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As their personal wealth and educational levels have increased, women have sought a more equal and active role in family governance, philanthropy, and business and financial planning. This article from RayLign explores the changes that have empowered women and how those changing roles affect family leadership, decision-making and relationships.

Family businesses are most at risk for financial troubles based on a lack of formal succession planning and preparation, and on family business owners' personal financial issues, according to MassMutual Financial Group's 2007 American Family Business Survey. The survey also found that family businesses are growing in jobs and revenues, and often with women leading that growth.

An inherited fortune may come with strings attached as wealthy families make a college education or job experience a condition of inheritance. About 60 percent of families with more than $10 million in assets place stipulations like these, according to a report on attaining and retaining wealth from Barclays Wealth. The report also discusses the importance of family members agreeing on how wealth will be passed on.

A directed trustee is chosen to advise a trustee on investment or distribution decisions for a trust. But as key decision-makers, directed trustees face potential liability. This article by Richard Nenno of Wilmington Trust Corp. explores the role of directed trustees, examines statutes and case law and looks at how these trustees can limit their liability risk.

The author, a 4th generation heir to the Carnation fortune, maps out a framework for effective long-term wealth management. The principles apply equally well whether you're managing a nest egg of $1 million or $1 billion. They apply regardless of time horizon and family complexity, and they apply whether your ambitions are aggressive or conservative.

Proper asset allocation and estate planning is often the best gift to children who have neither an interest in, nor propensity for, running the family business. Sale of the family business is usually a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve meaningful liquidity, and well-qualified advisors can add much more in transaction value and stress relief than they take away in fees.

This paper will examine ways to lessen six of the greatest risks to preserving and enjoying multigenerational wealth. These six risks are: concentrating your assets, overspending, overusing leverage, poor tax planning, not attending to liabilities, ignoring family governance

Educating the children of wealthy families can be an extremely difficult challenge. Today, more and more family offices are recognizing the compelling need to assist in the effort to educate heirs.

“Mentoring is more than just a relationship between two individuals,” said James Ruddy, who launched a discussion on the topic at an enlightening and laughter-punctuated session at the 2005 Family Office Exchange CEO Forum. An attentive audience heard four diverse perspectives on the role of mentoring as a means to educate and groom successive generations.

Selling the family-owned business is one of the most important financial decisions and transactions that any family will face. Business owners, their children and grandchildren will live with the results for a long time to come. Getting it right is important to maximize family wealth, and some basic advance planning — even several years in advance — could help achieve that critical goal.