Family Relationships

It has been famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Take a second to think about that. The people you spend time with can lift you up or bring you down. We all need other...

Trust is one of those things we don’t think much about until it’s gone. We notice it when a leader breaks a promise, a colleague undermines us, or a relationship begins to fray. Suddenly, something that felt like a given requires tremendous energy to...

They say that being a parent is the hardest job you’ll ever have. But in a family business, the challenge is being both a parent and a leader at the same time, especially when your adult child is struggling in the business. While this...

Succession is no longer just a possibility – a wave of leadership transitions is already underway. According to recent data, nearly 40% of family businesses expect a leadership transition in the next five years, yet only a fraction of them have started planning for...

By Margaret Wilson, Tandem Partners & Ann Quinn, Quinn Strategy Group It has been suggested that many family business problems stem from the inherent conflict between the distinct, yet overlapping parts of the family business system. Each part of the family business system – business,...

If you’re feeling burned out in the family business, you’re not alone. It can happen when you’re feeling overwhelmed by business problems or prolonged tension in a relationship or any number of reasons. Whatever the cause, burnout doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s practically impossible...

The longest suspension bridge may not be the Mackinac or the Golden Gate, but rather the span between generations in a family business. More often than not, the emphasis in succession planning begins with the senior generation and their pressing concerns. When do they...

Part 4 of the Series: The Family Business Planning Roadmap By Margaret Wilson, Tandem Partners & Ann Quinn, Quinn Strategy Group In Part 1 of our series on integrated planning for family-owned businesses explored the unique challenges they face and why they require a different approach...

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” - Mark Twain In the world of family business, it seems that some generally accepted axioms are out of date, yet still frequently quoted....

Part 2 of the Series: The Family Business Planning Roadmap By Margaret Wilson, Tandem Partners & Ann Quinn, Quinn Strategy Group Any discussion of planning for a family business begins with an obvious but complicated truth: Family businesses are different from other types of organizations. Families...

As Mother’s Day approaches, we celebrate the unique relationship between mothers and daughters in business. Undoubtedly, the connection between a mother and daughter can be a strong bond. Mothers are often there to advise during difficult times, while daughters represent the ambitions of the...

Recently, news reached us of a local family-owned company’s closure after 70 years in business. While the specifics behind their decision are unknown, it served as a reminder that at some point in their life cycle, all family businesses come to a crossroads and...

In the realm of family business, especially those where husband-wife teams, siblings, or multiple generations are working together, the dynamics are intriguingly complex. Family businesses aren’t just about profits and market shares; they embody deep emotional bonds and legacies. Central to these dynamics is...

Have you ever noticed that family conflict seems to surface more around the Holidays than at any other time of year? For many families, Thanksgiving is a time to gather together, share a meal and renew family ties. Unfortunately for others, it’s an opportunity...

Recently, Margaret Wilson appeared on Java with Jim Ries, Director of Business Development at Offit | Kurman to discuss the origin of Tandem Partners and its dedication to helping families, owners and businesses in transition....