Identifying and Resolving Risk Concerns For Home and Family Office
Insurance professionals are often the unsung heroes of a client’s inner circle of trusted advisors. Experienced risk managers will immediately introduce their clients to Teresa Leigh Home + Family Office for expert advice and support.
Do you have an expert guide to help your clients?
How We Serve The Client
- Supporting client service managers
- Best practices
- Hiring strategies
- Compensation and benefits
- Problem solving sensitive issues
- Hiring trusted staff
- Advisory support
- Identifying the problem
- Team building
- Conflict resolution
Client Projects We Have Recently Resolved
“A household employee told the employer she hurt herself while working in the home. She wants to take time off from work and wants to be paid for days off. Can the employee be let go if she is not available to work?”
“What is the best way to help homeowners who have domestic workers understand the value of workers’ compensation? Isn’t it a mandatory requirement for homeowners?”
“My client seems to have considerable drama and turnover of their property and house staff. We see this as an expensive and high-risk situation. I was told you are the person to talk to. When can we connect?”
“My client wants to hire a live-in caregiver for their mom. But the mom does not want anyone living in or on her property. My idea is for the employee to have the apartment over the carriage house, but they would have to move out in the summer when the client’s extended family comes to visit. What do you think of this idea?”
“My housekeeper says that after 15 years of working for me with no benefits, she wants a 50% pay raise or she is leaving me for another family. Hiring a new housekeeper would be cheaper wouldn’t it? Can we talk about this?”
“We have several aging clients who are becoming heavily dependent on their older household employees for daily care. Recently an employee seriously hurt her back while trying to lift the homeowner out of the bathtub, resulting in a settlement. What can we do to educate homeowners about these issues?”
“While my husband and I travel, I am certain the staff are using the pool and pool house. How do I tell them they should not be using our pool?”
“I needed an experienced property manager, so I hired a local retired golf course manager. However, after eight months, I really don’t think he understands the job. Can we talk about my options or should I just fire him?”
“My house staff also works at my businesses. I was told by my attorney that my household employees should not be on a company payroll. Where is the risk? What do we do next?”
“I never got around to making reference calls before hiring my personal assistant. He’s been with me for six months and I’m having second thoughts about this hire. I don’t feel I can trust his judgement. What do I do?”
“We would like to understand the difference between online background checks, employment screenings, and background investigations. Is it true these reports do not show worker’s compensation claims or employee terminations with cause?”
“We live in Venice Beach, California. We have several small mom-pop companies that provide services for our property. We recently learned that California views these ‘companies’ as our employees. Is this true?”
“My elderly client lives on a family ranch in a remote area of the country. I am very concerned about the number of employees that seem to come and go from his ‘ranch’. He now tells me several people are living on his property in guest cabins. His sister recently contacted me and voiced her concern about the possibility he has dementia.Can we talk through the risk issues with this situation?”
“Can I place a GPS tracking device on my personal assistant’s SUV? We give her a monthly stipend for errands and pay her mileage, but I think she is exaggerating her mileage number and overcharging us.”
“I just hired a wonderful nanny. We would like to pay her a generous salary and benefits but were told we can’t pay her a salary. What do you think?”
Testimonials
Testimonials
Birgit
“My family office recommended Teresa. We have worked together on projects over the last 12 years. We value her advice. She is super chill to talk with. It’s a little like therapy, a pep talk, and problem solving all put together. I thoroughly enjoy our time together and look forward to our next Zoom call.”
Maureen
"Hiring Teresa's firm in 2016 was the best decision I ever made for our family office. Teresa is fantastic. We would recommend her firm to every family or family office."
Emily
“I am a new mom of twin boys and one 10-year-old with special needs. Teresa is the wonder woman advisor in my life. She managed all the details so we could hire long-term helpers. I have Teresa on speed dial.”
Susan
“My word, where do I begin? Teresa has worked as an advisor for our family for over 15 years. She is wonderful at listening and understanding my problems; sometimes I can’t even vocalize them myself. An emotional issue we dealt with recently—my mom was doing great at the age of 81 and then she wasn’t. Teresa helped us to hire a full-time care team and communicated all the details with our family office. I thank God every day for her being in our lives.”
Jun
“My mom said contact Ms. Leigh to help with my new house problems. I am very glad to work with her. Teresa is always willing to listen and guide me to make the good decisions. I have saved a lot of money and hired good employees with her helping us. My dad in California also uses Ms. Leigh’s company; it is the very best. 감사합니다 Thank you."
Sofia
"Teresa helped us get organized after we sold our company. We purchased a large working ranch, a beach house, and a tree house. Teresa managed all of our hires and payroll. Her team created a preferred vendors' list for each location and made a brilliant introduction to a celebrity horse trainer. This firm is truly best in class."
Betsy
"We have worked successfully with Teresa Leigh since early 2018. She is the expert advisor we needed on our team. She is amazing—recommend highly."
Baneeta
"My husband and I are really low-key people but we love, love big houses. Fast forward two houses and a vacation condo later, and I didn't know it took so much of my day to be dealing with service vendors and scheduling their appointments. Teresa helped me understand either I am doing it or I need to hire someone to help me. We hired the staff she suggested, and we live a better life for it. Teresa is fabulous!"
Holland and Abbie
"Our family is huge with a never-ending list of projects. Teresa can quickly get to the heart of an issue. She provided us with life-changing insights into staff and vendor relationships that were truly enlightening! We respect her guidance and recommend her to our friends and colleagues."
Greg
“We have worked with Teresa for a little over eight years. We started with two homes and bought a ranch in Southern California. Teresa stepped into our lives, hired staff, created structure, and streamlined the accounting and communication processes. Teresa is a lifesaver. Her sincerity, sensitivity, and guidance are unparalleled.”
Racine
“Teresa helped us settle a situation with property employees and back wages owed. This was successfully resolved and we retained our employees!Teresa is best at resolving delicate problems with staff. Highly recommend her firm and services.”
Martha
“Teresa is one of the most authentic people I have ever met. Her counsel is honest, straightforward, and exceptionally insightful. Teresa comes highly endorsed by our entire team.”
Edward
“Teresa offers us a safe place to talk through a variety of topics. We call her for insight, candor, and problem solving. My brother and I highly recommend Teresa. You’ll be in good hands.”
Stephen
“We have had great success with a number of complex family office staffing issues. Teresa has a remarkable way of listening and getting straight to identifying the problem and presenting us a quick solution. Truly remarkable skills.”
Anna
“Teresa has worked for me and my family office for over 11 years. We first hired her to help us resolve a rather unfortunate staff termination. It was mission accomplished in quick time minus the drama. Teresa is one of the family and knows us so well. My family and I would with great honor recommend her service.”
Rob
"I hired Teresa to help me with my 93-year-old mother. Teresa was able to get me through finding the right care for her and then hiring staff for my own homes. I cannot say enough kind words to express my appreciation for Teresa's excellent service and care for my mother."
Shawn
“Whenever I have a concern or I am not 100% sure of what to do, I just run it by Teresa. After nine years and three houses, she knows me very well. This is the company to contact for property and staff expertise.”
Michelle
"Teresa provides a one-of-a-kind service to family offices and the families we serve. A unique mix of expert, counselor, advisor, coach and service provider. All of us think the world of her and her team; would highly recommend."
Candace
"Teresa is a life saver. She helped my husband and I resolve a number of sensitive staffing and vendor issues. Teresa is very easy to work with; we love working with her."
Annette
"We are so grateful for Teresa; having her as our advisor over the past few years has been a true gift and an amazing asset to our family office. Her years of knowledge and hands-on experience have assisted us greatly in the efficiency of our household staff and private estate management. We immediately developed a great rapport and partnership, and it’s only strengthened over the years. No matter the issue and/or concern, Teresa Leigh is always our first call and the expert on helping resolve the problem."
Barton
“I would recommend this firm to anyone with a home who does not want the worry of making decisions all on their own. Call Teresa; she will make your life so much easier.”
Raymond
"This firm is my first call for all things home and life. Teresa is exceptional at making sense of employee relationships. I'll be the first one to make a referral."
Elva
"Teresa thankfully came into my life just after the loss of my husband. I appreciate all she has done for me and my extended family. Teresa is a very knowledgeable and kind person."
Antonio
"I am grateful every day for the wonderful help Ms. Leigh has brought into my life. She has helped me to hire a bookkeeper, a personal assistant, a nanny for my daughter and made organization of all my life. I am blessed beyond words to know her and to recommend her magnificent skills."
Sarah
“My husband and I were referred to Teresa by our wealth advisor. We have a remote property with house and farm helpers. Since we hired Teresa in 2014, the turnover has stopped. We love working with her!”
Bradley
“Hands down the best advisor I have ever hired. They have helped me and my husband for over 11 years. Teresa and her team are truly unique in their ability to expedite flawlessly all the projects I send them. Teresa Leigh is my go-to advisor for home, vendors, and employees.”
Colin
“Teresa's advisory service is my favorite—hands down the best. They manage everything and make it look easy.”
Jamal
"Now that I have the best advisor I could have asked for, my complicated life is a lot less stressful. I love working with Teresa."
Pilar
“My husband and I were referred by a dear friend. We were struggling to care for my aging parents while dealing with renovation projects and were positive more than one vendor was double dipping on billing. Teresa and her team prioritized a project list and solved the problems. We even received a refund from a vendor. Thank God for Teresa.”
Stewart
"I would recommend Teresa to everyone dealing with problematic household or property vendors. She is the best there is on these matters."
Testimonials are direct quotes from our clients, however their likeness and names are confidential
