Van Doren: The All-in-One Question in Family Office Technology — Observations

Technology & Data

Jul 9

Family offices continue to face growing complexity in managing wealth, structuring investments, and delivering high-touch service across generations. At the heart of it all lies a persistent challenge: operations and technology. Do you stick with a patchwork of best-in-class solutions or consolidate with an all-in-one tech platform?

To explore this question, I sat down with Marjorie Van Doren, Director of Finance and Client Services at OakRidge Management Group, and a seasoned family office executive with over a decade of experience supporting ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families. From her early days in public accounting to her current role overseeing technology and operations for multiple families, Marjorie has led several major system implementations and lived the pros and cons of both approaches.

In our wide-ranging conversation, one theme came through loud and clear: there is no one-size-fits-all answer, but the decision to go “all-in-one” is increasingly difficult to ignore.

Complexity Demands Consolidation

“The structure of family offices is complex. You’ve got various entities for various purposes, but your client wants one aggregated report,” Marjorie explained.

This reporting requirement creates an operational burden, especially when data lives in different systems. Many family offices still rely heavily on Excel to cobble together reports—sometimes dedicating 20+ hours a month to month-end close processes.

That’s where an all-in-one system can deliver tremendous value. Platforms like FundCount, which integrates general ledger accounting with performance reporting and automated data feeds, eliminate many manual tasks and streamline reporting across entities.

“You’re really only focusing on maintaining one system,” Marjorie said. “Anytime you have data feeding from one platform to another, that connection might break. Then you need to add in a layer of review. So I do appreciate having an all-in-one system.”

Lean Teams Need Smart Tools

With just three people supporting six families in her current role, Marjorie’s team reflects a broader trend: lean operations are the norm in family offices. Adding headcount isn’t always viable, so the technology stack must be built for efficiency and scale.

One of the biggest wins? Automating reconciliations.

“Bank reconciliations are easier with systems like FundCount. You’ll always be T+1 on your bank and brokerage accounts,” she said. “What used to take three minutes per account—multiplied by 25 accounts, five times a week—has turned into huge time savings.”

She also emphasized the benefit of consolidation: “Bringing operational entities off platforms like QuickBooks and into one system has let us show a real picture of asset allocation and holdings.”

The Pain of Implementation

Despite the advantages, implementing an all-in-one system isn’t for the faint of heart. These platforms demand a clear understanding of your data, ownership structures, and workflows before you can even begin the transition.

“You hear a lot about implementations getting stalled,” Marjorie said. “Do you have someone who knows your data—whether that’s QuickBooks or Excel? Do you have your ownership structure mapped out in a way that’s easily translatable into a new system?”

She cautioned that failure to plan early can mean redoing significant work months later. “You have to think about how you’re going to approach the implementation from the get-go.”

Not A Silver Bullet Yet

All-in-one platforms still struggle with offline or illiquid investments. Marketable securities flow easily through APIs and data feeds, but alternative investments, like private equity or real estate, typically require manual input.

“One of the biggest manual efforts is making sure we have the correct unfunded commitment tied back to the K-1 or capital account statement,” she said.

But help is on the horizon. Tools like Arch Labs and Canoe are using AI to parse PDFs and structured documents for alternative investments. Marjorie remains optimistic: “I’m excited to see the potential there—taking that unstructured data and bringing it online.”

Crypto: A Unique Use Case

Marjorie also shared a creative solution to a crypto accounting nightmare. One client held a massive amount of direct crypto assets with limited documentation—just some Excel downloads and screenshots. Transactions spanned years, and the ownership of certain assets had changed hands multiple times through internal agreements.

Her answer? Aggregate all crypto activity into a single, dedicated entity. Book buys and sells by month, apply monthly pricing per token, and use that roll-up entity to show performance and asset allocation at a high level.

“It was a great way to satisfy the client’s need for insight while avoiding endless hours of data cleanup,” she said. “That solution was only possible because of the unique relationships inside a family office.”

AI and the Future of Family Office Tech

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s already enhancing workflows. Marjorie uses AI tools embedded in Arch Labs to extract and interpret alternative investment documents. These tools cut down on manual entry and improve accuracy.

Looking ahead, she sees AI playing a much larger role. “I think soon our job will be more about review—making sure data integrations are still working—than manual input,” she said.

She also believes AI will eventually flag unusual transactions and help teams focus on exceptions, not the routine. That shift will free up time for more strategic work.

Final Thoughts: Know Your Business First

So, should your family office go all-in-one? The answer depends.

Pros:

Single source of truth across all data
Automated reconciliations and real-time reporting
Streamlined workflows for lean teams
Built-in audit trails and data security

Cons:

Heavy upfront lift to plan and implement
Limited automation for alternative or offline assets
Risk of lock-in or limited customization

If your family office needs scale, real-time insight, and fewer errors, an all-in-one system may offer more value than the traditional “best-in-class” patchwork.

But success starts long before implementation. You need to deeply understand your data, your reporting needs, and your ownership structures. Then—and only then—can you unlock the true power of an integrated system.

As Marjorie wisely put it:

“The setup is key, and the setup depends upon the planning. The more planning you do, the better the potential for positive outcomes.”

And if you’re wondering what’s next, she left us with this future-focused thought:

“I think in the future, we’ll see more family offices turning toward platforms that can automate consolidated reporting packages across various entities… and more AI support, especially around alternatives and crypto.”

In short: don’t just buy technology—buy into a smarter way of working.

Want to learn more about process optimization, tech selection, or governance best practices for family offices? Reach out to us at Jon Carroll + Family or explore our Family Office Project YouTube Channel.