Category: Beyond Business
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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
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Life Insurance as a Strategic Asset for Real Estate Investors
Imagine a typical investor: 10 properties, a mix of residential and perhaps a small commercial building, generating steady income but requiring ongoing attention. On paper, they’re wealthy. In practice, most of that wealth cannot be accessed. Rather than relying solely on refinancing or asset sales to access capital, this investor begins allocating a portion of
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How I Resist My Investing Urges
Recognizing our behavioural biases is one of the most powerful ways investors can improve their long-term results. However, this is often easier said than done. Each investor is a different person, a real human being with personal emotions. Some struggle with fear during market downturns, others with overconfidence during bull markets. Even experienced investors (and
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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
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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,
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What Canada’s 2025 MFO Survey Really Reveals About “Family Offices”
The newly released Canadian Family Offices Multi-Family Office Landscape 2025 report provides a clear view into what Canadian Multi-Family Offices (“MFOs”) actually look like; who they serve, how they charge, and how they operate. But beneath the numbers lies a deeper story about what is and is not a true family office. Two findings stand
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Debating the Unique Role DAFs in Canadian Philanthropy
Donor advised funds (“DAFs”) are one of the fastest-growing charitable structures in Canada. For good reason! They provide donors with a strategic vehicle for their philanthropy and create the opportunity to enhance charitable giving. Billions of dollars are flowing into DAFs, with foundations holding DAFs now representing a major portion of annual giving. But, with
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Separating Facts from Opinions in Wealth Management
Making biased free financial decisions is challenging. As investors, we’re forced to confront our own emotions each time we make decisions. And, biases crop up and quietly work against us. Overconfidence, anchoring, and confirmation biases are some of the powerful forces that can cloud our judgment and lead to costly financial mistakes. To safeguard against
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Stop Paying More for Less: Why Pension Funds Underperform their Benchmarks
OMERS recently announced its mid-year investment results: a 2.2 % return in the first half of 2025 (Financial Post; OMERS update). The press release emphasizes “a challenging market” and “resilient performance” but let’s be honest: if your retirement savings grew only 2.2 % while simple index funds were delivering far better, you’d probably be disappointed.
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Investing Through Discomfort
Why Emotional Fortitude Matters Now More Than Ever Despite a growing list of global concerns such as geopolitical tension, trade uncertainty, and an uneasy economic backdrop, the S&P 500 has reached new all-time highs. For many investors, this feels hard to reconcile. How can markets be so strong when the headlines sound so fragile? This