About Me
Why I Do What I Do
Behind every structure — a trust, a family office, a company — there are people. And people are complex.
Over the years, I’ve seen how wealth can be a source of connection, opportunity and purpose, but also of strain when intentions are unclear or generations pull in different directions.
My work exists to help families use their wealth wisely and well: to strengthen relationships, express shared values, and make a positive contribution to the world around them. In my experience, the best outcomes come not from perfect documents but from families who understand each other just a little better. When families feel confident in how they are organised, they can focus their energy on what truly matters — their people, their purpose and their impact.
My Journey
Allen & Overy – Foundations in Law
Developed a deep grounding in legal structures, compliance, and the frameworks that underpin family wealth.
Barclays Wealth – Understanding Wealth Holders
Gained insight into the needs, priorities, and complexities of wealthy families and individuals navigating major decisions.
Salamanca Group – Leading Private Office
Built and led bespoke advisory services, deepening my knowledge of Private Office operations and multi-generation needs.
KPMG & BDO – Family Office Services
Advised families on governance, succession, structure design and alignment — integrating both technical and human perspectives.
Catherine Grum Consultancy Ltd – Independent Advisory
Bringing together all my experience to offer independent, flexible support shaped entirely around each family’s unique needs.
My Purpose and Values
My purpose is simple: to help families live well with wealth — using it to strengthen relationships, express their values, and contribute positively to the world around them.
These aren’t words on a page. They shape how I listen, how I support families, and how I show up in every engagement.
Who I Work With
My clients range from manufacturing families in the Midlands to full-service family offices in London; from internationally mobile entrepreneurs to large families in Africa and the Middle East. What unites them is not their sector or geography, but a shared curiosity about how to steward wealth well — and how to keep their family relationships strong as circumstances evolve.
I also collaborate closely with other professionals — lawyers, trustees, accountants, and investment advisers — to ensure that the structures we design fit seamlessly with the family’s wider ecosystem.
Is this the right fit?
My work tends to suit families and advisers who value reflection as much as results. They are willing to ask deeper questions — What is our wealth really for? How do we prepare the next generation? How do we ensure fairness and clarity? None of us have all the answers, but with the right conversations, families usually have more wisdom than they think.
If you’re looking for quick-fixes, rigid hierarchies or unquestioned deference to the current generation, I may not be the right adviser. But if you want a process that brings generations together, balances expertise with empathy, and translates vision into practical action, we will work well together.
How I Work
Discovery
I listen first — understanding the family’s history, dynamics, story and current structures to uncover what truly matters.
Alignment
Through thoughtful dialogue, we uncover shared principles, priorities and goals that create clarity across generations.
Design
We translate insights into practical frameworks: governance, purpose, succession and rising-generation support.
Implementation
I support the family and their advisers as plans take shape — ensuring structures work in practice, not just on paper.