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The Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in the effective governance of any organization, including the private family trust company. Board members fulfill their roles and responsibilities, in part, by holding regular meetings that utilize a comprehensive agenda. One vital tool for an effective Board meeting is the meeting agenda. Here, ten sugg...

Families of wealth and business-owning families face security risks in their everyday lives, where personal and business risks are often blended and are typically managed by different people and processes. This creates a gap in identifying risks and solutions that can be addressed through a holistic and collaborative risk management approach. With ...

A volunteer position with a nonprofit organization can be an incredibly rewarding experience—both for the volunteer and for the organization. But the path to key leadership roles with such organizations can be tricky to navigate. While the process inevitably will vary from organization to organization, there are a few things that can help with maki...

Although public companies are most often the targets of shareholder claims and class-action suits, not-for-profit and private entities are not immune from litigation. As a director, you could be named personally in claims of fraud or financial mismanagement from which the entity’s indemnification provisions and business structure cannot always prot...

Lawsuit awards can be incredibly high, and individuals known to have substantial assets are particularly vulnerable. In some cases, the high-stake lawsuits can cause devastating reputational damage. Given the risks and exposure, the need for holistic liability protection is an important issue. Learn the different types of liability i...

Black swan events—like the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID pandemic—often come with high velocity and are slow to recover. While these events are difficult to predict, the best way to get ready for the next crisis is with extreme preparation. Looking ahead with intentional risk management, here are 8 ways to prepare your business, family enterp...

Cybercriminals have migrated their attacks from larger businesses and hardened targets to private wealth clients and family offices, where the defenses are low or non-existent. In this webcast, hear from Dr. Chris Pierson, CEO of BLACKCLOAK, a Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy Protection Platform that represents private wealth and family office...

A high-quality board of directors with a range of talents and experience can be a powerful resource for your company. Taking steps to ensure your board is well-designed, well-informed, and properly engaged will reap significant benefits for your company’s shareholders and management team.

No matter if a family enterprise is establishing an Advisory Board, Fiduciary Board, or Owners Board, considerations must include the roles that family members might play and how best to prepare them for service. As a fourth-generation Pitcairn family member and family governance leader within a pioneering multi-family office, Andrew Pitcairn share...

Cyberattacks are impossible to completely prevent and the consequences of a data breach can be devastating. In addition to information and finances lost, breaches can result in downtime and reputational damage that can set your company far behind competitors. If your organization has experienced a cyberattack, there are three things that can b...

As family offices expand their technology footprint, cyberattacks are rising. Hackers continue to refine their approaches, but security controls and proactive planning can strengthen your family office cybersecurity defenses. Initially, focus on the key action items to validate your existing security setup and inform your plans to address any short...

Wealthy families have always faced complex risk management issues, but it is particularly challenging when facing soaring inflation, regulatory uncertainty, rising cybercrime rates, and increasingly severe natural disasters. These market stressors impact all sectors of the insurance market, making it more expensive and challenging for affluent fami...

Consistently revisiting potential liquidity risk is important work for family investors, as many of these risks can lay silent for prolonged periods and become easy to overlook. In fact, unexpected liquidity demands can undo a lot of hard work and, in a worst-case scenario, force a fire sale of assets. By carrying out regular liquidity risk analyse...

Many employers have begun using artificial intelligence (AI) tools supplied by third-party vendors. On May 18, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provided guidance indicating that, in its view, employers are generally liable for the outcomes of using selection tools to make employment decisions. Learn more about what tool...

The growing use of video and automated technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in employment practices—and the concern that the technology may foster discrimination and bias—has triggered a wide array of regulatory efforts. At least 11 statutes have been introduced targeting the use of AI-related technology to assist with employment dec...