I’ve worked in this industry long enough to know there are no absolute truths when it comes to financial and estate planning. “Every wealthy family is wealthy in its own way,” as Tolstoy might write, and only through collaborative inquiry can your family’s truths be revealed. Over the decades, I’ve curated this library of thought-provokers and conversation-starters to help guide that inquiry. Run your fingers over their spines, pick whichever sparks your interest, and begin.
Book

The Living Company

The same strategies that 300+ year old companies use will work for multi-generational families as well.   Buy Book

The Idea Lab

The Role of the Advisor and the Experience You Should Expect

Full disclosure – I am an advisor I have a business degree from Wharton, a law degree from Seton Hall, the chartered life underwriter (CLU) designation, and I am an accredited estate planner (AEP). However, none of these reflect the nature of the work I believe my clients find valuable. As I explain later, my … Continued

Book

Humility is the New Smart

With the rise of of Smart Machines (look in your own pocket) we need to focus on ‘human only’ skills. This book provides excellent insights on thriving in the current environment.   Buy Book

Book

Cycle of the Gift

This is best explanation of what gifts and gifting should and should not be about.   Buy Book

Workbook

Happiness & Satisfaction Project

You Can Have This! In all of the studies of happiness, one quality consistently rises to the top: relationships. For the surest path to happiness, take care of your relationships, and included the difficult ones. Consider how each of the following seven secrets is working in your life. You may be a happy wealthy person, … Continued

The Idea Lab

How Much Is Enough?

Defining the “right” inheritance through a four-step process Clients regularly confront wealth planning professionals with the question, “How much is enough to leave my children?” Download Full Article

Workbook

Generational Wealth Planning

Wealth + Wisdom = Opportunity Download Workbook

The Idea Lab

The FIVE Capitals of Family Wealth

For many years I’ve spoken about the concept of The Four Capitals of Family Wealth, which I learned from my friend Jay Hughes. Over the last 3 to 4 years the idea has expanded to The Five Capitals, again after being in conversation with Jay Hughes. These five look like this: Human Capital – This … Continued

The Idea Lab

The Family Governance Table & Chairs: Function Driving Form

There are a large number of books and sources on the structure of family governance. Several have been listed at the end of this paper. For the greatest part, all deal with structure and form. Family Councils, Family Boards, Boards of Advisors etc… are common topics. Our purpose is to look at function in light … Continued

The Idea Lab

Dysfunctional Cycles in Conflict Management

Identifying Dysfunctional Cycles in Conflict Management Rare is the family who adopts a healthy paradigm f or conflict management.Instead, most family members learn “strategies” that have been passed down to them from parents who also lacked healthy paradigms for conflict management. As a result, family members use a range of strategies that are not constructive, … Continued