The Family Office Reading List This family office reading list addresses the unique ecosystem of the family office. Any discussion of family office administration has to consider the complex relationships between elder and rising generations, trustees and beneficiaries, advisors and family members. The following family office books are not the only books on the subject, […]
Benjamin Walter
What is Flourishing? A Family Office Guide to Human and Family Flourishing
Humans instictively seek flourishing. Whenever we do something, we do it with an aim towards some idea of happiness. The gap between our efforts and the results often comes from our being mistaken about what flourishing truly is or how to attain it.
Family Values Discovery – Building Genuine Alignment
Conducting a core values discovery exercise is a common first step in developing a family governance plan. Businesses will often perform a similar exercise to discover core values. Unfortunately, a values discovery exercise can become an ineffective cliché if it does not actually reflect or impact the behavior of the family. Even worse, poorly chosen […]
How to Avoid Four Common Estate Planning Mistakes
In 1973, the artist Pablo Picasso died with an estate worth $100-$250M and no estate plan. The ensuing battle over his estate lasted six years and cost $30M. This was good for lawyers and not so good for Picasso’s descendants! Unfortunately, Picasso’s estate is just one example of one of four common estate planning mistakes. […]
Private Client Services as the Family Office Quarterback
The term “family office” is hard to define because it appears in so many different forms. There’s a well-known saying, “Once you’ve seen one family office, you’ve only seen one.” Some family offices are comprised of nothing more than a financial advisor. This advisor coordinates services with external tax experts, insurance providers, bankers, brokers, and perhaps […]