July 29, 2010 - Nothing is perfect and neither is a succession process. But with reasonable people and some compromise and collaboration, a good result will be born.

July 1, 2010 - In a family-owned business you want to earn your spot in the succession plan, not just inherit it.

June 17, 2010 - Mixing family and money is a very hot topic and one that generates strong feelings — and sometimes “fisticuffs.” When a business owner is ready to pass on assets to the next generation they often stress the desire to “be fair.”

April 29, 2010 - How to plan for a graceful exit from the family business on your terms — before it's too late

Sept./Oct. 2009 - The critical balance between the business and the family in business-owning families is in constant flux. No recent era would attest to that more than our current economic situation.

November 5, 2009 - As a business owner, most of your time is spent managing the business and the employees, especially in today’s tough economic times. Unfortunately, too many business owners don’t give enough thought to what will happen to their business if they die, and how the business can be passed on to their spouse, children or family in the most tax efficient and least costly manner.

July/August, 2009 - Can you think of a time when your advisors were more important? Probably not! Certainly, no time has seen the kind of economic drama and trauma we have lately.

May/June 2009 - My parents used to marvel at the memory of Win Schuler. We made the stop in Marshall, Mich., every time we traveled the I-94 corridor and “the consummate host,” as Win Schuler became known, would greet us at the door and call us by our names.

March/April 2009 - Isn’t it amazing that when the term “family business” is used it conjures up images of mom and pop operations like the corner party store or dry cleaner? For those of us who work with family firms, we know that the images couldn’t be further from the truth.

January/February 2009 - While most have heard of sweat equity, in case you haven’t – it is the hard work you put in theoretically beyond your compensation in hopes of a future reward. Sweat equity is the foundation on which many family firms are built.