I think that New Year’s resolutions usually fail because they are nothing more than a well-intended ‘wish’ for change. Most people live the same old song over and over again due to subconscious patterning. So despite a desire to do something new or change their path, their subconscious rules by default,  playing back their […]

          That we remember to take care of each other, whether friend or stranger; That we turn away from negativity, and choose positive thoughts, actions and speech; That we stand up with confidence and nurture our world with love and hope; That within our means, we send our money and the […]

True Family Wealth is about ensuring every member of your family feels enriched and supported.  It doesn’t always mean supported just with money.  One of the major components of building true family wealth is good communications among family members. Some families find it really difficult to imagine themselves meeting together to discuss issues, especially money […]

Family and Money.  Most of us think wealth is just money: the cash in our bank, the value of our home, or the size of our financial portfolio. Some people chase it; others hoard it or fear it. Money represents safety and security.   We spend a considerable chunk of our lives trying to accumulate […]

As a Family Office, my team and I at First Affiliated work with families of considerable financial wealth. But as I describe in my book, True Family Wealth; Love, Money and an Inspired Life, financial wealth is not the same as True family wealth.  True family wealth is achieved when every member of the family […]

  In my book True Family Wealth; Love, Money and an Inspired Life, I describe that regardless of whether we earn money, buy money, or were given money, we all have something in common. We are born, and we die. In between, we all have twenty-four hours each day that we live—we just don’t know […]

There is a big difference between investing and, well, gambling and a disciplined investment strategy. On the surface, the difference may seem obvious, but unfortunately, all too often people don’t behave as if they know the difference. And it can cost them dearly. I’m teasing a bit when I say without a strategy you are […]

Is this you? Do you have a spouse that leaves the financial decisions up to you? Do you worry what will happen when you are gone? Do you see your adult kids struggle with money and are not sure how best to help?   Overcoming  family financial ignorance empowers your family, preserves your wealth and […]

As a seasoned manager of family wealth, Chris Clarke has seen families break apart when discussions about money take place. “It is a taboo subject, that many parents feel uncomfortable or fear to talk about with their children, until it’s too late.” Says Clarke. “Discussions about money and about family rarely happen in the same […]

I’ve written a great deal about thinking of your family as a business—not in the money-making sense but doing the tactical things that businesses do to be successful, which I call the Family Treasury ™ Model.   Have a vision, goals, a strategic plan, assign roles and responsibilities, communicate.   A model that takes the best practices […]

How to Talk with your kids about YOUR Money   This Family Day marks an opportune time to think about our adult children’s preparedness to inherit our wealth –whether a little or a lot. In my role as CEO these past 30 years of First Affiliated Holdings Inc., a family office organization, I have seen firsthand how […]

As we move into 2018, I want to thank all of you supporters and fans of my book True Family Wealth: Love, Money and an Inspired Life.  I really, sincerely, mean that. Let me tell you why.  As you probably know, in my “day job” I am the CEO of a family wealth management firm […]