The ingenuity and success rate of hackers targeting banks and credit unions continues to shock and amaze. Don't expect the financial services industry to ever willingly disclose how much it loses to cyber thieves on an annual basis. But make no mistake determined, well-funded hacking rings continue ...

When was the last time you felt “at home” in a completely new environment? What about this experience – the people you encountered or the service you received –made you feel truly welcomed?This happened to me last week at my daughter’s college orientation, a day filled with big emotions, as any surv...

Trillions of dollars are beginning to shift within ultra-high net worth families to a new generation of heirs, according to a recent Accenture study. As this transfer of wealth takes place, what giving trends from millennial philanthropists can we expect to see in the years to come?To help answer th...

51% of decisions in family businesses are made by senior generationsOver the last few years, business owners have inquired about ways to integrate the younger generations with the purpose of preserving the family business. In a recent FOX study, 70% of survey participants said that generations 1 and...

How does one manage a vibrant, multi-dimensional family business with family members and stakeholders scattered across the country? That’s the 21st century challenge for business-owning families, and creating a family enterprise is the first step in an effective strategy to address it.Many suc...

For the past several years, I have had the honor and pleasure of Co-Chairing the FOX Senior Management Council with Mariann Mihailidis at FOX. This council is a wonderful group of 25 senior family office leaders of multi-generational family enterprises who meet twice a year for a couple of days. My ...

The acronym ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It refers to a mode of screening investments that considers environment, social and corporate governance disciplines as criteria, seeking to achieve both competitive financial return and positive social impact.ESG is part of the socia...

As an entrepreneur or small business owner first starting out, you may have the desire to make philanthropy a core principle of your business but feel you have to put that desire on hold until you earn more money.But Vern Mangels believes you should not give in to that feeling. “You have to start wi...

The impact of the work accomplished each year by FOX family council members is impressive. We gather these peer groups of 25 wealth owners or family office executives twice a year, and my favorite session of the first meeting of the year is called “Accomplishments and Initiatives.” In this session, ...

Every time you communicate, you’re doing one of two things:You’re adding valueYou’re taking up spaceWhen you add value, you’re contributing to the conversation. Clients are more likely to listen to you, remember you, and take action on what you say. They’ll pay more for your time, and respect your o...