Closer Look 4: True Equity in Blended Families
"With a second marriage and children from both sides, what's the most 'equitable' way to provide for my current spouse while ensuring my children from my first marriage feel their legacy is secure and …
Generational Perspectives on Wealth, Innovation, and Legacy
The financial world is in the midst of the “Great Wealth Transfer.” Over the next two decades, an estimated $84–124 trillion will pass from Baby Boomers to Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z (Capgemini, …
Closer Look 3: Navigating the Tightrope
For High-Net-Worth families, the question of how to support an adult child facing financial struggles or the consequences of "poor life choices"—while remaining equitable to self-sufficient siblings and avoiding a cycle of enablement—is a …
Closer Look 2: Navigating Emotional Minefields
"Our family has some long-standing, unspoken tensions between siblings. How do we ensure the inheritance process doesn't become the spark that ignites a major family feud over perceived slights or old scores?" The family’s …
Closer Look 1: Beyond Equal Shares in Estate Planning
It’s the usual dilemma: "We've provided significant lifetime financial support to one child for a business venture, while another has pursued a lower-paying but socially valuable career. How do we address this disparity 'fairly' …
How to Prevent Wealth Fragmentation with Strong Family Governance
Wealth fragmentation occurs when shared family assets (whether from a business, investments, or property) are split among heirs over successive generations. It is one of the most significant threats facing multigenerational family enterprises. While …
The Cultural Undercurrents of Family Business Succession
When it comes to succession — passing the business from one generation to the next — cultural undercurrents play a much bigger role than many people expect. Succession may look like a simple handover …
Do Children Have to Run the Family Business to Carry on the Legacy?
It’s often assumed that children will one day take over the family business. They’ve grown up with it. It’s familiar. In many cases, it’s expected. But is continuing the family legacy always the best …
Setting Up a Family Council the Right Way
Setting Up a Family Council the Right Way In many successful families, the very traits that fuel business achievement—confidence, boldness, and persistence—can create unintentional silence around the dinner table. One person’s power may quiet …
The Strategic Role of External Advisors in the Succession Process
Leadership succession in family businesses is never simple. While many articles and advisors outline neat, step-by-step plans for passing the baton from one generation to the next, the reality is usually far more complex. …