Wealth of Wisdom

In this episode of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast series, Keith Whitaker speaks with Scott Hayman and Tom McCullough, co-founders of Northwood Family Office. Scott and Tom share the inspiring story of how Northwood was founded and how the company has evolved over the last two decades.  At the heart of this episode is an in-depth discussion of Northwood’s Family Self-Assessment Tool, featured in Wealth of Wisdom. Tom and Scott explain how this 52-question framework helps families identify strengths and gaps in areas such as investments, estate and tax planning, family education, and succession planning. They also share valuable insights on how couples and families can use the tool to foster dialogue, gain clarity, and improve the probability of meeting their long-term goals.

In this episode of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast series, Tom McCullough interviews co-author Keith Whitaker of Wise Counsel Research. Tom and Keith reflect on their collaborative journey, the impact of their books, and the importance of practical tools for family legacy planning. Keith delves into the qualitative aspects of wealth, emphasizing "family capital" across five key dimensions: human, legacy, relational, structural, and social capital. He also provides insights into communication strategies that foster stronger family dynamics and the importance of establishing ground rules for family meetings. With real-world examples, including methods for addressing sensitive topics like prenuptial agreements, this conversation sheds light on the nuances of meaningful family discussions.

In this episode, Michelle Osry discusses how she used Otto Scharmer's Generative Dialogue framework to help a stuck family improve their communication. The framework includes four conversational fields, from Politeness to Flow, each representing a different level of conversation depth. By applying this framework, families can navigate difficult conversations and achieve a state of flow where new possibilities emerge, fostering lasting success across generations.

In this insightful chapter of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast, Jill Shipley delves into the impact of our money history on our current financial behaviors and attitudes. She emphasizes the importance of reflecting on the messages and experiences we encountered growing up, which often unconsciously shape our relationship with wealth. By engaging in personal reflection and guided conversations, we can uncover and transform our money narratives, fostering a healthier and more intentional approach to wealth.

In this episode, Tom McCullough, and Ian McDermott explore the incredible power of questions and how they shape our thinking and conversations. Ian illustrates the profound impact of framing questions differently so they will trigger positive internal searches in the brain. This can offer valuable insights for families and advisors alike in fostering effective communication and problem-solving.