Steve Le Seelleur – in the spotlight

Why do you specialise in this area?

I have dedicated my career to supporting Jersey’s financial services sector. I worked for a Jersey money broking organisation, dealing in the sterling money markets. However, I realised that I wanted to broaden my career and professional experience, so began exploring new opportunities within finance.

The trust/private client sector immediately intrigued me. Helping high net worth individuals and their families address their complex wealth planning needs seemed an attractive next step due to the diverse technical and interpersonal skills the role demanded.

It may sound cliched to say that no two days are ever the same, but that really is the case. Pursuing this path has allowed me to meet and build strong, trusted relationships with a fascinating breadth of individuals and families, and to travel widely. Helping families navigate the complex issues of inter-generational wealth planning and assist in providing the certainty and peace of mind that we all crave, has been extremely rewarding.

What are the key trends shaping family office services at the moment?

Between rapidly shifting geopolitics and an accelerating technology landscape which is increasingly AI-focused, family office services are certainly being impacted. We are constantly looking at solutions to further enhance operational efficiency such as automated reporting, research, forecasting, and data security.

Cybersecurity is a growing concern. Recent high-profile cyber events show the disruption and costs associated with a hack, and more family offices are investing in more robust security infrastructure.

Selection of favourable and multiple jurisdictions are important trends, to optimise for tax, reporting and regulation.

Sustainable and impact investing is becoming more important in investment strategies, in particular with younger, nextgen family members, and as families consider their lasting legacies.

Family offices are also looking at outsourcing to manage costs and drive efficiencies, seeking service providers who can deliver administration, governance, secretarial, reporting and investment support.

What most excites you about family office services at the moment? 

In such a swiftly evolving landscape, there are many opportunities for businesses such as ours to provide family offices with additional services and support. Some of the key areas are governance advisory, helping families professionalise
and plan for succession, secretarial and administration support, and cross border structuring.

Our clients rightly expect us to be forward thinking, creative and solutions-driven. Technology is a powerful enabler of this and harnessing it to continue delivering ever more useful and value-adding services is a very exciting prospect.

What are your favourite ways to relax/switch off from work? 

I have always loved running, completing my first half marathon in my mid-twenties. I find it very therapeutic and a good way to switch off after a long day in the office. Running promotes clarity of thinking, and there have been many occasions when, during a long run, an idea or solution has come to me.

A few years ago, I trained for the Jersey marathon, which required similar traits to those needed for professional success, such as resilience, commitment and determination. Completing my first marathon in 3 hours 23 minutes showed what’s possible when an ambitious goal is approached with a clear focus and drive. Ever in pursuit of a balanced lifestyle, I also find a glass of good Bordeaux helps me to unwind!

Do you have a pet?

I have always had a cat in the house and presently have a six-year-old Bengal called Benji. Bengals are a hybrid breed created by crossing the Asian Leopard cat with domestic short haired breeds. I had thought with my two sons having left home our house might seem quiet, but Benji has ensured that is most definitely not the case. Bengals are characteristically active, curious and dog-like, and will play for hours if you are willing, and even if you aren’t! They are also reputed to be very noisy, with a loud and strident cry when things aren’t going their way, or if they want attention or feeding. I can personally confirm all of the above to be true!

What’s one book you think everyone should read?

One novel that has stuck with me is the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. It is of course a very well-known and read novel, but I think its relevance and themes continue to resonate in today’s world.

This was first published by ePrivateclient in November 2025