“While entrepreneurship is rife with optimism; anticipatory prudence can reap significant dividends for the survival, growth and ultimate maximum monetization of value from the Family Business. Many of these points seem fundamental - but amazing how often they are missing in action: 1) Does … [Read more...]
Pre-Shareholder’s Agreement Invaluable Discussion Points
The Shareholder’s Agreement is as important a future road map for the Family Business as a Will is for any adult. Like driving in the Alps without GPS one never knows when both may be relied upon. Surprisingly those with either are in the vast minority. Below are some principles of common sense … [Read more...]
The Top 10 Tips Of A Winning Business Exit Strategy
A good friend and client once opined to me that: “If it weren’t for his employees and customers - he would really enjoy his Family business!” Yes - employees and customers; products and services; research and marketing; compliance and quality control; financing and cash flow are but some of many … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: Wealth & Well Being
A leading cultural and spiritual question of the current era is how to make wise decisions in an age of affluence. The increase of personal affluence and wealth has put before increasing numbers of people the opportunity to decide something substantial: whether and how they wish to move from an … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: Fixed Income Investment Considerations
Prudent and successful investors weigh risk tolerance; safety of capital; potential for growth; efficient tax treatment which doesn’t negate the benefit of certain types of investment and harmonious integration with their own financial and estate planning objectives when structuring their … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: Philanthropic Giving in Canada
Canadians have proven themselves to be generous; carry a sense of duty towards their fellow citizens in need and have a clear understanding that to address philanthropy is to engage in moral biography. Speaking as our guest to the Board of Directors of a national Canadian … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: The Who and Why of Philanthropic Giving
Canadians have proven themselves to be generous; carry a sense of duty towards their fellow citizens in need and have a clear understanding that to address philanthropy is to engage in moral biography. Speaking as our guest to the Board of Directors of a national Canadian charity, Dr. Paul … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: What is Wealth?
Wealth can result from a passive action such as a lottery ticket, an inheritance, a discovery or a gift; but for the vast majority of people it is the result of a journey. Christopher Columbus said that: "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”. The … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: Insurance Purchasing Cooperative
The very thought of Employee Benefit programs is akin to watching paint dry in the minds of many – until a serious claim occurs – which sharpens the attention of both employees and employers. It may come as a surprise to learn that employees repeatedly across Canada have indicated preference for a … [Read more...]
Tuesday Talks with Brian Etherington: Risk Management-Ancient Origins & Modern Application
The transference or distribution of risk had its origins from Chinese and Babylonian sea traders in the 3rd Millennia BC who would redistribute their cargo across many vessels to mitigate loss from the sinking of any one vessel. 1,000 years later the merchants of Rhodes created the principle of … [Read more...]