On a recent trip to Australia I met an entrepreneurial couple who talked about the annual cash flush they provide to their children. When digging deeper the conversation touched on topics of ‘how much is enough’ and ‘how to keep them responsible citizens in their communities despite the money’. In our advisory work we often get involved in such discussions. Conflicts in families mainly centre about two issues: power (who leads the family company) and money (who gets how much access to cash). Let’s focus on the money for now.
When it comes to handing over the reins to successors, the odds are stacked against family businesses. Around 70% of families fail to properly pass their business or wealth to the next generation. One of the biggest reasons is that half of families lack a succession plan: a process for identifying and nurturing people to become leaders in the business.
