Category: Research Insight

How Do Owners of Family Business Portfolios Restructure Poorly Performing Firms?

Families can get emotionally attached to laggards in their portfolios and avoid taking tough but necessary action, putting the entire enterprise in peril. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced Read more

Family-friendly policies encouraged women to think about what they really wanted for their careers. Work/life balance was not a factor. In Sweden, a growing number of mothers are starting a new Read more

With Women Directors, Strategy Disclosure Decreases Cost of Capital at Family Businesses

The decision to disclose strategy information is critical, as it reveals managerial actions, providing financial stakeholders with the information required to assess the firm’s competitive Read more

Renewing the Empire: A Family Firm's Succession and Refit Journey

While the global business environment is forever changing, family firms often stand for longevity and stability -- and stable, long-term management is a key strategic element in their performance Read more

How Business Families Can Invest for Social Impact

“ My great-great grandfather spent the first half of his life making money, and the second half of his life, giving it away - and the family has continued a strong tradition of both business and Read more

Should Former Leaders Stay Involved in the Family Firm?

For many family business owners, thinking about succession can be challenging. It’s a lengthy process, and filled with questions and activities that seem daunting initially. However, it is Read more

Why Families and Their Firms Behave Badly

Sometimes the worst behavior happens for all the right reasons. Putting "family first" can jeopardize the business's health and longevity. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was produced in partnership Read more

American business owners are aging. According to the 2021 US Census, nearly 52% of business owners are 55+ and 23% are 65+. This is consistent with the increased proportion of aging Americans in the Read more

Single Family Offices as Owners: Long-Term Investors or Financial Optimizers?

When a family firm reaches a certain size, the family may decide to transfer their wealth and their ownership into a family office. These offices help business families manage their wealth across Read more

A child’s upbringing within his or her family often sows the seeds of entrepreneurial success later in life. Yet, families today are increasingly fragile, and many entrepreneurs have experienced Read more