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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Here Are the Next Gen's Biggest Worries

Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership

Will Your Successors See Themselves as Heirs or Entrepreneurs?

Hand Down the Family Business but Keep a Hand In

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Recent

Family Business Leaders' Fear of Failure Can Inhibit Next Gens

by Seyyede Sharare Bagherian, Sonia M. Strano, Sohrab Soleimanof, Jon Carr, and S. Alireza Feyzbaksh / Research Insight

When parents openly display fear of failing, it can unintentionally portray entrepreneurship as unsafe, undesirable, or even shameful. This doesn't help their successors or the business. Read more...

Are the 'Best Practices' All Wrong for Your Family Business?

by Luciana Lucena de Lima and María José Parada / Research Insight

The best processes and systems come not from outside advisers and experts, but from how families actually live, relate to one another, and make decisions. Read more...

Family CEOs May Encourage More Innovation Than Non-Family Leaders

by Mario Daniele Amore, Morten Bennedsen, Bordin Bordeerath, and Nicolai Foss / Research Insight

While professional non-family leadership may bring some advantages, the stability brought by family leaders may encourage employees to innovate without fear of failure. Read more...

Addressing Substance Use Disorders in a Family Enterprise

by Diana Clark / Commentary

When a family member struggles with addiction, the consequences can ripple throughout the firm and increase its risks. Read more...

by Ritch Sorenson

When entrepreneurs raise entrepreneurs

by Nadine Kammerlander and Larissa Leitner

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

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

How Family Dynamics Shape Family Businesses

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Family Business Succession Planning: 10 Golden Rules

by Tom Rüsen, Torsten Groth, and Arist von Schlippe