Preparing Heirs: Five Steps to a Successful Transition of Family Wealth and Values

Preparing Heirs discloses the surprising findings from the authors' research into the legacies of 3,250 wealthy families. With extraordinary insight, they reveal what the relatively small number of successful families had in common-how they achieved and maintained family harmony, and ensured the smooth transition of their wealth to well-adjusted heirs. They also warn of the wide range of factors that cause the majority of wealthy families to fail in their transition. Preparing Heirs offers clear, concise, well-organized, and easy-to-follow instructions that will enable you to evaluate your plan for transitioning family wealth. Preparing Heirs is an assessment tool that can be used in conjunction with the services of qualified professionals such as attorneys and accountants. It addresses the major causes for the 70% failure rate in estate transitions, which lie within the family itself and are within the family's control. This book can help you develop a plan to transmit the family values underlying the accumulation of wealth and prepare your heirs to be good stewards and thoughtful administrators of that wealth.

Roy Williams has spent nearly 40 years coaching successful families throughout the world. His research on 3,250 wealth-transitioning families is a logical continuation of his contributions as a Trustee for Alliant University. His earlier books, Preparing Your Family to Manage Wealth and For Love & Money, are widely used by estate planners, trust officers, and lawyers. He is an acknowledged authority in the field of family coaching. He frequently speaks about his research before professional groups across the nation.

Vic Preisser brings 35 years’ experience in business, government, and education to his partnership with Roy. He was formerly Director of the Institute for Family Business at The University Of The Pacific, and the University’s Resident Professor of Management. Vic has also served as Secretary of Social Services and Secretary of Transportation for the State of Iowa, and has worked for The White House. He is a successful entrepreneur and has served in senior executive capacities with Fortune 500 companies. He received his MBA from Stanford University.