Family Office Guide
Prepared for the Hammond Family
We want to provide opportunities for our family — learning, philanthropic, business, service. Not because we have to. Because we want to.
The family office has one direction: sustain businesses that fund future growth for future family members, so that it continues for generations. It's not a corporation. It's not top-down. It's a launchpad.
When you're ready, we build together. We buy businesses, fix them, grow them, and either keep them running or sell them for a profit. Along the way, you learn how to operate, how to think about money, and how to make good decisions.
And when you're ready for your own thing — your passion business — we help you launch it. With real support, real capital, and real ownership.
This guide explains how it all works. Read it. Ask questions. Challenge it. That's the point.
— Jamie and Owen
Hammond Offices is a family office — a private organization that manages investments, businesses, and wealth planning for a single family. Ours.
The purpose is straightforward: sustain businesses that fund future growth for future family members, so that this continues for generations. Not just our generation. The ones after us.
It works like this. Everyone starts with Hammond operations — real work, real responsibility. You learn the foundation: how businesses run, how money moves, how decisions get made. From there, you join us in buying small local businesses. We fix them, build them, make them better. Then we either keep them generating revenue or sell them for a profit. Repeat.
When the time is right — when you've built the skills and the plan is solid — you launch your passion business. Something you want to build. The family office funds it, supports it, and you own a piece of it from day one.
The target start date is August 1, 2027. That said, we'll work with each family individually. If you need more time, that's fine. If you're ready sooner, let's talk.
This isn't corporate. It's not top-down. Think of it as a crew, not a company. Everyone contributes. Everyone benefits. Jamie and Owen make the final calls on big decisions — we built the foundation. But the goal isn't control. The goal is everyone ending up in a stronger position than they'd be alone.
There are no limits on what you can accomplish here. We hope you break barriers, accomplish bigger and better and faster than we ever did. That's the whole point.
Five steps from joining to building something of your own. Not everyone takes them at the same pace — and that's fine.
Full-time commitment. $80K salary. You're working on Hammond operations — researching opportunities, running family businesses, building the home office. Real work from day one.
Foundation training. Reading financials, managing projects, understanding how businesses actually run. Milestone-based raises as you progress — not based on time, but on what you can do.
Acquire a small local business — $500K or under. The family office funds it. You help find it, evaluate it, and close the deal. Then the real work starts.
Fix it. Build it. Enhance it. Then decide: keep it as a revenue generator or sell it for a multiple. Either way, you earn your share. Then do it again.
Your company. Your vision. The family office funds and supports it. You get 25% ownership. If you ever want to go fully independent, you can buy out at cost — no one is held back.
| Milestone | Salary | What It Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Start | $80,000 | Full-time commitment to Hammond Offices. |
| Level 2 | $120,000 | Complete foundation training. Manage a project independently. Read and explain a P&L without help. |
| Level 3 | $150,000 | Lead a business evaluation. Manage a business line. Hit agreed performance targets. |
| Level 4 | $180,000 | Successfully operate an acquired business. Hit profitability and growth targets. Mentor someone. |
| Level 5 | $200,000+ | Multiple responsibilities across the office. Strategic contribution. Jamie and Owen's call. |
These aren't time-based. You hit the milestone, you earn the raise. Some people move fast. That's the point.
The family office provides up to $500K toward your home. It vests over 4 years. At any point, you own whatever has vested. If you leave before it fully vests, you keep what's already vested. This doesn't include your mortgage — that's separate.
You earn 10% of the businesses you help create — not 10% of everything in Hammond Offices. The more you grow it, the more you earn. This is where the real wealth comes from — not salary.
Bonuses are at Jamie and Owen's discretion.
That's a real cost of capital that comes off the top before profit sharing. Understanding the cost of capital is one of the most important things you'll learn here.
25% ownership in the company you build. The family office funds it, supports it, and backs it.
If you ever want to leave and go 100% on your own, you can buy out at cost — as defined by Jamie and Owen, not market value. The intent is simple: we don't want to hold anyone back.
These are the boundaries that make everything else work. They exist so everyone knows where they stand — no ambiguity, no surprises.
The family office is designed as a benefit for your whole family. There are no work expectations for spouses — school, career, whatever path you choose.
Down the road, as the office grows, there may be roles and opportunities if you want them. That's a future conversation.
Your spouse is genuinely welcome to pursue anything — a career, education, a business of their own. The only boundary is that while your partner is working for Hammond Offices, their focus stays there. That's not about limiting you — it's about making sure the businesses get the attention they need to succeed. When they succeed, your whole family benefits.
We haven't built out every detail of how spousal involvement might work in the future. That's intentional — we want to figure it out together, in a way that works for everyone. No one is being left out. We just haven't gotten there yet.
The family office isn't going anywhere. You're not missing out. You're not losing anything. You're not at a disadvantage for waiting.
Do something else first if you need to. Travel. Go to school. Work somewhere else. Get experience. See the world. Come back with stories.
When you're ready — whenever that is — the door is open. No pressure. No timeline. No FOMO.
Your place in this family has nothing to do with whether you work here.
Jamie leads the philanthropic side of Hammond Offices. The details are still being shaped, but giving back is part of who we are as a family — not separate from the family office.
As the office grows, so will our ability to give. More details coming.
Do I have to join?
No. The family office isn't going anywhere. You're not missing out. Your place in this family has nothing to do with whether you work here.
When does this start?
The target date is August 1, 2027. That said, Jamie and Owen will work with each family individually. If you need more time, that's okay. If you're ready sooner, let's talk.
What would I actually do day-to-day?
Hammond operations — researching opportunities, running family business operations, helping build the home office, clerical work. Jamie and Owen decide the specifics based on what needs doing and your skills. It's real work, not busywork.
Can I try something else first?
Absolutely. Travel, school, work somewhere else. Do what you need to do. The door stays open. Coming back with outside experience isn't a downside — it's an asset.
How much will I make?
Starting salary is $80,000. Raises are based on milestones, not time. The progression goes to $200,000+ based on what you accomplish.
What's the house credit?
Up to $500,000 toward your home. Vests 25% per year over 4 years. After 4 years, it's 100% yours. If you leave before it fully vests, you keep what's already vested.
How does profit sharing work?
You earn 10% of the businesses you help create. The more you grow them, the more you earn. This is where the real wealth building happens — not salary.
What about loans for buying businesses?
The family office loans the capital at 4.5% interest. That's a real cost that factors into every deal. Understanding the cost of capital is one of the most important lessons here.
What kind of businesses will we buy?
Small local businesses, $500,000 or under — unless Jamie and Owen approve more. Buy, fix, build, enhance — then keep for revenue or sell for a multiple.
Can I start my own business?
Yes, when the time is right. You and Jamie and Owen agree on the plan, and you get 25% ownership. The family office funds and supports it.
What if I want to leave and take my business?
You can buy out at cost — as defined by Jamie and Owen, not market value. We don't want to hold anyone back.
Can my spouse run their own business?
Absolutely. Your spouse can build whatever they want. The only rule is that while you're working for Hammond Offices, your focus stays there. You can't split your time working in your spouse's venture. Your spouse is free to pursue anything.
What about my spouse?
The family office is a benefit for your whole family. There are no work expectations for spouses. School, career, whatever they want. As the office matures, there may be opportunities if they're interested — but that's a future conversation.
Is this fair to everyone?
The structure is the same for everyone. Same salary, same milestones, same opportunities. What you make of it depends on you.
What if I don't want to do this at all?
That's completely fine. You're always part of the family. The office supports everyone regardless.
Who makes the decisions?
Jamie and Owen. They built the foundation. The goal isn't control — it's making sure everyone ends up stronger. As the office grows, that may evolve.
Is there a philanthropy component?
Yes. Jamie leads this. The details are still being shaped, but giving back is part of who we are as a family — not separate from the family office.
Built with purpose. For generations.
hammfam.com