Our Latest Articles

January 13, 2025 - Issue #133

Articles About Relationships, Succession Were Top Draws in 2024 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? 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 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 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 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 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 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 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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Can a Family Business Consultant Really Help? Nine Experts Explain What Families Often Miss
by Holly Eddleston and Kimberly Eddleston / Practice Insight

Family business consultants often create their greatest value in unexpected ways: helping families uncover the real reasons they're stuck, have difficult conversations, and make better decisions. Read more...

Build a Family Governance Talent Pipeline Before You Need One
by Claudia Binz Astrachan / Applied and Practice

Don’t wait for a vacancy. Prepare family members now — through education, mentoring, clear expectations, and hands-on experience — to serve on boards, family councils, and committees. Read more...

Founder Succession: Six Lessons From 15 CEOs Who Actually Lived It
by Micheal Parkhurst / Applied and Practice

What happens after the founder steps aside? Interviews with successor CEOs reveal the emotional, organizational, and family dynamics that determine whether leadership transitions succeed—or stall. Read more...

Should You Make 'Family Owned' Part of Your Brand?
by Kimberly Eddleston and Ananya Mehta / Research Insight

Family ownership can build trust, credibility, and customer loyalty—but only when it reinforces something stakeholders value. Here are five questions to ask first. Read more...

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Editorial offices located at St Thomas University

Editorial offices located at St Thomas University