What This Mandate Requires
THE RAREST PROFILE IN THE MARKET.
DISCRETION
Absolute. Non-negotiable. The principal's world is private. The EA is the gatekeeper.
COMPLEXITY
Multiple residences, multiple entities, multiple time zones. The EA manages all of it.
LOYALTY
UHNW principals do not hire EAs. They build relationships. Tenure matters.
JUDGMENT
The EA acts as an extension of the principal's judgment. Not a task manager. A trusted operator.
The Search Process
HOW A UHNW SEARCH WORKS.
A UHNW search begins with a confidential brief. James conducts this personally. It takes 30 minutes and covers the principal type, the household structure, the scope of the role, and the non-negotiables. The brief is never shared without consent.
Elevate is searched the same day. For UHNW mandates, TalentSmiths draws from Nine99 first. These are the most senior EAs in the network, many of whom have supported principals at this level before and are not actively looking.
A shortlist of three candidates follows within two weeks. Every candidate has been psychometrically assessed and personally briefed on the mandate. The principal meets three people, not thirty.
UHNW placements typically complete within four to six weeks from the initial brief. The most complex mandates, those involving multiple residences, international relocation, or multi-principal arrangements, may take longer. James will advise on timeline during the brief.
All UHNW mandates are retained. This is not a contingency business. A retained mandate means James is personally committed to the search and Elevate is activated immediately. The 12-month guarantee applies to all retained placements.
The average tenure of a TalentSmiths UHNW placement is over four years. The principals who invest in the right process at the start do not come back to us for a replacement. They come back to us for a second hire.
Compensation
WHAT THE MARKET PAYS.
LONDON
£150k – £280k
Base salary. Discretionary bonus common. Carry for family office mandates.
NEW YORK
$180k – $320k
Base salary. Total compensation can exceed $400k with bonus and carry.
MIAMI
$160k – $280k
Growing market. UHNW mandates increasing year on year.
SAN FRANCISCO
$170k – $300k
Tech-adjacent UHNW. Equity and carry structures common.
AUSTIN
$155k – $270k
Growing UHNW market. Founder-adjacent profiles common.
Ready to begin
START A UHNW SEARCH.
Further reading