At the end of last year Arolla launched a service to support the private wealth sector by providing independent investment oversight,  to support fiduciaries to strengthen governance, discharge their duties with confidence, and enhancing their oversight of assets under administration.

Q. Simon, why has Arolla launched this service?

We’re seeing increasing regulatory and stakeholder focus on fiduciary investment oversight, particularly around governance, suitability and evidencing decision-making. While many fiduciaries delegate investment management or reporting, the responsibility to govern and monitor remains an absolute duty.

This service was launched to help fiduciaries meet that duty more effectively. It provides independent, senior-level oversight, not investment advice, to strengthen processes, identify risks and give boards and committees greater confidence that  investment responsibilities are being correctly discharged.

Q: Who can benefit from this service?

The service is aimed at the private wealth sector, fiduciary service providers, as well as Family and Multi-Family Offices, who are responsible for overseeing assets under administration.

These businesses are often supervising  multiple investment managers, strategies and client mandates. That complexity increases operational burden and fiduciary  risk. Our role is to sit alongside them as an independent partner,  bringing clarity, structure and consistency to their investment oversight framework.

Q: Independence is a recurring theme, why is that so important?

Independence is fundamental. Arolla is not affiliated with an administrator, law firm or investment manager, which allows us to provide objective analysis and constructive challenge where required.

That independent perspective is often what regulators and boards value most. It enables clearer feedback, better documentation of decisions and stronger governance outcomes are all aligned to best practice.

Q: What does the service look like in practice?

It’s flexible and tailored, but typically involves reviewing and enhancing existing investment oversight processes, assessing manager selection and ongoing monitoring frameworks, and analysing fees, costs and potential inefficiencies.

We also work directly with investment or risk committees, sometimes joining or chairing them and can support implementation once improvements are agreed. The aim is to reduce administrative burden while improving control, oversight and preparedness for regulatory visits. 

Q: How does this service help with regulatory readiness?

Regulatory visits often highlight weaknesses in investment oversight rather than investment performance itself. By independently reviewing processes and governance structures, we help identify gaps before they become regulatory issues. Clients gain clearer visibility of day-to-day investment activity, stronger documentation and greater confidence that their oversight obligations are being met which makes regulatory engagement far more straightforward.

Q: Finally, what do you see as the long-term value of this service?

Ultimately, it’s about giving fiduciaries confidence and resilience.

Confidence that the correct governance frameworks are in place, that decisions are properly governed and evidenced, and that they are fulfilling their duties to beneficiaries.

By strengthening oversight and freeing up internal teams to focus more on client relationships and strategic priorities, the service supports both regulatory robustness, institutional credibility, and better long-term client outcomes.