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This National Family Business Day it’s critical to understand the value of legacy in your family business to ensure success and growth for generations to come.

Many high net wealth families seek advice on different ways to manage their charitable endeavours. Setting up a Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) may be an attractive option for your family; it is a tax-efficient structure, but can offer so much more.

The current economic environment is challenging for businesses trying to operate when budgets are tighter and profit margins are squeezed. Family businesses are uniquely positioned as they’re used to maintaining a long-term perspective, naturally fostering a transgenerational mindset through knowledge sharing, learning and investment in the business.

While Family business make up 70 per cent of the Australian economy, only 12 per cent makes it to the third generation. As the first and second generation work on and in the business, it’s crucial to try and keep it alive – to uphold the legacy and ensure the business thrives for future generations.

Some families spend a lifetime generating wealth and hope to financially set up future generations. However, when looking at Estate Planning, sometimes families only consider one generation at a time.

The results of the 2023 Family Business survey report identified top concerns for Australian family businesses in the current environment.

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In a family business, it is crucial to have a shareholder agreement to ensure there is consensus on key issues, to provide clarity, and to minimise the risk of conflict between family members – before issues arise.

When you’re a family business, the lines between business and family can become blurred. For some family businesses in operation for multiple generations, this is even more apparent as the family business may be all they’ve ever known.

Sibling rivalry is the type of dispute that can be destructive when it comes to making decisions in your family business, so it is important to have strategies in place to mitigate conflict.

Family relationships are some of the most crucial in your life, and therefore, they are inherently clouded by emotions. But, when a business relationship is also thrown into the mix, what is the best way to navigate these emotions?

A family trust can often be the right vehicle to carry on your family business and manage family wealth. However, careful consideration needs to be given to how the trust is established and administered to ensure that the ultimate control of your income and assets rests in the right hands and is in line with your family strategy. Much time is often spent deciding on who will be the trustee and the beneficiaries of the trust, however the issue of who should be the appointor can often be overlooked.