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.Search & Save Enter search below to create an easy reading list
Recent
A Family Illness Can Infect the Business, Too
by Kristen Shanine, Kristen Madison, and Marilyn Whitman
/ Research Insight
Serious health problems can disrupt leadership, finances, customer relationships, and more. New research shows how family firms can prevent illness from becoming a business crisis. Read more...
Why PE Firms Want to Buy Your Family Firm (and Change it)
by Sören Paleit, Frederik J. Riar, Marcel Hülsbeck, and Andreas Hack
/ Research Insight
Family businesses are often viewed as ripe for operational improvement, making them especially attractive to private equity investors seeking value creation. Read more...
Give Future Leaders Exposure to Critical Roles
by Kimberly Eddleston
/ Interviews
A job rotation program gives next-gens both hands-on experience and a working knowledge of different departments and important outside relationships. Read more...
New Family Business CEOs Must Claim the Seat, Not Just Inherit the Title
by Dr. Benjamin Ritter
/ Practice Insight
When a successor becomes CEO, the title may change overnight — but authority, identity and trust do not. Next-generation leaders must act like the CEO before they feel like one. Read more...
Trending
How Family Dynamics Shape Family Businesses
by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan
How to Run a Family Business Successfully
by Kerry Hannon
5 Practical Tips for Making Business Decisions With Family Members
by Rostyslav Vovk
Let the Next Generation of Family Firm Leaders Chart Their Own Path
by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander
Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership
by Susan Lanz, Gary Burke, Kajsa Haag, and Omid Omidvar
Editorial offices located at St Thomas University
Popular
Helping Daughters Become Successful Family Business Leaders
by Simon Caspary and Tom Rüsen
The Hidden Fault Lines That Threaten Family Enterprises
by Matthew Crudgington and Peter Vogel
Avoid Legal Minefields When Acquiring Another Company
by Dustin Slade
Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business
by Robert Sher
The 'Fredo Factor:' How Deadbeats and Troublemakers Hurt Family Businesses
by Kimberly Eddleston
Should I Participate in a Business Accelerator?
by Jon Eckhardt
Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation