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Research tells us communication is the most essential ingredient for sustaining wealth across generations. But, cross-generational communication can be particularly challenging, especially within families of wealth. Each generation’s habits, beliefs, and ideals are influenced by very different experiences, traditions, and societal norms. So how do you bridge the divide? In a gathering of more than 80 women ranging in age from 21 to 91 at a weekend-long learning event, several insights and recommendations on solving the cross-generational communication emerged.

Being part of a business that either bears your name or was started by your family is a privilege that comes with huge responsibility. This is particularly true at a time when technology is disrupting all sectors. Digital transformation isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. All companies will need agents of change and that is clear from the survey results of almost 1,000 members of the next generation in family businesses across five continents and 11 industries.

Dr. Alexander Koeberle-Schmid, family business expert at PwC, has helped more than 100 entrepreneurial families from around the world navigate the complexities of communal investing. In this episode of The Family Business Voice podcast, Koeberle-Schmid speaks to Ramia M. El Agamy about the three fundamental requirements of a family office and the five questions family members should ask themselves when considering a family office structure.

Many states are imposing a millionaire’s tax with huge implications for top earners. Explore how aggressive tax-loss harvesting can soften the blow.

Now that passive index investing has overtaken active management, learn why this might not be as scary for the industry as it may seem.

Successfully transitioning family assets from generation to generation is hard work. And for many families, talking about money or family wealth can be awkward and uncomfortable, or simply delayed, which hinders younger generations from absorbing the critical information and know-how that is necessary for a smooth transfer of wealth and responsibilities. Some families are reluctant to discuss wealth at all because they are afraid of ruining their children's ambition. However, there are ways to encourage open discussions while being respectful of that fear.

Both stocks and bonds enjoyed positive returns in the Third Quarter 2019, adding to already-impressive performance from the first half of the year. Declining interest rates again deserve much of the credit for these attractive investment returns. Pessimism regarding global economic growth along with central bank accommodation compressed interest rates to historically low levels.

There is a risk, in a time of prolonged economic uncertainty, that you become blinded to the pitfalls ahead. U.S./China trade tensions have now been ramping up for over a year, and other geopolitical tensions for even longer (Brexit for over three). But while we have suffered bouts of volatility, markets have not fallen into a more prolonged period of gloom.

Substantial inflows into passive funds over the last decade have led to speculatioon that a bubble is forming. Key concerns center around the lack of price discovery inherent with passive funds as well as liquidity during market dislocations. While conerns may be valid, empirical data does not seem to support the case for a bubble.

There is a yawning gender gap in Corporate America. Studies show that companies with disproportionately low numbers of women in leadership do not perform as well as those with a more balanced gender ratio. For years, boards have vowed to change that formula, yet still it remains. To help spur changes, the Women CEOs Speak project was initiated and 57 women CEOs were interviewed for it. The ultimate goal: 100 women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies by 2025.