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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Preparing for the Next Generation Starts with Being Investor-Ready

Rom-Coms Can Complicate Your Succession Planning

Cooperating with Competitors is Good Business in Japan

Will Your Family Brand Survive New Leadership?

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Recent

Why Enterprising Families Need a Code of Conduct

by Maryann G. Bell / Applied and Practice

As Prince Andrew showed, one person’s behavior can become everyone’s problem. Families must set expectations, outline processes, and provide clarity before emotions take over. Read more...

From 'Passing Down' to 'Building Up': Rethinking Values in Family Firms

by Viktoria Luft, Anne Katarina Heider, Heinrich Liechtenstein, and Tarek el Sehity / Research Insight

Rather than inherited like family heirlooms, values are shaped and re-shaped by interactions between the generations at the family firm. Read more...

Your Investment Strategy Should Reflect Your Family Values and Goals

by Claudia Binz Astrachan, Anneleen Michiels, Massimo Baù, and Chris Graves / Practice Insight

A family investment policy defines how a family manages its collective financial assets in alignment with its shared values, goals, and risk preferences. Read more...

Families Can Overcome Generational Conflicts Over Technology

by Maria Annosi, Mat Hughes, Davide de Gennaro, Roberta Oppedisano, and Filomena Buonocore / Research Insight

A study of Italian firms shows how differences can be resolved, so the company can honor tradition and still make progress. Read more...

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

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

by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander

Listening to the Family: The Strategic Value of Surveys

by Claudia Binz Astrachan

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon

Here Are the Next Gen's Biggest Worries

by Kimberly Eddleston