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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When Family Business Reputation Helps—and When It Hurts
by Philipp Jaufenthaler, Roland Schroll, and Franz Kellermanns / Research Insight

Family firms often enjoy strong consumer goodwill, until they engage in deliberate misconduct -- when higher expectations can produce deeper disappointment and sharper backlash. Read more...

Why People Risk Belongs on Every Family Business Board Agenda
by Claudia Binz Astrachan and Lars B. Sonderegger / Practice Insight

Boards routinely scrutinize financial and strategic risk. But talent shortages, leadership culture problems, and succession gaps can erode long-term value just as quickly. Read more...

Before You Grow the Family Business, Know What Not to Break
by Meghan Lynch and Mat Hughes / Commentary

The challenge during succession is that not every inherited element deserves to be preserved. But not every piece of the legacy is safe to disrupt, either. Read more...

AI in Family Business: Why Brain Capital Is Your Real Competitive Advantage
by Doug Gray, PhD / Practice Insight

Family firms need AI, but it can't build trust or regulate conflict. Here's why Brain Capital—judgment, resilience, and governance maturity—will determine whether they thrive across generations. Read more...

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Editorial offices located at St Thomas University

Editorial offices located at St Thomas University

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Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation

Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation