Read About Family Governance
At Harbour Family Governance, we regularly publish articles on the many nuances of family governance. Read more on this page or sign up to our newsletter. Do not hesitate to let us know, if you have ideas for subjects, which we should write about.
In 2023, Anne-Sofie van den Born Rehfeld and Søren Brandi, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Harbour Family Governance, published the book Generational Ownership: Family, Fortune and Family Office. The book provides insights and specific advice to families, family offices and advisers interested in family ownership and development of family offices. Generational Ownership: Family, Fortune and Family Office can be found here.
Published articles
Family Governance
Legacy Creation: A Look at the Past, for the Sake of the Future
“Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” - so goes Andrew Carnegie’s famous prediction for family fortunes. Fortunately, more and more wealthy families are now focusing on involving the next generation early on to provide them with a clear understanding of where the wealth came from and who worked hard to build it.
Family GovernanceGenerational Transition
Drop Retirement and Become a Next Stage Gen
The development of the next generation is a key focus area within family governance, family offices, banks, and among advisers. However, interest in the development of the current/experienced/older generation often ends once succession has taken place—or when the final full stop is written into the will.
Family Governance
A Richer Life: Purpose-Driven Family Ownership
“Instead of ‘going public’, you could say we’re ‘going purpose’,” said Patagonia founder and billionaire Yvon Chouinard when he announced that 98% of the company’s shares had been transferred to the Holdfast Collective, to be used in the fight against the climate crisis.
Family Office
Family Office: The Family’s Constant Anchor Through the Ages
Since ancient Rome, the role of the ‘family office’ - or majordomo, as it was called then - has served as the family’s anchor and focal point for decisions concerning wealth management and the organisation of family events, duties, and income.
Family GovernanceNext Generation
Lost in Translation: How to Improve Communication Within Family Ownership
The 'Greatest Wealth Transfer in History' is in full swing globally, leaving Baby Boomers and Generation X facing perhaps the greatest communication challenge of their lives.
Family GovernanceNext Generation
Part 1: Why We Should Talk Much More About Ambassadorship…
Ambassadorship in family ownership is a shared understanding of what concrete expectations we have of one another as owners - not just toward the next generation, but also toward older generations, partners, and teenagers in the family.
Family GovernanceGenerational Transition
Part 2: The Ownership Strategy Provides Direction, Harmony and Resilience
In Part 1 of this article series, we described how an ownership strategy supports effective ownership, and which topics should be included in a well-crafted ownership strategy. However, while the strategy document itself is important, much of the real value lies in the process that leads to it.
Family GovernanceGenerational Transition
Part 1: The Ownership Strategy Provides Direction, Harmony and Resilience
For the past 15+ years working with ownership strategy, we’ve heard many variations of these statements from families, founders, and family offices. There are undoubtedly numerous benefits for both the ownership group and the individuals involved when time is invested in developing an ownership strategy. The more mature, diversified, and complex the ownership structure is, or is set to become, the greater the need for a shared strategic foundation and clear agreements.
Family Office
Part 2: What Defines a Successful Family Office?
At Harbour Family Governance, we meet many wealthy individuals and families who are curious about how to establish and further develop the right family office for themselves. A couple of weeks ago, we published the first article in this short series about the well-developed family office.
Family Office
Part 1: What Defines a Successful Family Office?
This question often arises when we advise owner families and CEOs in family offices. The short answer is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a family office. Each family office reflects the unique aspirations, ambitions, and needs of its owner or owner family. However, there are a few elements you can consider as inspiration to start or further develop the family office and its ownership.