Wealth of Wisdom

In this episode of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast series, co-author Tom McCullough interviews renowned sixth-generation counselor-at-law, now-retired attorney James E. (Jay) Hughes. Tom and Jay discuss his journey, what really matters to families, and three practices he has used successfully with families over the years.

In this first episode of their new podcast series, co-authors Tom McCullough and Keith Whitaker are interviewed by Scott Dickenson on their new Wealth of Wisdom book and podcast series. The group discusses why Tom and Keith decided to write another Wealth of Wisdom book and how this one differs from their first book. A great overview of what the book is about, who it is for, and some of Tom and Ke...

In this special 50th episode of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast, co-editors Tom McCullough and Keith Whitaker are interviewed by Scott Dickenson on their experience writing Wealth of Wisdom and recording 50 podcast episodes since October 2018. Tom and Keith discuss their favourite chapters from the book, the topics that have resonated the most with readers, and what specific skills and ideas that eac...

How can you think through the use of wealth that exceeds your personal needs? This is a perennial question to which Paul Schervish applies the perennial insights of St. Ignatius. In this conversation with Keith Whitaker, Paul shares elements of the 'discernment process' and its application to the disposition of wealth. He also talks about how discernment takes into account the joys and anxieties w...

In this week's episode of the Wealth of Wisdom Podcast, Tom interviews investing legend Howard Marks on his chapter from the book entitled, "How should private investors understand and deal with investment risk?" Howard is a well-known investor, speaker and author on the topic of investing and risk. Listen as Tom and Howard engage in a wide-ranging conversation on the current market environment, h...

In this episode, Tom McCullough interviews Meir Statman, well-known author and professor at Santa Clara University who specializes in behavioral finance. We talk about what behavioral finance really means and how it impacts the lives of families of wealth. Meir also talks about his chapter in  Wealth of Wisdom  answering the question "What is the right balance between saving and spending in retire...

How much should we give our children and when? That's probably the most common question that parents with wealth ask. In this interview with Keith Whitaker, Peter Evans, a leading  personne de confiance  to wealthy families, takes on that question directly. He discusses the importance of not giving significant financial resources to children before they have become mature and independent. He also...

Dean Fowler is one of the founders and leaders of the field of family business consulting. In this conversation with Keith Whitaker, Dean shares his perspective on how the field has changed over the last 35 years. He also describes the seven habits that he has found help prepare successors in families with business or wealth to succeed as family leaders. Dean discusses strategies for successors to...

In this episode, Tom McCullough interviews Chris Brightman, Chief Investment Officer of Research Affiliates, who discusses the rates of return investors can expect from their investment portfolios. Of course no one can predict exactly what returns will be, particularly over short periods of time, but in this conversation Chris lays out a fact-based, time-tested approach that will help families and...

Lisa Parker is president and executive director of the Lawrence Welk Family Foundation, which was established by her grandfather, the world-famous entertainer and entrepreneur. In this interview with Keith Whitaker, Lisa talks about lessons she learned from her work with the second, third, and fourth generations of her family, as well as what she's learned from other families about how to engage c...

Family business consultant and educator Greg McCann has decades of experience consulting to other families and helping to run his own family's business. In this interview with Keith Whitaker he shares insights into a key challenge for every family enterprise: how to develop leaders. Greg describes the elements of vertical leadership development. He also offers a wealth of tips and practices that f...

What is the point of family governance? Many a first-generation family leader has asked this question with some doubt that there is a point. Family business consultant Katherine Grady ably describes in this podcast how governance plays an essential role in the well-being of businesses and families that last for generations. In her interview with Keith Whitaker, Katherine describes the main structu...

How do you prepare for a good goodbye? That is, the final goodbye, death. That is the fundamental question that Kathy Wiseman takes up in this podcast and her contribution to  Wealth of Wisdom . In her conversation with co-editor Keith Whitaker, Kathy talks about the role of the study of anxiety in her work with families, and she draws several lessons from her experience about how to raise the que...

In this episode, Tom interviews Mary Duke about family meetings. Families are very complex 'organizations' all on their own, and the addition of wealth brings even more complexity. Families also face many changes over time – some predictable and some unexpected – which adds tends to add stress. So, good communication is key and family meetings are a helpful way to keep members in the loop and make...

In this episode, Tom talks to Ashvin Chhabra (one of the fathers of goals-based investing) about 'how you can make sure your portfolio lines up with your actual goals?' This probably sounds obvious, but it is not commonly practiced in real life. In fact Ashvin argues that investing is not really about the  markets  at all - it's about  you , the investor. He show how you can organize your balance...

Lee Hausner is one of the leaders in the field of family wealth and business. In this conversation with Keith Whitaker she shares insight on what makes families thrive, when parents should consider telling their children about wealth and how, when parents should begin giving their children access to family funds, and how to manage the question of giving fairly versus equally to the rising generati...

When should a family call it quits and go their separate ways? How can a family even think about this painful question? In this podcast, Keith Whitaker speaks with family business consultant Doug Baumoel about these fundamental questions, ones that, from time to time, any family that is managing a business or wealth together have to face. Doug reviews the concept of the 'family factor,' which meas...

Business, wealth, family, and life itself all have a way of drawing our attention away from what matters  most  to what matters  now , from the  important  to the  urgent . In this episode, Tom talks to Thayer Willis whose chapter answers the question: What are the key considerations in crafting your legacy? Thayer offers a path to answering that question for yourself. It begins with identifying a...

Jill Shipley's chapter in Wealth of Wisdom is titled, 'How Do You Raise Responsible, Independent, and Productive Children (versus Entitled Trust Fund Babies)?'. When working with wealthy families, this question comes up as often as any other question covered in the 50 chapters of the book. In this episode, Tom McCullough interviews Jill on what she thinks the best practices are for wealthy parents...

Though it may not be – nor should it be – the first question families ask, is often one of the most important ones when it comes to the management of their financial assets: What should my asset allocation be? When it comes to wealthy families, we can think of no better person to answer that question than Jean Brunel, the managing principal of Brunel Associates. In this wide ranging conversation,...

Life is complicated and it gets more so as wealth increases. At the same time, navigating the world of investments, financial products and planning is becoming more challenging every day. You can't be good at everything, so it is probably inevitable that you will have to rely on advisors with key technical skill and practical experience at some point. What do you do when you think you have found a...

What are tools to build healthy families? That's the question that Keith Whitaker discusses with Christian Stewart in this podcast. Christian is a non-practicing solicitor in Hong Kong who consults with global families around family governance. Among other things, Christian describes exercises he uses with families around managing difficult conversations and expressing gratitude. He also talks abo...

In world where it is pretty much assumed you need a specialized and complex strategy to be a sophisticated investor, Robert Maynard argues that a simple, transparent and focused approach is a viable and successful alternative. He runs the $17 billion Public Employee Retirement fund for the state of Idaho and practices what he preaches. In this interview, Bob talks about the three ways to make mone...

In common law countries, a very large proportion of wealth will be held in trusts by the third generation. As such, finding and retaining good trustees will be increasingly important. Yet, somehow, family trusts often preserve a family's financial assets, yet fail to preserve either family or trust. Hartley Goldstone, a trained lawyer and an experienced consultant to trusts and trustees, talks abo...

John Davis is a household name in the world of families and business. He is one of the creators of the three circle model, which has been a helpful tool for understanding how families, managers and owners interact in family enterprises for over 40 years. In this episode, John talks about how he found his way into this work, the history of the three circle model, why family unity is important and h...