Family Business Director

Corporate Finance & Planning Insights for Multi-Generational Family Businesses

Special Topics

What We’ve Been Reading

This week we’ve compiled a brief reading list of items we’ve found to be interesting and informative in the past couple of weeks.  Think of it as your Family Business Director summer reading list. 

Special Topics

Economic Indicators for Family Businesses

New Video Released on Family Business On Demand Resource Center

In this video, Tripp Crews discusses a few key economic indicators that family business owners and directors would be well-served to keep an eye on as we continue to navigate through a turbulent macroeconomic environment. Having a working knowledge of these indicators can help inform decision-making processes for owners and directors both in the office and in the board room.

Performance Measurement Valuation

The Hardest Thing to Do in Business

Family businesses are either growing or shrinking. Since shrinking is not an attractive option, we explore the three primary avenues of growth for family businesses in this week’s post, posing some key questions for your directors and managers to consider as they formulate growth strategies.

Special Topics

Just Released: 2023 Benchmarking Guide for Family Business Directors

The business landscape of 2022 was like a competitive football game, where the repercussions of inflation, rising interest rates, and global conflicts felt like a stonewall defense. Still, businesses found ways to hold their ground, providing key takeaways for family businesses, as dissected in our comprehensive 2023 Benchmarking Guide. Our guide helps family business directors understand how to make important financial decisions, like setting dividend policies, making investments, and arranging financing, while analyzing the shifts in capital allocation amid the changing financial climate.

Special Topics Valuation

Tax Court Sides with Family Business in Cecil

In this week’s post, we analyze the recent Tax Court case, Cecil v. Commissioner. A key issue in the case was the role of appreciated corporate assets in determining the fair market value of a minority interest in an operating company. The Cecil family has owned and operated the Biltmore mansion in Ashville, North Carolina for decades, and the case highlights the intersection of the asset-based, income, and market approaches to valuation, and serves as an important reminder to families evaluating their own estate plans in light of the approaching sunset provisions in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017.

Valuation

Steps in a Business Valuation

New Video Released on Family Business On Demand Resource Center

Demystify the intricate process of business valuation in our short 5-minute video. Gain a deeper understanding of the key factors influencing your company’s value, including industry context, economic environment, and the role of control and marketability.

Capital Budgeting Planning & Strategy Shareholder Engagement

Lessons from the Oracle of Omaha

Warren Buffett is regarded as one of the world’s preeminent investors and most shrewd businessmen. Buffett and his partner, Charlie Munger recently drew thousands to Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha. Buffett’s 2022 shareholder letter analyzes the company’s strategy, performance, and vision for the company going forward. This year’s letter provides several lessons for investors and family businesses alike. 

Capital Structure Planning & Strategy

Book Review: The Psychology of Money

In “The Psychology of Money,” Morgan Housel challenges the conventional view of financial decisions being purely data-driven. He emphasizes the role of luck, risk, and adaptability in financial outcomes. His lessons include the importance of recognizing risk and luck rather than skill, focusing on broader patterns rather than individual cases, and maintaining adaptability in long-term financial planning. This analysis provides a fresh perspective on managing family businesses and reshaping financial decision-making.

Planning & Strategy Shareholder Engagement Special Topics

A Lifelong Succession Plan

Lessons from the Arnault Family

Bernard Arnault, founder of LVMH and the world’s wealthiest person, is meticulously planning the future of his luxury empire. Through a blend of creativity and pragmatism, Arnault has built LVMH into a global powerhouse while maintaining its status as a family business. Learn how the “Wolf in Cashmere” has prepared his children for leadership roles, and the Arnault family’s approach to long-term planning, stewardship, and collaboration.

Planning & Strategy Shareholder Engagement Special Topics

Corporate Finance in 5 Minutes

New Video Released on Family Business On Demand Resource Center

Looking to unlock the secrets of corporate finance in just 5 minutes? This concise and engaging video will demystify the world of finance, providing you with an essential understanding of key concepts and strategies. Perfect for aspiring business leaders, entrepreneurs, or anyone looking to expand their knowledge, this video will give you the background you need to understand financial business decisions made by your company’s board and directors.

Consulting Services

Family Business Advisory Services

Mercer Capital provides financial education services and other strategic financial consulting to family businesses