Family Business Audiocast

In this fortieth episode of The Family Business Audiocast, R. Adam Smith welcomes Judith Pearson, founder of Precision Brokers and Nomadx. As a recognized leader in fiduciary risk management, Judith shares insights on evolving trust structures and insurance innovations that protect family wealth. The conversation explores private trust companies across different states, the shift in next-generation priorities, and how family financial planning intersects with risk management. Judith draws on her extensive background in D&O liability insurance to explain how trustees and family office services can navigate complex regulatory environments while ensuring proper protection during the upcoming $70 trillion wealth transfer.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Bill Stranberg, second-generation leader and managing partner at Stranberg, a firm specializing in executive search and talent strategy for family-owned businesses. Drawing from his own experience joining his parents' firm in 2013, Stranberg shares insights on the delicate balance between honoring family legacy while pursuing evolution and growth. The conversation explores the unique family enterprise challenges in hiring external leadership, including the critical importance of alignment across family members and the difficulties in transferring power from long-tenured executives. Stranberg emphasizes that successful family financial planning requires addressing both organizational culture and family dynamics when navigating leadership transitions in increasingly complex multi-generational businesses.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Robbie Heeger, founder and CEO of Endaoment, the first blockchain-powered community foundation revolutionizing philanthropy for digital asset holders. Heeger shares how his journey began with a simple quest for tax efficiency when donating cryptocurrency, revealing the gap in the market for donor-advised funds (DAFs) that could accept digital assets. The conversation explores how DAFs serve as accessible entry points for next-generation family members looking to establish their philanthropic identity within the family wealth office structure. Heeger also discusses Endaoment's dual structure as both a technology company and nonprofit, outlining his vision for democratizing philanthropy through blockchain's transparency and community governance capabilities.

R. Adam Smith welcomes economic anthropologist Bridget Kustin of Oxford Saïd Business School and Associate Professor Emanuela Rondi of the University of Bergamo for an insightful academic perspective on family enterprise dynamics. Kustin shares findings from the Ownership Project 2.0, examining how ultra-wealthy families approach impact investment and the disconnect between their self-perception and actual ESG performance. Rondi discusses her research on family business innovation, particularly how intergenerational relationships can drive digital transformation through "reverse mentorship." Together, they explore the complexities of family wealth office structures, succession planning challenges, and how evolving concepts of legacy affect multi-generational family financial planning.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Christina Wing and Maryann Bell of Wingspan Legacy Partners for an illuminating discussion on family enterprise governance and multi-generational wealth stewardship. Christina, who teaches "Demystifying Families in Business" at Harvard Business School, and Maryann bring their extensive experience helping elite families navigate the complexities of succession planning. The conversation explores how governance structures serve as "glue" for family wealth office cohesion, the evolution of board structures, and empowering next-generation family members to create their own legacies while honoring family heritage. Their insights reveal how legacy should be viewed as dynamic and living rather than static preservation.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Bobby Stover, leader of Ernst & Young's Americas Family Enterprise and Family Office Business. Bobby shares his framework of four essential pillars for successful family enterprise longevity: growth strategy, company capitalization, shareholder liquidity, and generational transition strategy. The conversation explores how technology is blurring the lines between single and multi-family office structures, while examining ways family wealth offices balance growth objectives with maintaining legacy. Bobby's expertise helps families navigate succession planning, governance, and wealth preservation challenges.

In this episode, host R. Adam Smith welcomes Brandon Henry, founder of Mosaic Advisors. Brandon shares insights from his work advising first-generation family enterprise owners whose wealth is primarily tied to illiquid assets. The conversation explores the intersection of family wealth office technical planning and the human dynamics that shape family legacy decisions. Brandon's unique "fixed fee" advisory model allows Mosaic to serve as an objective guide through complex family business transitions, especially when different generations have conflicting visions for family assets.

R. Adam Smith hosts an insightful panel discussion with three renowned family business experts: Jason Ma (CEO of ThreeEQ), Emily Bouchard (family wealth transition specialist), and Chelsea Toler (next-gen researcher and Logictry co-founder). This dynamic conversation explores the tensions between generational approaches to family investment, entrepreneurship, and governance. The panelists share practical strategies for fostering effective communication between generations, creating meaningful legacy, and developing sustainable family governance structures. Drawing from their diverse backgrounds working with family enterprises, they offer valuable insights on balancing traditional wealth preservation with next-generation innovation while maintaining family harmony across generations.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Jim Grubman, founder of Family Wealth Consulting and pioneering thought leader in the family business space. With over three decades of experience, Jim discusses his groundbreaking Wealth 3.0 paradigm, which shifts family wealth advising from fear-based strategies toward engagement and resilience. Throughout the conversation, Jim offers profound insights on preparing next-generation family members to develop healthy relationships with wealth, the importance of transparency in family financial planning, and how families can balance honoring tradition while embracing innovation. Drawing from his experience with The Ultra High Net Worth Institute and his book "Strangers in Paradise," Jim examines how legacy can evolve across generations while maintaining core family values.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Kristi Daeda, CEO of The Family Business Consulting Group, to discuss the nuances of family business governance and succession planning. Drawing on insights from her 30 years of experience, Kristi shares how family enterprise leaders can build durable relationships and decision-making structures that withstand generational transitions. She emphasizes that effective family governance requires more than just policies and structures—it demands ongoing conversations that build alignment and create clear roles. The discussion explores how families can prepare next-generation leaders, integrate non-family executives, and navigate the emotional challenges of letting go during business transitions, while maintaining family financial planning objectives and preserving legacy across generations.