The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a degree of change that we’ve never seen or even imagined before. Just a few months ago, few people would have believed that a virus would cause economies to shut down and cities and countries to go into lock-down. Quickly, we’ve needed to adapt to a new way of life. But the change we are experiencing and now expecting goes far deeper, and this is evident in the language we’re…
A fascinating research article discusses public debt and intergenerational burden shifting. Using laboratory experiments, it seeks to understand how voters make choices about the way public debt should be accumulated in the presence of multiple and/or overlapping generations. The study finds that in the presence of future generations, voters are comfortable with the government loading up with debt in the knowledge that this debt burden will have to be satisfied by future generations. But without…
The pandemic crisis is forcing the hand of family businesses to address the pace of change in new ways. Every day we must act and even make some tough choices—despite the lack of any reliable information about the best direction to take. Some owners make tough decisions on their own, rather than seeking help from others. Some choose impulsive or blind allegiance pathways. I wrote the following on the Bloomberg press about the Singh brothers…
#Intergenerational necessity, vulnerabilities, and resilience are typical factors addressed in determining wealth transition. However, adapting to the changing demands, expectations and opportunities in the disruption via #pandemic will epically force family businesses to rethink their strategies. The immediate need for #workfromhome, revised #familybusiness strategy, #riskassessment, and governance are paramount for pivoting to #nextgeneration and #futureofwork organizations. In the UK, the final report by the Intergenerational Commission speaks in terms of an intergenerational contract – “the principle that…
With many people forced into #remotework and/or #shelterinplace, it is essential to understand the impact of the family dynamic on a business. Besides the obvious space and time-management issues, conflict in family business happens differently, therefore must be resolved differently. Disputes within a family don’t escalate suddenly. They are often built on years of relationship sentiment that is latent or suppressed. With the current #pandemic the triggers for those conflicts can easily be fast-tracked and…
https://youtu.be/VBjOcFtRqNw How many people have put their business life ahead of their spouse or relationship to its great detriment? While we can think of a business as a the living thing, unlike a spouse or a family member, it isn’t a sentient being. It won’t get mad at you if you don’t spend enough time with them. It won’t give you attitude. You can decide what you want the relationship with your business to be…
Most people with wealth to pass on have never talked to their heirs about how they plan to distribute their assets after they die because they consider the information too personal, according to a recent survey. In six out of 10 families, there is no process in place to ensure family wealth decisions are made and communicated effectively (from another survey). This is actually no surprise, because these sorts of discussions are among the most…
I’ve recently returned from a speaking engagement at a conference in Dubai, which was my first visit there. As I walked around the city and particularly the mall, I pictured “founding father” Sheikh Al Maktoum just a few decades earlier looking out on a desert, and imaging a future that few others could imagine. Creating modern Dubai took a huge amount of money and some outstanding engineering, but the most important ingredient was … vision….
Whether you choose to spend your kids inheritance, gift assets or you prefer to hold money back for the kids, managing what you leave behind can be done a few different ways. There is no right way, and there should be no pressure to choose one direction or another. Your life, your money! Mass media will always jump on stories that seek to challenge and debunk commonly accepted narratives. CNBC is running a story suggesting…
The millenial impact research has illuminated a much more caring generation than generally believed, one that is complex in their depth of passion toward causes. http://www.themillennialimpact.com/about The ongoing debate about ‘generation wars’ will never stop, but here’s an interesting take on this from Slate Magazine, which claims that research on generations is flawed. Statements like “baby boomers are selfish” and “millennials are narcissists” abound, but where is the science to support this, it asks. While…
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