A New Affliction
Giving children an early inheritance can lead to post-traumatic gift disorder (PTGD).
January 18, 2013 in Succession and Estate Planning
Giving children an early inheritance can lead to post-traumatic gift disorder (PTGD).
January 18, 2013 in Conflict Resolution and Communication in Family Business
Call it the Great Giveaway: Many rushed to complete sizable gifts to their heirs in 2012.
December 18, 2012 in Conflict Resolution and Communication in Family Business
The inspirational speaker at the Young Farmer Awards lunch at our Ag Summit in Chicago was Lance Woodbury, a DTN columnist who ranks among the nation's top family-business mediators. His topic...
September 18, 2012 in Advisory Boards and Peer Groups
Enthusiastic people, positive dialog bring results.
August 18, 2012 in Conflict Resolution and Communication in Family Business
While some reality television shows have a positive, uplifting message, most shows are based on conflict, tension and stress. TV producers have figured out that the viewing public enjoys the drama...
August 18, 2012 in Advisory Boards and Peer Groups
In my travels around the country, I hear many firms talk about being a "onefirm" firm. When I dig deeper, I find "one firm" is mostly in name only, firms continue to operate as a collection of...
July 18, 2012 in Management Issues in Family Business
Over the years I've witnessed a number of family business members work for a very low wage in anticipation of a financial or farmland windfall at some later point in their career. They are promised...
June 18, 2012 in Management Issues in Family Business
In the family business, firing a family member may not make you more popular, but if everyone knows that a particular family member needs to go, actually letting them go may provide a significant...
May 18, 2012 in Conflict Resolution and Communication in Family Business
Years ago I facilitated a family business meeting in which two of the ownerbrothers started yelling at one another, then stood up, got in each other's face and almost threw punches. While probably...
May 18, 2012
Over the years many studies have shown that family businesses tend to trust their accountants above all other advisors.