Thought Leader Series

When I was in third grade, my teacher brought in some maple tree saplings as part of a science lesson. We were shown two possible places to plant these saplings; one spot was in an old forest with many mature trees, and the other was in an open area with no other surrounding vegetation. Many of us c...

I recently had an amazing opportunity to spend a few days with 46 millennial clients who came to Silicon Valley for our Next Generation Program. Focused on the theme “Innovate for Impact,” the program was hosted by our Family Wealth Advisors team and BNP Paribas Wealth Management.The 4-day event gav...

“To thine own self be true,” William Shakespeare famously wrote. The same could be said of organizations, many of which tirelessly work to ensure that they uphold the principles expressed in their mission statements — but with one gap, the investments made out of their endowments. That’s where...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury plans to withdraw proposed regulations issued in August 2016 that would have narrowed or eliminated taxpayers’ ability to claim valuation discounts on transfers of interests in family-controlled entities.The Treasury Department’s October 2 announcement that it wou...

Even highly responsible children can compound cyber risk to the entire household. They are more trusting than adults. They inadvertently engage with cyber thieves in gaming situations. Some work around security to see sites their parents don’t want them to visit. And, many of them are far ahead of t...

In 360 B.C., the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote of the distinction between simply giving away money and giving it away as part of a thoughtful process.In Aristotle’s words, whereas anyone can do the former approach, this latter approach to giving is “rare, praiseworthy and noble.” Now, thousands ...

Buying or selling real estate, especially your personal home, presents a unique set of fraud and cyber-security risks. Protect yourself by understanding these risks and exercising the precautions below during real-estate and other high-value transactions.Understanding the RisksSeveral factors make r...

Transitioning a family business to the next generation is one of the most important and toughest business decisions a family firm owner will ever make. No other challenge has as much potential to exacerbate the special stresses—or, conversely, highlight the unique advantages—of operating a family-ow...

At first glance, the clothing company Patagonia, the cleaning products manufacturer Method, and the funding platform Kickstarter might seem radically different. After all, they come from vastly different industries.However, they are all benefit corporations, which means they belong to a new cl...

After an unsolicited offer from a competitor, a family reflects on what they’ve built and the uncertain road ahead.The majority of family-owned businesses have no formal succession plan or successor leaders in the wings. Equally troubling are the studies showing only 30% of family businesses survivi...