A personal assistant for high networth individuals is someone who runs the daily practical side of a busy, wealthy person’s life: schedule, travel, household staff, paperwork and privacy. It is a different job from an executive assistant at a company, because the boundary between work and home barely exists, and trust matters more than almost any skill on a resume.
What a personal assistant for high networth individuals actually does
Ask five people in this field what a normal day involves and you will get five answers. Still, most of the work falls into a few buckets:
- Calendar and travel. Booking flights, cars and hotels, and rebuilding the day when plans collapse.
- Household coordination. Dealing with contractors, cleaners, chefs, gardeners and property managers.
- Admin and paperwork. Renewals, insurance papers, membership matters, gifts, event invitations.
- Gatekeeping. Screening requests, so the principal only sees what actually needs their attention.
- Liaison. Passing information to accountants, lawyers, wealth managers and family office staff, without making financial decisions.
Personal assistant versus family office versus concierge
People mix these up. A personal assistant is usually one person, or a small team, working directly for the individual. A family office is a bigger structure that handles investments, tax planning, reporting and sometimes lifestyle services. A concierge service is typically a paid membership where you request things as needed and nobody knows your household in depth.
If you only need help managing time and logistics, an assistant is plenty. If the real mess is in the money, you need qualified financial professionals, not a PA reading bank statements.
Skills worth paying for
Discretion comes first. Beyond that, look for people who are organised without being rigid, who write clearly, and who stay calm when the schedule explodes. Experience with international travel, property or event planning helps. Tech comfort matters too, since you will be handling password managers, shared calendars and secure messaging.
Formal qualifications are less important than a track record. References from previous employers, checked directly with a phone call, tell you more than a certificate.
How to hire one safely
Because a personal assistant for high networth individuals often sees private details, hiring should be slower than for an ordinary office job. A sensible process might include:
- Write a clear job description, including hours, travel expectations and what the person will not be responsible for.
- Use a reputable agency or a trusted referral rather than a public job board alone.
- Run background and reference checks, in line with local employment law.
- Use a written contract with a confidentiality clause, drafted by a lawyer.
- Start with a probation period and limited access, then widen it as trust builds.
The rule about access is the part to remember: give the minimum needed and increase it slowly.
Keeping money matters sensible
Assistants often pay bills or use a company card. Set limits. Separate accounts with spending caps, approval rules for larger payments, and regular statement reviews by someone other than the assistant protect everyone, including the assistant. Never share full banking logins; use delegated access where the bank supports it.
The same goes for data. Use a password manager with shared vaults, two-factor authentication and a short list of who can see what. If the assistant leaves, you want to revoke access in an afternoon, not a month.
What does it cost?
Pay depends heavily on city, hours and responsibilities, so I will not quote a number. A live-in or on-call role costs more than a weekday office-hours one, and someone who travels with the family costs more again. Check local salary surveys and agency guidance, and remember to budget for payroll taxes, insurance and benefits, not just wages.
Working with the assistant well
The best arrangements are written down. A shared document with preferences, key contacts, standing instructions and emergency steps saves enormous time. Weekly check-ins catch small problems early. And treat the assistant as a professional; turnover in these roles is high precisely because the hours and expectations can be unreasonable.
Where wealth definitions come in
“High networth” has no single legal meaning. In the United States, securities rules use thresholds for accredited investors, which you can read about on Investor.gov, the SEC’s investor education site. Service companies often use their own, lower or higher bar. If a provider says they only serve high networth clients, ask what number they mean.
This article is general information, not financial or legal advice.
Related reading: What Is Obamas Networth? Where His Money Comes From.
