Enterprise families are unique because they share ownership and stewardship of more than just family businesses. In addition to co-owning operating companies, they are the guardians of family legacy, family trusts, shared philanthropy, and joint properties. As leadership moves from founders to siblings to cousins and family priorities change, the decision-making structures must evolve to stay relevant.
Family Journey
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At some point, your family wealth may be so complex, or a significant transition happens that starts a process to form an independent family office outside of the business. Whatever the reason, separating family wealth management from the business should be considered an evolutionary process and starts with your family gaining consensus to establish an independent office or use outside partners.
Private Wealth vs. Family Wealth: A Holistic Approach to Sustaining Generational Wealth
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Family wealth encompasses more than the financial capital of the family. From a multi-generational and family sustainability perspective, it’s about thinking beyond the private wealth and incorporating a holistic approach that prepares the human capital, enhances the intellectual capital, and builds the appropriate governance framework. This shift in thinking and practice will foster clearer communication among family members, stronger family cohesiveness, and well-prepared heirs who are better positioned to govern the family enterprise.
Crafting a family story as part of your family history is essential in helping rising generations understand and embrace their roles in the family enterprise. For a family with a business, that story will enormously benefit the younger generations whether or not they are actively involved in running the family business. Understanding the roots of the family’s entrepreneurialism will also cultivate stewardship and deeper appreciation of the wealth and responsibilities generated from long-term success.
Succession and Generational Transition is a key concern for over half of FOX’s family member leaders. Similarly, our rising gen research shows that 53% of the rising gen view leadership and skill development, as well as defining future roles in the family, as a challenge. Together, Sara Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Family Office Exchange, and Mindy Kalinowski Earley, FOX’s Chief Learning Officer, addressed the concerns and challenges of each constituent group, and provided solutions for preparation, transition and succession.
The deep knowledge and bone-deep pride of business ownership that keep a successful business thriving do not automatically trickle down to later generations. An investment in education is often required. Knowing the story of the family enterprise is one tool for helping younger family members learn from the past, engage the present, and make their mark on the future.
Succession will happen—it’s a matter of when, not if—so families should approach it with strategic forethought, flexibility, and responsiveness to ensure a smooth, successful transition. Through three different scenarios that encompass most transitions, learn how the decision-making process succession varies in significant ways across those scenarios. There are many aspects to robust succession planning, which, when done well, can help align decision-making and strengthen family unity.
Despite the leadership and great influence of the women who have shaped their family legacies, including the silent legacy of Louise Carnegie, their contributions have been missing or minimized in the family stories and historical records. With more women taking control of more wealth and the decisions around that wealth, their voices and positions provide a unique foundation for each woman to stand upon as she builds her own legacy. Here are a few tips for preparing and conducting interviews to raise the profile of women in your family.
What Is a Family Vision and Why Do You Need One?
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A family vision statement is rooted in shared values, interests, and goals. Written with a sense of purpose, your statement becomes your guiding principles for the rules and actions of your family members. In this webcast, learn why most successful families develop a shared vision for their future together on the family journey, how they go about it, and what impact it has on their well-being and family relations.
As startup companies in the cloud, internet, and technology industry grow, they must balance resources between innovating products and services and building their businesses. The BPM Business Ownership Transition sat down with the San Francisco Business Times to discuss the nuts and bolts of value creation for startups. Listen in for more about the implications of business structures, the policies and legal agreements to implement early, and the accounting best practices for both personal and business finances.