Founder of Oaks & Magnolias
FOUNDER
25+ Yrs — Forensic Accounting
10+ Yrs — UHNW Family Office & Chief of Staff
The Founder

Trained to find what others miss.

Our founder spent over two decades as a forensic accountant before stepping into private family office and chief-of-staff work for ultra-high-net-worth households. That combination — financial scrutiny paired with the day-to-day realities of running a household — is the foundation of this practice.

In practice, that means managing the full financial life of a family — reviewing accounts with precision, preparing complex tax filings, stewarding residences and estate holdings, and conducting forensic evaluation wherever the truth of a financial matter is in question.

It's a rare skill set. Most bill-pay services can pay a bill. Very few can look at a statement and notice that a business hasn't reconciled its own bank account in over a year — or that a vendor's quote quietly doesn't add up to the number they quoted you. That's the difference between administrative help and true advocacy.

That same attention extends beyond the ledger. For clients furnishing or refining a residence, we also curate a private selection of fine art, antiques, and heirloom pieces — sourced and vetted with the same care as everything else we handle.

Out of respect for our clients' own privacy, we keep a low public profile. You'll find us by referral, and we prefer it that way — the families we work with value discretion as much as we do.

The Team

The people behind the practice.

Discretion is a team standard, not just a founder's promise. Every member of our practice is chosen for the same combination of precision and personal trust.

Eleonore Burns, Bookkeeping & Client Services at Oaks & Magnolias

Eleonore Burns

Bookkeeping & Client Services

Eleonore brings a rare combination of public-sector budgeting discipline and hands-on bookkeeping precision to our clients. In her work with the State of Florida, she manages budgets for water resource and parks initiatives — the same rigor she brings to every account she touches here.

At Oaks & Magnolias, she's often the one in the details: linking QuickBooks directly to a client's accounts, coding expenses accurately, and helping families see clearly where their money is actually going. Clients consistently note how easy she is to work with — patient, personable, and always willing to explain the numbers in plain language.

In the News

Why So Many C.E.O.s Are Getting a Chief of Staff

The position as a trusted sounding board is in high demand as business gets more complex — and everyone wants to get in on the latest bureaucratic fad.

— The New York Times
"This is family office work in its truest form — attentive, exacting, and built entirely on trust."
Our Approach

Discretion First

We work quietly, in the background, and never at the expense of your privacy. No public case studies, no name-dropping — just results.

Advocacy, Not Just Administration

We don't just process what's put in front of us. We question it, verify it, and push back when something doesn't add up.

One Relationship, Every Detail

A single point of contact who understands your full financial picture — instead of a different vendor for every problem.

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