Author: Markdale
-
Family Office Governance That Works
Effective family office governance within a family office is often discussed in terms of structures like family meetings, boards, and advisory committees. But, before choosing any formal structure, wealthy families must define who is included, what matters to them, and why. Governance Starts with Definitions Governance reflects the family itself. A first-generation entrepreneur with a
-
Growing Up Wealthy: Learning to Spend with Intention
Growing up around wealth profoundly shapes how spending feels. For many heirs and wealthy adult inheritors, spending what others earn in a year during a single month doesn’t register as reckless or indulgent, it simply feels normal. When high spending is modeled from an early age, it becomes the default setting, not a conscious choice.
-
Most Investors Don’t Want to Practice Wealth Management
I read a lot of commentary from wealth management pundits telling investors everything they should be doing. This is especially true when the conversation turns to family offices. In theory, doing these things makes sense. In practice, it often misses a critical reality: most investors don’t want to spend their lives practicing wealth management. Wealth
-
The Case for Investment Transparency in Philanthropy
Investments often represent the majority of a foundation’s assets, yet they remain one of the least visible parts of how philanthropic capital is governed. While grant making is typically well documented and publicly shared. Investment decisions, such as who makes them, how they’re made, and what they aim to achieve, are often opaque. This gap
-
Why Donors Give: The Motivations of Canadian Philanthropists
Why people give is often more complex than tax receipts or headlines might suggest. Philanthropy is often shaped by a mix of personal values, social context, family history, and a quiet sense of responsibility that sits alongside the role of government. Understanding these motivations matters, especially for donors who want their giving to be thoughtful,
-
How Much Cash Should Be in Your Portfolio?
How Much Cash Should Be in Your Portfolio? If I told you your portfolio grew from $40 million to $140 million over the past decade, you might immediately feel a sense of satisfaction. After all, that’s remarkable growth by any measure. But what if I told you that if you had simply used an ETF
-
5 Key Investing Principles to Build Long-Term Wealth
Investing is often perceived as complex, but the truth is, a few simple principles will set you on a path toward financial freedom. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, these five key investing principles will guide you to make smart, sustainable decisions. 1. Spend Less Than You Make This principle
-
Impact Investing for Foundations: Are You Ready?
Impact investing for foundations is a hot topic, but often mis-understood. This post will demystify impact investing for foundations by providing practical advice to aid your foundation’s impact investing journey. Impact investing has become a powerful tool for foundations looking to align their financial strategies with their mission. By making investments that generate both financial
-
Outsourced Consolidated Reporting
Outsourced Consolidated Reporting can be critical to successful investment management. The problem is most investors don’t know what they’re missing. When, they’re often missing the big picture and can only estimate their portfolio value and performance. Instead of knowing the facts. The reasons are obvious. One investment advisor gives you a statement showing the investments
-
XUS vs IVV: Which ETF Is Best?
As a Canadian investor seeking broad market exposure to US stocks, it is important to use the most appropriate ETF for your objectives based on your account type and transaction size. But, Canadian investors have several S&P 500 ETFs available including many duplicate Canadian versions of US ETFs. So, which S&P 500 ETF is best