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

What Makes Banks Approve Loans for Family Business Succession?

When a Family Business Faces a Crisis, Should the Founder Step Aside?

How to Let Your Child Lead the Family Business When You Disagree

Multigenerational Consulting Teams Bring Wisdom and Fresh Insights

Popular Topics

Money

Financing, revenue, profits

Team

Staffing, succession, relationships

Manage

Best practices for running the business

Grow

Increase customers and revenue

Strategy

Making better decisions

Operations

How the best firms run

Recent

The “Perfect Successor” Is a Myth: What Family Businesses Should Look for Instead

by Eric Liguori, Benjamin McLarty, Maria Bracamonte, Parker Ellen, and Michele Medina-Craven / Research Insight

Research suggests that education, experience, confidence, personality, and motivation can all shape family business succession. But none offers a shortcut to finding the ideal next leader. Read more...

Family Business Consultant or Coach: Which Do You Need?

by Doug Baumoel and Amanda Bell / Practice Insight

Coaches help individual family members grow; consultants solve problems affecting the entire family business. Learn when to hire each and how they can work together. Read more...

How Family Offices Can Turn Impact Investments Into Measurable Results

by Mattias Nordqvist, Marco Mismetti, Fredrik Holmberg, and Lorenz Schwab / Research Insight

Active ownership, clear goals, and close relationships with entrepreneurs can help investments deliver social and environmental impact. Read more...

6 Questions to Ask Before Creating a Family Business Board

by Pedro Vazquez, Isabel C Botero, and Miguel Méndez / Research Insight

As your family business grows, informal decision-making may no longer be enough. These six questions can help you decide when and how to strengthen governance. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Let the Next Generation of Family Firm Leaders Chart Their Own Path

by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander

How Family Business Succession Shapes Innovation in the Next Generation

by Ludovica Del Barone, Maria Annosi, Filomena Buonocore, and Evelyn Micelotta

5 Practical Tips for Making Business Decisions With Family Members

by Rostyslav Vovk

Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership

by Susan Lanz, Gary Burke, Kajsa Haag, and Omid Omidvar

Succession: Don't Assume Your First-Born is the Anointed One

by Andrea Calabrò