During a crisis, having a family business can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, there are often family elders with experience in overcoming previous recessions, support from the family unit, and the fact that family businesses tend to be more risk averse and therefore in a better position to weather the storm.

But some of those very attributes can also manifest as weaknesses. For example, family businesses have a concern for a wide range of stakeholders, including employees and customers, rather than a single-minded focus on shareholder value. Also, family tensions brought to the surface under pressure can often expose underlying stress fractures and exacerbate conflict in relationships, which may lead to more divisiveness.

How to capitalise on the strengths and avoid the weaknesses?

• Be in regular communication with all stakeholders and be extremely open – this builds trust
• Draw on family leadership, shared values, and governance
• Be open to learning from others, e.g. military approaches to VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) environments

Consider This: How has your family business responded to the COVID crisis? Has it shown resilience or weakness (or some of both)? Have you considered what family members can be doing to help (aside from specific operational matters)?

Original articles: https://www.forbes.com/sites/francoisbotha/2020/03/31/family-business-challenges-the-3-issues-families-cant-ignore/#664087f23cf4, https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/family-business-coronavirus-crisis, https://hbr.org/2020/05/what-family-businesses-can-learn-from-the-military, https://hbr.org/2020/05/4-tensions-in-family-businesses-and-how-to-work-through-them

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession 

For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and further commentary on family and business conflict resolution, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

You might describe the Superbowl matchup as the standout team of the season (and current title-holder) versus the team that currently has Tom Brady at QB.

Showing no signs of hangover, the Chiefs have put together a near-flawless season. On offence, Mahomes keeps getting better and has a array of powerful weapons, including his own mobility and legs. His speedsters can run deep routes, but are equally able to get the ball with a screen, an underneath pass or an end-around, and turn those into big yardage plays. Such a multi-dimensional offence poses a huge challenge for even the best defence. The defence has done everything required of it, and recently held strong offences like the Browns and the Bills in the battle of the young, emerging QBs. Mahomes still leads that cohort, but both Mayfield & Allen have made huge strides this season. It’s great seeing the next generation of QBs on the rise.

The Bucs have culminated several years of strong roster-building and had almost all the pieces in place – good running attack, deep threat speedsters, very fast pass rush and a strong secondary. This season, they put the icing on the cake with the addition of Brady & Gronk. Brady doesn’t have the arm strength and accuracy that he used to, but he’s still … Brady. Most of the time, the offensive line has given him the time he needs to make the throws he can (as they did in New England), and as the season has developed, he has gelled with his targets, and the defence has improved significantly. The way they totally stifled a very strong Packers offence at home was super-impressive.

The combatants both fully deserve their place in the final game of what has been an amazing season.

Kudos to the NFL for running a complete season with minimal COVID disruption. A few games were rescheduled. Players moved in and out of the COVID roster (and that materially affected some games, but mostly evened out for everyone). Stadia were empty or sparse (which recently posed a challenge for QBs not used to the noise during playoff matches). Overall, the league struck a good balance and were therefore able to complete the season.

Who is going to win? I think KC have a slight edge in both offence and defence. In order to win, the Bucs will have to run the ball a lot, control the clock and keep the KC offence off the field. I can’t see them winning a shoot out – when needed Mahomes can score faster than anyone – and I don’t think this will be an ultra-defensive low-scoring affair. Of course the X-factor is Brady – I was there when he led the best comeback ever against the Falcons. His stage presence on the field lifts everyone around him and gives them the confidence that they can do anything. While this is the first time a Superbowl has ever been played at the home ground of one of the teams, I don’t think it will be a huge factor: the crowd will not be overly skewed to the Bucs, and the climate is pleasant.

Betting: KC are 3.5 point favourites. Total points line 55.5. I’m tipping KC to cover the line, and overs on total points scored. It may take a quarter or two before the scoring really opens up, and either team is capable of working their way back into the games from a 2- or 3-score deficit, so there should be some in-play betting opportunities.

When family wealth is controlled or owned by a single person (usually the wealth creator), things are simple. But at some point, the wealth will likely pass to more than one person – the wealth creator’s children. In respect of the family wealth, the members of the family are bound together through three circles of involvement: family, business and ownership. That adds a huge degree of complexity, as no decision gets made in isolation.

Strong governance establishes a process for decision-making and conformity within the family. Clearly defined policies and processes for governance, in line with a formal family vision and mission statement, can reduce the potential for conflict.

Family governance can also focus on strengthening the non-financial capital within the family – working on these can ensure it’s not “all about the money” (because usually it isn’t anyway).

For some families, there may be an advantages to separate ownership and management. This can ensure the sustainability of the family business and wealth through its management by professionals with the diverse skills needed. The family members govern (set policy, monitor), and others manage.

There is an emotional side to effective family governance which is often overlooked by the first generation. In order to be effective, family governance needs to take into account all interested family members in the planning process and to be consistent with the existing family culture which is likely to have evolved over multiple generations.

Consider This: Who owns and controls your family’s wealth? Who will own and control it in ten years? How many ‘hats’ (business, family, owner) does each family member wear? Are you aware of the diverse interests and aspirations of each family member (across multiple generations) in respect of the family wealth?

Original articles: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2020/04/27/effective-governance-strengthens-family-unity-and.html, https://www.forbes.com/sites/francoisbotha/2020/04/29/the-importance-of-separating-ownership-and-management-3-steps-to-get-families-started/#f7efd62655b1, http://www.campdenfb.com/article/carlos-arbesu-governance-and-succession-family-business-boards, http://www.mondaq.com/jersey/x/873496/wealth+management/Avoiding+rags+to+riches+in+three+generations+family+governance+in+the+Middle+East

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession 

For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and further commentary on family and business conflict resolution, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

Most wealth is created through entrepreneurship: taking a risk to start a business, and growing that business. Some families with generationally “old” money (i.e. more than 3-4 generations removed from the wealth creator) may have their family wealth in passive assets, and the entrepreneurial spirit that created it is long gone from memory, sometimes irretrievably lost.

For families that hold (or acquire) operating assets, it’s important to maintain that entrepreneurial spirit in subsequent generations, but that has its challenges. Rising gen family members born with spoons in their mouths often don’t share the hunger (or need) of wealth creators.

To do this, families need to tell stories of the bad times as well as the good, and create space for rising gen family members to become entrepreneurs of their own, rather than being in the shadow of others (external mentors can often help). Operating assets, especially those held by the family for a long time, need the governance that can facilitate regular strategic renewal (which may need entrepreneurial thinking) to ensure their long-term survival.

Consider This: Do family members know the story of how the family wealth was created? When was the last time an operating business you own did some serious strategic planning? Has anyone assessed whether there is “stale thinking” in the family business leadership?

Original articles: https://hbr.org/2020/05/is-the-next-generation-of-your-family-business-entrepreneurial-enough, https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/5-Factors-for-Planning-Your-Entrepreneurial-Legacy-15204834.php, http://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/barber-family-entrepreneurship-journey/, http://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/the-power-of-the-entrepreneurial-family/

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession. For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and commentary on family and business, sign-up to gain access to the archives of my Familosophy newsletter: https://www.transitionbook.co/member-area/6cf3b890596

conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

When it comes to advisors, I have two simple rules:

1. Get good advisors
2. Listen to them

Family advisors need additional skills because they must work with the various members or governance structures of a family, and key people & structures may change with time. They need to know about communication, in order to help the family members themselves communicate well.

They need to understand family dynamics, and get to know the ins and outs of the families they deal with. They may need to act as facilitators of family discussions and formal meetings, to help the family develop the ability to have open discussions and make collective decisions. To do this effectively, they need to be independent, and have the ability to say things that the family needs to hear (even though they may be difficult or confronting).

They, or their firms, need to be able to talk to multiple generations within the family, so as to maintain a parallel transition – as generational control passes within the family, the advisor relationships may also change. As part of that transition, it may be helpful to bring younger family members into advisor discussions.

In addition, they may want to be across emerging trends like impact investment, cybersecurity, and online reputation management.

A family advisor is so much more than a wealth manager, or the family lawyer or accountant. It can be rare to find all the skills needed in a single individual.

Consider This: Do you have an independent family advisor? Are you able to discuss anything the family needs with that person? Does that person have a relationship with multiple family members or across multiple generations? When did you last do an audit of your advisor relationships to ensure they are meeting the family’s needs now and in the future?

Original articles: https://www.forbes.com/sites/francoisbotha/2019/10/18/the-top-5-new-generation-advisors-every-family-office-needs/#586314691369, https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20191118/FREE/191119941/ria-consolidation-could-put-2-4-trillion-in-play-over-next-decade, https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2019/11/29/advisers-urged-to-include-clients-families-in-meetings/, https://www.fa-mag.com/news/the-ultra-wealthy-prefer-multi-family-offices-to-wealth-managers-53825.html, https://www.forbes.com/sites/dennisjaffe/2020/03/18/family-wealth-advisors-need-skills-in-family-dynamics/#34154180ecb2

If you are a business owner, lawyer or accountant to them, my advisory services may be the perfect match to navigate the tough decisions in strategizing #intergenerational relationships.

There are a number of use cases where I have worked with families that may be adjacent to your practice. Let me help you:

· help family develop shared vision, charter etc
· mediate family conflict management
· mentor rising generation
· coach family through the emotional side of business sale – before, during, after
· help family businesses with ‘soft’ aspects of succession planning

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession

For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and further commentary on family and business conflict resolution, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

There is more to maintaining family wealth through generations than getting the best financial advisors and managers for operating assets.

Families of wealth must learn how to work together in the sharing of assets. A key part of that is to integrate their wealth management with their values. That means the values need to be articulated within the family. Then, the family needs clear and open dialogue discussing values as well as financial assets, and why preserving wealth matters to the family and the world around us. That is the foundation upon which successful transition is built.

To raise the next generation responsibly with wealth may require adapting the family’s middle-class orientation to add new strategies where solid values are taught and demonstrated. Large sums of money can have damage on children’s ability to craft their own lives and break out of their parents’ shadow.

When people base their self-worth on financial success, they experience feelings of pressure and a lack of autonomy.

Few families who come to wealth have been prepared for these tasks. They often don’t know these new strategies are even necessary. That is where external advisors can be helpful.

Consider This: Has your family articulated its values? Does that include the values of the rising generation? What is your family’s approach to educating the rising generation with the appropriate values so they can be comfortable in their own skin and good custodians in the future?

Original articles: https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/articles/the-value-of-your-values/, https://bigthink.com/politics-current-affairs/great-wealth-transfer, https://www.valuewalk.com/2020/02/family-wealth-planning/, https://www.scmp.com/presented/business/topics/defining-family-office-landscape/article/3076183/what-chinese-family, https://nypost.com/2020/04/10/investing-life-in-money-leads-to-lack-of-community-study/

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession 

For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and further commentary on family and business conflict resolution, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

Family businesses aren’t just businesses that happen to be owned and/or managed by a family. Factors like a long-term perspective, and the multiple/overlapping roles of owners, employees and family members are both strengths and weaknesses. These factors mean that family businesses need another set of principles to help them stay strong.

Because many stakeholders have multiple hats, separation of powers is very important. Everyone needs to understand what their roles are (employee, manager, owner, etc) and the scope of each role.

Because family business transitions fail most often because of poor communication, a governance structure that includes independent director(s) is essential for mature family businesses. This helps the business and family stay true to its values, put policies in place to manage conflict, and maintain open communication and accountability. Good governance ensures that issues are dealt with in the appropriate forum at all times.

Another reason for failure is lack of strategic renewal. External voices on a board can ensure regular strategic planning happens, established ideas are challenged, and all stakeholders’ voices are heard.

Consider This: Does your family operating business have a board? Does your family have a council (or similar), separate from the governance of any operating businesses? At family meetings, who is the chair? Does everyone who attends genuinely have a voice?

Original articles: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/01/17/15-tips-for-navigating-family-business-challenges/#462bab2b8a92, https://www.smartcompany.com.au/business-advice/family-business-constitution/, https://hbr.org/2020/01/managing-the-trickiest-parts-of-a-family-businesses, https://hbr.org/2020/01/every-family-business-needs-an-independent-director, https://hbr.org/2020/02/should-your-family-business-have-a-no-in-laws-policy, https://hbr.org/2020/02/what-makes-a-family-business-last, https://www.forbes.com/sites/rochellemclarke/2020/02/29/6-tips-for-working-with-family-and-friends/#4de7af5612f9

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession 

For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and further commentary on family and business conflict resolution, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

Successful entrepreneurs are often control freaks. But they can’t control whether their children can take over the business or the assets and keep them growing.

Entrepreneurs may be visionaries, but sometimes it takes an external advisor to identify choices that they might otherwise overlook. Transferring full control of an operating asset to children isn’t the only option. Neither is continuing the way things have always been done just for the sake of it.

The drive towards impact and ESG investment is running in parallel with the generational wealth transition. The stereotype that it is just young people who are interested in ESG investing is quickly becoming out of date. Often, parents say that they support this investment choice but when they were setting up the business in the beginning, their focus was on profitability. A common interest in environmental, social and governance investing can help parents and advisors connect with the rising generation.

That said, a change in investment approach driven by the rising generation can be a source of conflict, and needs to be handled judiciously.

For effective wealth transition, it’s important for families to learn how they can create value together through increased understanding of each other and a shared vision of their family’s future.

Consider This: What has your family done to raise the next generation of entrepreneurs? Are you able to deal with “Dad: I have a great idea – can I have a million dollars to invest in it?” Has your family experienced intergenerational conflict over investment decisions?

Original articles: https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/power-of-entrepreneurial-family/, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-know-if-your-children-are-ready-to-take-over-your-business-2020-10-20, https://www.ft.com/content/dea5e5d1-8650-4819-aecc-699b612419aa, https://www.ftadviser.com/investments/2020/12/10/who-is-making-the-esg-investment-choices/, https://www.ftadviser.com/investments/2020/11/25/how-esg-can-help-succession-planning/

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession: For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and commentary on family and business, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

The cobbler’s children go barefoot: Advisors don’t spend enough time thinking about their own succession and exit planning. Like most people, many are too involved in the day-to-day work. But like family businesses, exit planning for advisors is not just a financial transaction, but is also the chance to leave a legacy. 

The wealth management industry is ‘old’ – the average age of financial advisers today is about 55, with 20% of them 65 or older. Why? Because most of them have been servicing the incumbent generation of wealth holders. A similar profile would apply to accountants and lawyers servicing this group.

Research shows a mismatch between the ‘opportunity’ advisors see in the incoming intergenerational wealth transfer and tangible steps taken to address it. The wealth transfer poses a risk both for families and advisors., and both groups need to be aware of it and plan accordingly.

But who advises the advisors on managing this? I have been following this niche issue for a number of years, and will be launching a series of products including educational, knowledge base/community, and specialist consulting to advisors and their firms.

Consider This: Families: have you had an open discussion with your advisors about their ‘parallel’ transition? Rising gen family members: are you comfortable with your parents’ advisors becoming yours? Advisors: are you aware of the risks and opportunities to your business with the generational wealth transition? Have you formally assessed this?

Original articles: https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/news/industry-news/helping-advisors-pave-the-path-for-succession/331963, 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/07/27/the-psychology-of-a-retiring-advisor/?sh=53daca6f57a6,

https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/601878/your-financial-adviser-wants-to-retire-too,

https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/what-are-biggest-practice-issues-advisors,

https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2020/11/19/advisers-slow-to-address-wealth-transfer-opportunity/,

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2020/dec/succession-issues-surge-at-accounting-firms.html

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession: For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and commentary on family and business, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship

With many people forced into #remotework and/or #shelterinplace, it is essential to understand the impact of the family dynamic on a business. Besides the obvious space and time-management issues, conflict in family business happens differently, therefore must be resolved differently.

Disputes within a family don’t escalate suddenly. They are often built on years of relationship sentiment that is latent or suppressed. With the current #pandemic the triggers for those conflicts can easily be fast-tracked and may have long term impact both the #familyculture and the #futureofwork.

These conflicts have a factual or financial component, as well as an emotional component, so both aspects must be considered when seeking to resolve. Often, the emotional component is what is at the heart of the conflict. A family is not a meritocracy. Family decisions have a very different basis than business decisions. When those two decision processes lead to different outcomes, conflict is inevitable.

3 Things to focus on at times like this

• develop skills for future – many opportunities for online learning
• become 360-degree humans – think about purpose and how to help others through this
• entertain innovative solutions – crisis is also opportunity

Having independent voices – around the board table, or generally advising the family – can be very helpful to unpack complex, multi-layered issues. They can also assist with the establishment of more formal (but not necessarily too formal) governance and dispute resolution processes.

David Werdiger is a Familosopher, the Founder and Principal in Nathanson Pearson Family Advisory and Adjunct Professor https://www.transitionbook.co/conflict-resolution

Specialties Include:

#ConflictResolution

#CommunicationManagement

#StrategicPlanning

#SuccessionContinuity

#Governance

#LeadershipDevelopment

Familosophy (noun): the critical study of the principles and concepts of family dynamics and intergenerational issues, with a view to improving them and providing guidance in practical affairs.
origin: portmanteau of family and philosophy.

Actionable Generational Wealth Succession: For more in-depth, thought-provoking discussion points and commentary on family and business, access my Familosophy newsletter archives: www.transitionbook.co/member-area/

#familyoffice #wealthmanagement #conflictresolution #strategicmanagement #successionplanning #workfromhome #governance #leadershipdevelopment #familybusiness #entrepreneurship