Family Matters On Line
A WORLDWIDE INITIATIVE OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS
Family Matters On Line has been created with the help and input of dozens of independent experts from around the world. We all have vast experience with matters that are important for families worldwide. Family Matters is committed to making our collective experience freely available to anyone looking for ideas and solutions for their important family matters.
Together, we provide help through our short articles on various topics. Our goal is to answer questions that families have about matters such as planning and protecting their estate, running and transferring their family business, and organizing medical proxies and emergency measures.
These days, many people are worried and ask themselves questions like, “Who is my family, and what should each of them receive and when?” “Should we prepare and train the next generation to take responsibility for the business?” and “How should we organize our family, and what if something happens to one of us?”
Family matters now more than ever, and families need answers. So, we will help because everyone matters.
Why
Family Matters
Over time, families tend to grow and so do their assets if they are well-planned and managed. The older generation will eventually have to hand over control of their estate, and the new heads of the family must be identified, groomed, and accepted. This process takes time and effort, especially since the rest of the family must accept and support the new leaders. This raises questions such as “What do we tell those who will not have leadership roles? What role, information, and influence should non-leaders have?”
Family Matters On Line website
This website shares practical answers and experiences about this process. It also provides brief explanations of suitable and flexible structures, such as Foundations, Trusts, and Waqf, to manage and finance the family, its assets, and its philanthropy.
Suggestions are given for secure estate and safe tax planning, and the ways in which families can be organized and governed for example through family offices and with the help of family governance through documents such as a family charter with the relevant core family values, culture and understandings within the family. These and many more topics with which families are often confronted, are covered.
Many authors have addressed issues related to people moving from one country to another and the risks and opportunities that come with it.
A few of our most recent articles
Setting up your family philanthropy for long-term success
Individuals and families have good intentions when giving assets to charity. They want to share their resources, make a positive impact on their community and share their values with the rising generations through their philanthropic work. But often, for a philanthropic program to be lasting,...
Switzerland’s allure for the wealthy and lump-sum taxation: Understanding its attraction and potential benefits
Switzerland's allure for the wealthy is largely attributed to a policy known as lump-sum taxation. This distinctive approach assesses income and wealth to determine the tax liability in a unique manner. It is available to foreign nationals who establish their tax residence in Switzerland and...
Succession planning and business handovers: Handing over the baton
We have all seen the images of the Olympic athletes performing at the 4x400 meters relay at the games in Paris struggling with the handover of their baton in the final meters of their leg. Although slightly different this is how a leader of a Family or Founder Controlled Business might feel...
Tackle Your Life Change with Integrative Legal Counseling and Holistic Leadership Mentoring
An identity crisis in adulthood can be disorienting, especially when coupled with legal responsibilities and emotional challenges. Traditional approaches like psychotherapy or coaching often fall short in addressing the multifaceted nature of these crises. This is where Integrative Legal...
Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in High-Net-Worth Families
In today's increasingly diverse and interconnected world, the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become essential. For high-net-worth families, integrating these values within the family unit can be particularly challenging, yet profoundly rewarding. Embracing DEI not...
Global Wealth Shift: How Geopolitical Uncertainty is Reshaping HNWI Migration
As we advance through the third decade of the 21st century, geopolitical threats and shifting global dynamics are prompting high net worth individuals (HNWIs) to reassess the safest havens for their families and wealth. The war in Ukraine and the evolving relationship between China and the West...
A Holistic Approach to Legal Commitment for Unmarried Couples
As our society evolves, the traditional concept of marriage is no longer the only way to form a committed relationship. More and more couples are choosing to forego marriage, opting for cohabitation or other forms of partnership instead. However, the absence of legal protection for these...
Wholistic Business Succession
Wholistic business succession uses awareness and opens new ways of seeing your life situation. The holistic law approach gives long term benefits, which are more sustainable than litigation and PR: happiness is the goal! When thinking about selling or inheriting a business, you should first...
A Holistic Approach to Family Business Succession with Women Leaders
Family business succession planning demands a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional considerations. Empowering women leaders, addressing legal aspects like real estate, divorce, and inheritance, are crucial in ensuring a seamless transition and preserving family harmony. This...
Switzerland’s Revised Foundation Law 2024: Enhancing Flexibility and Governance
After nearly seven years of debate, Switzerland's Parliament passed a revised foundation law on December 17, 2021, set to come into effect on January 1st, 2024. The updated law introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing the rights of founders, simplifying foundation modifications, and...
Succession and Competitive edge: Two Challenges Keeping Family Business Leaders Awake
Among the many challenges you as leaders of Family and Founder Controlled Businesses (FFCB’s) face, succession and gaining or maintaining a competitive edge might be the ones keeping you awake. They may seriously impact the future of your business as well as the level of future involvement of...
Portugal’s Residency Visas: Golden Visa Changes and Alternative Routes in 2024
The Golden Visa changes are not yet in force, as they still need to be approved by the Portuguese President of the Republic and, afterwards, published in the “National Republic Gazette”. However, as analyzed in this article, not only some of the Golden Visa modalities will be maintained -...