In volatile markets, family office leaders face two constant challenges: preserving capital and adapting to new tools that can transform how wealth is managed.

Alberto Siblesz, from Citibank’s trading floors to running a multifamily office, has built a career on reading between the lines, acting decisively, and keeping strategies simple. His approach offers valuable lessons for any wealth manager or family office leader seeking to grow and protect generational wealth.

‍1. Reframe Risk When Others Retreat

Market downturns can trigger fear-driven decisions. Alberto sees them as windows of opportunity.

In the early 2000s, when others clung to traditional portfolios, he advised clients to buy physical gold — even traveling to Switzerland to personally inspect the vault. From there, he moved into prime-location real estate and senior-secured private credit.

“In downturns, it’s not about hiding — it’s about reframing. That’s when the best opportunities appear.”

‍What this means for you:

• Assess downturns for entry points, not just threats.
• Diversify into tangible, understandable assets.

‍2. Keep Investments Simple and Transparent

From institutional real estate projects to private credit deals, Alberto avoids “black box” complexity. Every investment must be something the client can understand and trust.

“You cannot manage what you do not understand.”

This principle extends to time horizons, redefining “long-term” to match the client’s reality, even if that means twelve months instead of seven years.

‍What this means for you:‍

• Choose strategies you can explain in one conversation.
• Align investment timelines with the client’s real needs.

‍3. Use Technology to Enhance, Not Replace

The next frontier for Alberto is AI-powered direct indexing — combining personalization, tax optimization, and operational efficiency.

“We are not replacing advisors with robots. We are augmenting intuition with data, gut feeling with structure.”

For family offices facing fee compression and rising client expectations, mastering these tools is a competitive advantage — as long as the human element remains at the center.

‍What this means for you:

• Leverage tech for efficiency and personalization.
• Keep human judgment and relationship-building as the foundation.

‍4. Educate to Preserve Wealth Across Generations

In Latin America, wealth conversations often center on the patriarch. Alberto brings all generations — and spouses — into the discussion, teaching them about investments, risks, and opportunities.

“If you want to preserve wealth, you must teach it, share it, and evolve it.”

From onboarding second-generation heirs to addressing cross-cultural family structures, education is central to long-term wealth continuity.

‍What this means for you:

• Include all stakeholders in financial conversations.
• Build structured education programs for heirs.

‍5. Read Between the Lines

Some of the best opportunities are hidden in plain sight. Early in his career, Alberto spotted a small government decree buried in a non-financial newspaper — a signal no one else had caught. Acting on it, he reversed a position, moved the market by 20 points, and secured a major win.

‍What this means for you:‍

• Pay attention to subtle market signals.
• Cultivate the discipline to act quickly when opportunity appears.

‍Key Takeaways for Family Office Leaders

• Reframe downturns as opportunities to reposition.
• Keep investments transparent and aligned to client realities.
• Use technology to enhance, not replace, human insight.
• Make education a non-negotiable part of wealth strategy.
• Train your eye to catch what others overlook.

‍Watch the Full Episode

Hear more from Alberto Siblesz on building a multifamily office, embracing simplicity, and using technology to enhance wealth management.

‍Watch the full conversation here.

‍About Ideas to Scale – CEO Edition

In each episode, we talk to industry leaders about the strategies, mindset shifts, and lessons that drive business growth. Our goal: to inspire and equip decision-makers with actionable insights rooted in real-world experience.

If you’re ready to explore how a contrarian, tech-enabled approach could reshape your wealth strategy, connect with Scalto.

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