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Our best thinking around issues that impact families and their family offices
Say It Out Loud: Why We Must Verbalise Our Pride and Love
A few months ago, my daughter said something that stopped me cold: “I’m a failure to you.” It was like
Co-Existence and Communication: Yes, we all can just get along
I was on a business trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, invited to discuss family governance with 15 ultra-high-net-worth families.
Why Every Family Office Needs a Fixer
Family offices are often described as businesses. But that label only tells part of the story. Yes, they manage investments,
Real Estate Trusts: How misunderstanding standard planning can put buyers at risk
For international buyers, purchasing a home in the United States feels straightforward, until a service provider over-complicates matters. The moment
Turning mistakes into momentum: Why teachable moments matter
Parents and leaders share a common challenge: how to help others grow from both success and failure. The answer often
Why ‘Entitlement’ doesn’t happen overnight – and how parents can help prevent it
I was speaking with a local nonprofit organisation when the topic of entitlement came up. It’s a word that often
Seeing abuse clearly: shifting perception, finding compassion
I recently attended a school reunion where; I was struck by memories I had long forgotten. I remembered classmates who
Facing mortality with grace, gratitude and intention
When someone you know calls to say goodbye - really say goodbye - it can catch you off guard. A
How to explore planning for your special needs child
Illness, disease and disorders often catch those affected and their families off guard. Not only are they unprepared for, possibly
Special planning for your special needs child
What truly moves people? Often, it’s witnessing love, resilience, and care in the face of daily challenges. I’m reminded of
Petering out: Promoting incompetence harms company leadership
In 1970, Laurence J. Peter wrote the seminal business book, The Peter Principle. The management concept observes that employees in
Having ‘hard’ conversations when dementia arises, Part 2
Adult children whose parents appear to be affected by dementia face a challenging future. Once they’ve decided to have the
Having ‘hard’ conversations when dementia arises, Part 1
Talking with your aging parents about the potential of dementia or growing memory loss and their implications on the parent
Overcoming workplace abusers – When employees quit bad bosses
It’s been said employees don’t quit bad companies, they leave bad managers. But what makes a manager become abusive in
Succession’s Best Strategies: How Families Can Navigate Business Continuity
What happens when the family’s succession plans for their business don’t align with the vision of their next generation? What
Giving as glue: Aligning generational philanthropy for future goals
People often look at generational planning amongst high-net worth families with a focus on their personal balance sheet, family office
Meetings’ with the kids? Be the parent first
I have two friends, both of whom are parents to adult children. Both are high net worth individuals, and each
The documents that help adoptions succeed
We recently wrote about adoption and why it’s important to have those difficult conversations with the family. Topics range from
Weaving adopted kids into the family’s future
Children up for adoption have often endured countless trials in life, many that the rest of us shall never comprehend,
Nurturing next gen family leaders
Parents of young adult children often face timeless challenges. Whether leading a family office or family business, what happens when
Governance guides, preserves in-law role in family business
We recently wrote about how or whether families should automatically find a role for their children’s spouses in the family
When In-laws – or ‘Outlaws’ – bring outsized challenges
If your daughter or son gets married, does that union create expectations that the son- or daughter-in-law will take a
AI Attacks: It’s all theoretical – until you’re attacked
Imagine you’re sitting at home and you get a text from an unknown number. It includes a photo of you
The follies of youth and wisdom of age
It’s been said, youth is wasted on the young. It’s also been noted that the young are quick to claim
Key Considerations When Selling a Family Business
This year I had the good fortune to be interviewed by Matt Semino, of BNY Mellon about how legacy
Preparing the right documents to secure your future
Imagine a loved one becomes temporarily incapacitated, through a fall, accident, illness, brain injury, from falling victim to substance abuse
Documents can protect family amid mental health or substance abuse crisis
Reported mental health crises rose 25% during the pandemic. Substance abuse, from drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine
When ‘next generation’ includes multiple family lines
Life can be simple for heads of families with children and possibly grandchildren. With few generations to contend with, decision
Perception and Reality – what does it mean in a family context
Have you ever heard the saying, “Their perception is their reality”? How often have you said something to someone and
The art of conversation – It’s not always about being right
We are at a compelling, confusing and potentially chilling crossroads in global society. From the kitchen table to the office
When hiring, don’t ‘check the box’
When I was a manager with a global financial services firm, I was frequently required to interview and hire job
Transparency in the face of global family complexities
Global families face a different reality than most other families do. Many hold passports for more than one country, which
Real wealth isn’t money, it’s our children
Most people try to calculate their net worth by looking at their banking, investment, or portfolio accounts and adding together
When to keep ‘family’ in the family business
How important is it to have family members running the family business or carrying on the family name? Ask family
When selling your business or holdings, pre-transaction plan for the family
Many families when considering the sale of a business or holdings will work with their attorneys, accountants and financial advisors
Dealing with trauma
The stigma often associated with mental health and personal trauma was brought to light during the pandemic. Millions of people
How undue influence is exploited for undue gains
We wrote recently about the power and perils of abusive relationships, and how women, men, even the children and grandchildren
When talking wealth with your children, focus on stewardship
I recently wrote an article on talking with your children about family wealth, particularly when to have such conversations. I
Pulling the Safety Net: The Benefits of Letting Kids Fail
I was meeting with someone recently who told me of their adult child who was making the latest of a
It’s time for a checkup: An interview with The Family Office Doctor
I had the good fortune to be interviewed by Adam Lieb, of BNY Mellon about tips for crafting and
Tough times for generational relations
It’s a tough time for the generations to just get along. Millennials (born 1981 to 1996) chide both Baby Boomers
Warning: What You See on Social Media May Not Be Real
Is it any surprise that the stories we see on social media sometimes seem too good to be true? The
The perils of hubris when humility should preside
When humility gives way to hubris, when ego, arrogance, superiority and pretence drive one’s actions and interactions, life takes an
One reason families are often better served by Foundations vs DAFs
During a recent discussion of family charitable giving at the Florida Tax Institute, an attorney offered “12 reasons” families should
How to deal with a bully
We’ve all dealt with bullies, in school, on the playground, even at work. Bullies are everywhere, even in familial relations
Abusive relationships can lead to undue influence in familial relations
Many see the harm, hardships and perils of an abusive relationship, except, it seems, for the person being abused. I’ve
When is it time to start discussing wealth with my children?
The world’s wealthy are on the verge of the greatest transfer of generational wealth in history. I wrote about this
Rites of passage and their place in the modern age
Earning your stripes, paying your dues, walking the walk... In many businesses and families, the next generation is challenged to
Making your own shadow: Fostering the independence of the next generation
We have often heard the term, to walk in someone’s shadow. Shadows, however, can smother individuals. I’ve seen it countless
Same kids, different parents – How biological siblings can have unique parental dynamics
Biological siblings may share the same parents, DNA, name, even the same social standing, but one thing they don’t share:
Samy’s rules for leadership: Earning, Owning & Praising Leadership
Many people placed in management positions may have a very different understanding of leadership. They believe once achieved, it’s theirs
Charitable Giving – Steps to building the family legacy
When you create your family mission statement, woven throughout is governance, the family’s vision for its future, what role philanthropy
Distributions from a family business sale: When dollar signs mean warning signs
When the Mills family, owners of medical supply conglomerate Medline Industries, sold an 80% stake in the fourth-generation family business
When ‘emotion meets money’ – it’s a family affair
I wrote recently about leading a discussion with a group of YPO (Young Professionals Organisation) family member heads. We spoke
7 core elements of good governance
The Family Business Magazine published my article, "7 core elements of good governance" which are my thoughts on how and
Wealth and the Complexities of ‘Blended’ Families
When it comes to blended families, Hollywood is rife with examples. In the 2014 movie, Blended, characters played by Adam
Old school is the right way for lasting relationships
Someone did something nice for you, so you drop them an email. You’re hosting an event, so you send out
Family meetings: Formal, Informal, Ad Hoc or Planned
I was recently asked by a forum from the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) to moderate a session with six heads
When your spouse dies, who’s got your financial back?
Recently one of my articles was published in Crain Currency. The article, "When your spouse dies, who’s got your financial
Redefining ‘Normal’ – We each live on a mental health continuum
Imagine a matriarch or patriarch of a family who has control over the family finances or family office. That individual,
Interview skills: 7 Tips to understanding the importance of ‘personal branding’
I was at a university speaking to a class of graduating college seniors late last year, helping to prepare them
Delegation as an act of strength and empowerment
Executives, managers or heads of family offices see the delegation of tasks, projects or chores in a variety of ways,
How do I approach the discussion of governance with the family?
Fans of the television show “Succession” know the challenges that dynamics play in families and closely-held businesses. While the dark
What to expect, plan for, avoid and protect against in family office hiring
Hiring any executive position takes serious consideration. None more so than hiring for positions within your family office. No less
Impactful and ethical ESG investing for individuals and family offices
As individual investors and family offices become increasingly socially conscious and environmentally aware, many have turned to “ethical” investing. But
No Friends of yours: Why friends and family shouldn’t be your financial advisors
Imagine you grew up with Bob, or went to college with him, or became friends since he moved next door
Pre- or Post-Nuptials, docs can be anything but agreeable
Want to disrupt a relationship or marital bliss? Ask your fiancé or spouse – or that of your child planning
The FTX Failure: what does this mean for crypto currency
We have all been talking about crypto currencies, blockchain and NFTs over the past 18 months. A new swath of
Start-ups: The missteps we don’t hear about, but wish we did
When we think of Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and maybe even Ford, we forget about their humble beginnings. Most of
Tough Talks, Hard Calls: When families and family offices must make painful decisions
High net-worth families, and those with family offices, face unique familial challenges. Families may have one or more members with
Family Office Fundamentals: Is ‘single’ or ‘multi’ right for me?
I have spoken, written and consulted extensively on the nuances of the family office. I blogged on the importance of
Beyond the Passport: Financial Planning for Global Families
Most ultra-high net worth families live a global lifestyle, which means they face unique tax issues related to their financial
Beyond Britney: Making Sense of Guardianship
When some people think of guardianship, Britney Spears comes to mind. The troubled celebrity seemed to lack control of her
The importance of financial literacy
When I was a money manager, one of my clients was a successful investment banker. He managed multi-million dollar M&A
The Entrepreneur Fallacy: It’s NOT For Everyone
If you’ve thought enough about starting your own business to read the magazines, web articles or blogs, you’ve no doubt
What’s in a name? Rehashing the old, but is it truly something new?
We’re surrounded by spin, branding and rebranding. If you surf the Internet, we’re being sold on Web 3.0, when it
An Independent Advisor for Your Relationships
I recently worked with a client who was deeply invested in the stock market. Their portfolio was being managed by
Making the most of your charitable giving all year ’round
Towards the end of the year, charities, universities, cultural institutions and not-for-profit (NFP) groups ramp up their appeals for personal
Empowering Women Part 2: Actionable steps for financial inclusion
This is the second of a two-part series on the importance of empowering women. We previously examined how established norms
Expecting the unexpected: When your financial plan hits a bump
“We make plans and God laughs.” We write business plans, make family plans, and most importantly financial plans to guide
Understanding the true value of collectables
Since 2008, the stock market seems to have more daily fluctuations. Meanwhile, the bond market is bracing for the impact
Empowering Women: Not an act, but a habit
We hear all the time about the movement to empower women - in the workplace, in sports and in society
Defining an asset class
It used to be easy to define an asset class. Investors had the limited choice betweenequities, fixed-income, cash, and commodities
The perils of sudden wealth without financial literacy
Athletes, celebrities, divorcees, widows and heirs who come into wealth through their jobs, settlements or bequests often face a similar
Don’t think ‘geopolitics’ affects your portfolio? Think again.
This month the Russian army invaded Ukraine and markets already nervous from inflation fears got another shock. Equities had dropped
The financial perils of divorce
You don’t have to look far to understand the financial perils of divorce. In the world of the ultra-high-net-worth, it
Building a mission statement
Do you have a clear set of goals and values for your family office? Perhaps you want your professional team
Is it Wrong to Focus on Fees?
When entering a transaction or hiring a financial advisor, fees are an important element to consider. No one wants to
Should you put business first or family first?
If you own or operate a family business, you understand the importance of having a strong leadership team in place.
Are you prepared for the risk of a Grey Divorce?
When Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates divorced his wife Melinda French Gates in August after 27 years of marriage, she received
Is Global Custody the right strategy for your assets?
Wealthy individuals, family offices and multi-family office clients are always searching for a centralised resource to view all their assets
Be wary of hot investment trends
Bitcoin is one of the most talked about investment trends of the past year. Powered by blockchain, Bitcoin and other
The downsides of ‘Do-It-Yourself’ wealth management
Many wealthy individuals take a “do it yourself” approach to managing their investments, regardless of their personal experience or expertise.
Choose the right strategy for your philanthropy
If you plan to leave a legacy to your university, charity, or community organisation, it is important to choose a
Maintaining business continuity in the family office
Succession planning is one of the biggest issues facing the owner of a family-owned business. Who will take over after
Consider an ‘Out Clause’ to avoid a family feud
Sibling rivalry is normal in virtually every family across the globe. One child might feel neglected by their parents, another
Art as an asset class: a roadmap
Many families enjoy collecting art, amassing valuable collections through the years. Other than the intangible value of personal enjoyment, art can
Security strategies to reduce fraud
Every day, wealthy families across the globe are the targets of cyber criminals, whose sole focus is to hack their
Dealing with Difficult Heirs, Do I Cut Them Off?
When making your estate plans, it’s tempting to think that everything will work out peacefully, amongst your heirs, after you’re
Money can’t buy mental health
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis star Naomi Osaka took an unusual step this summer, placing their emotional health above
Precipice or opportunity: the largest wealth transfer in history
Growing up, I would often hear people say, “we’re from a different generation, the younger generation”. A generation is defined
When to tell the kids you’re ‘comfortable’ (though they likely already know)
Last week, I was quoted in the Canadian Family Offices article, "When to tell the kids you're 'comfortable' (though they
Procrastination: The biggest impediment to decision making
In the world of high-net-worth individuals, it is common for issues to arise with advisors, family offices or portfolios, but
The importance of having a family office rulebook
When building a house, you start by creating a solid foundation before adding the walls, roof and all the details that
Do I stay or do I sell?
I grew up in a family business that was created by my grandfather and developed by my uncles and father.
Should we give our kids all our money?
For wealthy parents, one of the most challenging estate planning decisions is whether to give all their money to their children.
The risk of dying with no planning
It is perplexing how few people sit down and organise their estate planning at any point in their lives. Unfortunately, more
Kids and their future inheritance
I had the good fortune to be interviewed by Bruce Sellery, of Moolala, around communicating with your children about
Family Office vs Founder’s Office
Family offices have been around for over 40 years and yet we talk about them as if they are the latest
How can I ensure my family office will outlive me?
Whether a small entrepreneurial business or a Fortune 500 company, most senior executives recognise the importance of succession planning and
The challenges of mental health with family wealth
Many wealthy families struggle to deal with the issues of passing their wealth to the next generation, but others wrestle
How do I tell my children they will inherit my fortune?
Money is an uncomfortable topic for many wealthy families. Parents may delay speaking about finances with their children for a multitude
To SPAC or not to SPAC, that is the question
Recently, SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) have been gaining a lot of attention and I have been carefully watching the
The importance of family meetings
If you and your spouse or partner are busy professionals, you may need to schedule “date nights” to disconnect and
The Florida migration: What about Family Offices?
When I was asked by my former employer to move to the US from Geneva, Switzerland, they had pushed the
Is it time to review your estate plans?
Many things can change after drawing up your estate plans, such as the birth of a new grandchild, an upturn
The benefits of diversifying your asset managers
As a successful long-term investor, you probably understand the importance of diversifying your assets. By allocating a portion of your
The Necessities of Auditing a Family Office
Family offices are not set up with many of the issues families face in mind. The family dynamic is mostly
ESG, Ethical and Impact Investing
Other than COVID-19, one of the things that constantly gets attention in the financial press is investing in companies focused
Bitcoin – The investment thesis
I started my career in the early nineties as a proprietary trader of fixed income and foreign exchange in London
Corporate or Private Trustee. Which is best for your family?
When setting up a trust for your assets, one of the most important decisions you have to make is
Tesla: The Next Frontier?
Let me start in saying that I have always be a little bit of a sceptic on the benefits
AMC & GameStop in Sherwood Forest
Robinhood, AMC and GameStop have taken centre stage as a new social dilemma has begun. Here are my thoughts on this complicated situation.
Best practices if making philanthropic gifts
Not long ago, a generous philanthropist left a multimillion-dollar gift to a highly regarded academic institution directed towards research
The perils of direct investing
Direct investing is a major trend amongst single family offices but do they have the right set up to miss the pitfalls and ensure success.
Teach your children well & don’t forget about investing
It’s surprising how many children in affluent families don’t understand the basics of finance, let alone the principles that
The secret to success – Part II
In my prior article, I explained that happiness is the main ingredient to success and whilst that holds true, I
The secret to success – Part I
I have had the good fortune of mentoring people all over the world for many years, one piece of
Finessing family inheritance feuds
A family quarrel can destroy a wealthy estate. When heirs fight, be it over their inheritance or over the
Why you should audit your family office
Many ultra-high-net-worth individuals value the convenience and support they receive from the professionals in their family office. Engaging one
It’s time to consider harvesting those tax losses
Even the best investors lose money in the markets from time to time, but still, they need to remain
Teach your college kids the financial basics
As high school and college students return to school this autumn, parents can help them earn an “A” in
Cyber Security: Simple, Cheap & Easy
The minute we start talking about cyber security, the risks of being hacked and the damage it can do,
A Single-Family Office, do I need one & is it right for me and my family?
Family offices have become the new trendy word in the world of wealthy families, especially those who have amassed
It’s time for annual portfolio health check
An annual check-up is an excellent way to monitor your health. A good doctor can examine you, discuss any issues
Protecting vulnerable widows and divorcees
Along with being corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and successful professionals, we find that men often become the defacto family’s decision- maker
Window of opportunity for intergenerational wealth transfer may be narrow
If you are planning to convey your wealth to the next generation, now is an ideal time to take advantage
The most important decision you will make
In my more than 25 years of wealth management, the most consequential decision that I have seen family offices and
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