All articles by Barbara Hauser

Family governance: charities, philanthropy, education and family offices

Family Governance is how families make decisions together. If they create a good system, i.e. one that includes transparency, accountability and participation—they should be able to avoid the family fights that often occur in inheritance-related disputes. The process the family follows in creating a good governance system is easy to understand but requires the commitment of all family members. By simply going through a good process to create documents like a Family Constitution or a Family Mission, the family is at the same time practicing...

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multi-family office, wealth management

Should we have a Family Constitution and what should it cover?

By simply going through a good process to create documents like a Family Constitution or a Family Mission, the family is at the same time practicing good governance in a “hands-on” practical manner.  What is a Family Constitution? A Family Constitution is like a constitution for a country (or the By-laws for a listed company). The benefits of having a Family Constitution are: Decision-making is clear. In a Family Constitution the rules are set out for exactly how decisions will be made. Which kinds of decisions are made? The Family...

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family constitution

A Quick Guide to set up a Good Family Governance system?

Family Governance is how families make decisions together. If they create a good system, i.e. one that includes transparency, accountability and participation—they should be able to avoid the family fights that often occur in inheritance-related disputes. The process the family follows in creating a good family governance system is easy to understand but requires the commitment of all family members. By simply going through a good process to create documents like a Family Constitution or a Family Mission, the family is at the same time...

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good family governance system, family governance

How to create a good Family Governance system?

The process the family follows in creating a good family governance system is easy to understand but requires the commitment of all family members. By simply going through a good process to create documents like a Family Constitution or a Family Mission, the family is at the same time practicing good governance in a “hands-on” practical manner. Family Governance is how families make decisions together. If they create a good system, i.e. one that includes transparency, accountability and participation—they should be able to avoid the family...

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good family governance system, family governance

Raising Wealthy Children

Raising Wealthy Children “Mommy, are we rich?” is a question parents dread and do not know how to answer. This article gives a number of practical suggestions for parents to help with raising wealthy children. The key guidance is to answer truthfully (as with all other topics) but also to understand what the child’s questions are really about. The values that are passed along about money and wealth become nearly unconscious and always quite emotional. Many say the topic is harder to talk about than sex! Has your child asked “Mommy, are we...

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raising wealthy children