When Principals Ask AI Instead of Their Advisors
Private Wealth Services attorney Eduardo Arista contributed to Family Wealth Report a recap of a panel he moderated at the Family Office FinTech Forum 2026 on how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way family offices seek and evaluate business and legal advice. He focuses on the use of AI by principals, investment teams and next-generation family members to assess investments, test legal and tax questions, and benchmark advisor recommendations before turning to professionals. The article highlights the panel's discussion of key risks, including AI hallucinations, potential waiver of attorney-client privilege and correcting misconceptions formed through AI-generated answers. Mr. Arista also covers guardrails for family offices, such as approved use policies, limits on sensitive data sharing, human review for significant decisions and stronger governance around cybersecurity and auditability.