Our Latest Articles

January 13, 2025 - Issue #133

Articles About Relationships, Succession Were Top Draws in 2024 Many readers wanted advice about handling toxic family relationships, managing succession, and preserving the family’s values over time.

Transferring Family Wealth to the Next Generation: What’s Fair? Trillions of dollars are about to be handed down from baby boomers to younger generations. Family firms must consider how to transfer their ownership shares, and to whom.

Family History Can be Re-Framed to Encourage Harmony and Progress The goals of the family and the business are often at odds. Family history can inspire bold and necessary steps that are still in harmony with the family’s image of itself.

Include the Extended Family in Your Ownership Strategy Your ownership strategy should consider that in future generations the family firm will likely have many more owners. Take a broader focus when you develop it.

Hiring Mom and Dad? Optimize Their Strengths and Manage Boundaries Sharon Beck, owner of a Jovie Childcare franchise, shares her insights on the benefits and challenges of being your parents' boss.

Protect Your Family Business From Crime In crime-prone regions, activities like selling in physical stores, regular trips to the bank, and talking openly about business growth can make business owners targets.

The HERO Model: How Family Enterprise Leaders Can Accelerate Change Hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism can make us better people and better leaders. This article explores how we can cultivate it within ourselves.

How Boards Help Complex Family Firms Make Sound Decisions Fiduciary boards keep family firms focused on the long term, rather than on short-term, tactical strategies. But many family firms resist having one, fearful of losing control of their enterprise.

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Justifiable Pride or Arrogance? It Matters for Family Businesses

‘SOBs’: The Real Power in Family Businesses

Craft Ventures are More Successful With a Couple at the Helm

'Yellowstone' Mirrors Real-Life Family Business Dramas

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Recent

How Family Firms Can Identify and Preserve Their Legacy

by Miruna Radu-Lefebvre, Jim Davis, and William Gartner / Research Insight

Many family firms are not fully sure of their legacy and how to communicate it to others. Research suggests ways to get a better handle on it. Read more...

Consumers Love Local Brands. That's Good News For Family Businesses

by Philipp Jaufenthaler, Andreas Kallmuenzer, Sascha Kraus, and Alfredo De Massis / Research Insight

Being a family firm enhances a brand's local appeal and influences consumer purchasing behaviors. Read more...

How to Boost Your Board's Performance

by Lars B. Sonderegger and Claudia Binz Astrachan / Practice Insight

On an ideal board, directors with different levels of experience, backgrounds, and interests form a cohesive team that pulls in the same direction, and that achieves more together than Read more...

Separate Family Offices Can Minimize Money Problems

by Kimberly Eddleston / Interviews

It can be dangerous to ask executive assistants or your CFO to manage your personal finances. A separate staff of calm professionals will help both business and family manage money responsibly. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Why Families and Their Firms Behave Badly

by Roland Kidwell, Kimberly Eddleston, Linda Kidwell, John Cater, and Ellison Howard

The Paradox of Choice: Wealth's Impact on Family Potential

by Doug Baumoel

How Family Firms Can Prevent (or Cool Down) Sibling Rivalries

by Jonas Ruzek and Kimberly Eddleston

The Biggest Mistakes Family Businesses Make With Their Boards

by Kimberly Eddleston

Retirement Options and their Consequences for Small Business Owners

by Valeria Alterman and Ariane Froidevaux