to Midwest sellers wary of traditional private equity fund cycles.

RIA Consolidation and Platform Expansion

Sequoia Financial Group's purchase of Zeke Capital and Cirrus Wealth Management added billions in managed assets and expanded its geographic reach. One Seven's 2023 deal for TruClarity in Florida followed the same playbook: buy, integrate, and offer broader services to a larger client base. This trend is creating fewer but larger MFO platforms in the Cleveland market.

Alternative Allocation Access for Wealthy Families

Clearstead's ClearAccess® program has channeled roughly $3 billion into illiquid private holdings, giving its clients exposure to private equity, venture capital, and real estate. MAI Capital offers similar access through its iCapital integration. Cleveland families that once had limited options for alternatives beyond public markets now have two competitive platforms locally.

Ohio-Focused Capital Formation

A state-backed venture fund raised approximately $240 million in its first year, backing companies such as Endera (electric buses) and Splash Financial ($70 million Series C). This vehicle channels capital into advanced manufacturing, biotech, and real estate, creating co-investment options for Cleveland-area offices seeking local deal flow.

Succession Planning and Next-Generation Education

As Cleveland's industrial wealth enters its third and fourth generations, demand for structured succession planning and family education is rising. Sequoia's Sentinel division offers formal family governance and education programs. CM Wealth provides financial literacy training for younger family members. TFO Wealth Partners includes oversight frameworks in its core advisory model as well.

How to Choose the Right Office in This Market

Many Cleveland MFOs evolved from registered investment advisers. The first evaluation step is verifying whether an office offers true family office depth or rebranded advisory services. Clearstead, CM Wealth, and Sequoia's Sentinel division provide genuinely broad platforms covering portfolios, tax, estate, family oversight, and charitable giving. Firms with narrower service menus, such as Carnegie Investment Counsel's focus on portfolio management, may suit families needing only investment counsel.

Fiduciary alignment separates the strongest offices in this market. Cresset operates under a True Fiduciary® standard, earning no commissions on products. Ask whether your prospective office receives referral fees, product commissions, or soft-dollar payments that could create misaligned incentives. In practice, offices that disclose their fee structure upfront tend to attract multi-generational Cleveland families with complex needs.

Service breadth varies more in Cleveland than in larger markets like New York or Chicago. CM Wealth offers bill pay, concierge coordination, and charitable giving consulting alongside tax and portfolio services. Clearstead employs over 40 tax professionals. By comparison, offices focused mainly on investment counsel provide fewer wraparound services. Families with operating businesses, trust structures, and charitable foundations should compare these capabilities side by side.

Alternative allocation access is another key differentiator. Families seeking private equity, venture capital, or real estate exposure should evaluate Clearstead's ClearAccess® program and MAI's iCapital integration for minimum commitment sizes and fund availability. Not every Cleveland MFO can provide these options, so confirm access before signing an advisory agreement.

Which Family Office Fits Your Needs?

UHNW families seeking full-service wealth management should start with Clearstead or MAI Capital. Both offer institutional-grade platforms paired with tax, trust, and planning services. Clearstead's $50 billion in assets under advisement reflects deep consulting capability, while MAI's $29.6 billion AUM and iCapital partnership provide the broadest alternative access in the market.

Business owners preparing for a sale or liquidity event benefit from offices with dedicated pre-transaction planning. Cresset's Cleveland team specializes in founders and business leaders navigating wealth structuring after an exit. Sequoia's Sentinel division integrates sell-side preparation with ongoing wealth transfer planning. However, families that have already sold a business often seek firms with long-term hold philosophies rather than short-cycle advisory relationships.

Next-generation wealth holders and families prioritizing generational transfer find the strongest options in CM Wealth Advisors (financial education and oversight services since 1983) and TFO Wealth Partners (family structure frameworks in its core advisory model). Families wanting direct exposure to private equity and co-investment should look at Bratenahl Capital for GP co-investment access or Walnut Ridge for hands-on control deals in lower middle market companies.

Methodology

This guide to Cleveland family offices draws on deal network databases, RIA industry databases, SEC regulatory filings, individual firm websites, and regional business publications. Offices were selected based on their headquarters location in, or service coverage of, the greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio market.

AUM figures reflect the most recent publicly available regulatory filings as of early 2026. SFO assets are typically not disclosed and are omitted rather than estimated. Deal histories were verified through transaction records and firm announcements. Service offerings were confirmed through firm websites and published materials. This overview covers offices operating as SFOs, MFOs, family office-oriented RIAs, and key service providers, but it does not represent an exhaustive directory of every advisory firm in the region.