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The expression “an elephant in the room” is readily recognized to mean an uncomfortable situation not talked about but clearly known to all. When elephants make unwanted appearances—at family dinners, social gatherings, meetings—people get uncomfortable and begin to shut down. When this happens, they begin to operate from as...

While wealthy families prefer to pass nearly two-thirds of their wealth to their children, grandchildren and other heirs, they grapple with a fundamental question: Can their wealth benefit their generation and be passed on to future generations while also having a positive impact on those future generations? Experience shows that sustaining fa...

If a premarital agreement is a prerequisite to getting married, doing all you can to ensure that your agreement will be upheld against a future challenge should be your guiding priority. Accordingly, there are some helpful tips—the do’s and don’ts—to consider with respect to a premarital agreement. When thoughtfully negotiated and wisely drafted, a...

In light of the high conflict nature of many divorces, and the cost and time associated with divorce litigation, many couples attempt to pre-plan for the possibility of a later divorce by executing a pre-marital agreement. The past, present, and future of pre-nups and post-nups highlight a process that attempts to minimize a couple's stress during ...

Ask a wealth management colleague to define “the cloud” and you are likely to get a vague response. Even among information technology experts, the term “cloud” may refer to different technologies that are only connected in a general sense. And despite the fact that cloud computing has quickly become the IT norm, the question...

In 2009 the Bitcoin blockchain emerged as a form of a smart contract and has since evolved. From both a technological and legal perspective, smart contracts will continue to evolve and disrupt in digital asset sales and capital markets, supply chain management, smart government records and smart cities, real estate land registries, and self-soverei...

Today, more business and IT executives are implementing dynamic threat intelligence and information sharing to shift cybersecurity and privacy capabilities from reactive to proactive. They understand that they can build business advantages and customer trust by detecting, responding to and mitigating cyberthreats in real time. Addressing those thre...

Companies manage many risks, and it’s easy for boards to get bogged down discussing financial and compliance risks. But that can mean they’re not paying enough attention to risks that are truly critical, including cybersecurity that is continually evolving or threatening. Directors need to make sure they have an effective risk managemen...

The families with the strongest governance plans are those that survive the most challenging times. They understand the importance of listening to younger generations and bringing them into the decision-making process. Other families find it more challenging to discuss wealth issues openly and to share decision making. In a Q&A with Jack Garnie...

The internet and connected devices are transforming the world, mostly for the better. But for all the advantages cyberspace brings, there are also growing risks for businesses and families, all of which are relevant for family offices. We’re all vulnerable, but wealthy families are particularly attractive targets in the eyes of cybercriminals...