Family Business Audiocast

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.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Shaun Parkin, founder of Hall Road Investments, an Australian firm specializing in family office investment governance. Drawing from over 25 years of experience in asset management, Shaun shares insights on how his company helps family offices develop robust investment committee structures and reporting infrastructure. The conversation explores the increasing complexity of alternative investments, the importance of purpose-driven family financial planning, and effective technology solutions for portfolio tracking. Shaun also discusses his Family Office Sherpa platform, which offers valuable resources through a newsletter and podcast for family enterprise leaders navigating investment governance challenges.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Dr. Kirby Rosplock, founder of Tamarind Partners and Tamarind Learning, to discuss the educational gaps facing family enterprises. With over 20 years of experience, Kirby shares insights on how her educational platform addresses crucial knowledge deficits in trust beneficiaries and next-generation family members. The conversation explores how family financial planning education impacts wealth transfer success, with Kirby noting that 90% of wealth transfer failures stem from inadequate communication and education—not technical planning. She offers practical guidance on navigating liquidity events, choosing between single and multi-family office structures, and building lasting family legacy through intentional learning.

In this episode, R. Adam Smith welcomes Valerie Galinskaya, Managing Director and Head of the Merrill Center for Family Wealth. With 18 years of experience helping ultra-high-net-worth families, Valerie shares insights on effective family financial planning strategies and the importance of intentional communication about wealth. She discusses her framework of Five Core Competencies for family wealth management and explains why defining purpose should precede structure and dollar amounts when discussing wealth transfer. The conversation explores how family enterprise governance benefits from clear decision-making processes and how legacy planning extends beyond financial considerations.

R. Adam Smith welcomes Tom Deans, international best-selling author and global authority on family wealth transfers. Drawing from his groundbreaking book "Every Family's Business" (with over 1 million copies sold in 100+ countries), Deans challenges conventional wisdom about family business succession planning. He presents a compelling case for selling family businesses to the next generation at full market value rather than gifting them - a philosophy developed through his own family's successful multi-generational experiences. The conversation explores why family enterprises often fail when gifted, how successful family wealth office structures can better preserve capital across generations, and why legacy should be understood as the family itself rather than the business. Deans provides practical insights into facilitating crucial family conversations about business transitions, emphasizing that concentrating wealth in one illiquid asset for multiple generations is often financially unsound despite emotional attachments.