Avoiding 4 Traps of Core Values Discovery

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 […]

Helping the Rising Generation Make Better Decisions

“… discover for yourself what is necessary and what is superfluous.” (Seneca, Ep. 110) “90 percent of success is not getting distracted.” — Shane Parrish Superfluous (adjective) su̇-ˈpər-flü-əs  : exceeding what is sufficient or necessary : EXTRA At a Glance One of the keys to happiness and productivity is learning how to prioritize. In the internet age this is more difficult than […]

Building Resilience in Families of Wealth

Everyone faces some kind of adversity on life’s path. Building resilience is a way to build a higher chance of success. Resilient individuals (including entrepreneurs, athletes, and musicians) all share an ability to effectively cope when they face those setbacks and move forward. They use failure as a feedback mechanism to get better and keep […]

Managing and Resolving Family Disputes

Successful families often have many family members with strong opinions. Their success has come from sticking to ideas, intuitions, principles, and processes, often in the face of opposition. However, there may come a time when this tendency may also lead into a seemingly intractable disagreement among family members. Ideally the family is resilient enough to […]

How to Ask the Right Questions in Family Governance

Questions Build Rapport Meaningful relationships with others are an important ingredient of success and happiness in life. Knowing how to ask the right questions can help build meaningful relationships. It’s rare when great achievements come about solely because of independent intelligence or efforts. Relationships are the foundation of what James Hughes has called “social capital”—one […]

Family Governance & Education: Four Steps to Success

What is Family Governance & Education? Family governance and education are two key and related components of an effective family office. They serve as the foundation for responsible stewardship of wealth, preservation of family values, and transmission of wealth from one generation to the next. These services help ensure that families flourish across generations. Failure […]