At a time when scale and speed are often seen as primary measures of success, Another Way by Dave Whorton and Bo Burlingham offers a thoughtful alternative — one that resonates with business owners, family enterprise leaders, and their advisors. Within the pages of Another Way, leaders of family businesses will find themselves in good company and be reminded to take pride in what only a few can do…
Creaghan McConnell Gould recently came across an incredible interview with the ever-entertaining David Rubenstein and the seldom-interviewed Abigail Johnson, the third-generation Chairwoman and CEO behind Fidelity Investments. Fidelity has been privately held and family-controlled since Johnson’s grandfather, Edward C. Johnson II, founded the business in 1946…
Less than one week after the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration for his revolutionary fashion house, Giorgio Armani passed away on September 24, 2025. He was 91. Known as “Re Giorgio” (“King Giorgio”) for his reign in the fashion industry, the illustrious Italian designer was the sole owner of his iconic company…
Like many family businesses, the Milstein family behind Burlington Coat Factory built their business the old-fashioned way — through hard work, grit, and passion. Creaghan McConnell Gould celebrates and commends these families for their dedication to their family business and the communities they serve…
Even if Sundays have never been for football in your household, you’ve heard of the Dallas Cowboys, the richest franchise in the NFL according to Forbes and, arguably, the most distinct NFL brand to exist. For Creaghan McConnell Gould, the Jones family exemplifies what it means to be a successful business family…
The tides turn swiftly in family business. In our recent article about the Murdoch family, we explored the tumultuous court proceedings that came to a halt due to legal gridlock. Today, Lachlan maintains exclusive control of the company while his siblings walk away as beneficiaries. Although the family’s final solution appears to have resulted in a “win-win” scenario, we can’t help but think this would have been better handled as a private family matter — instead of shared for all the world to see in the international press…
Few succession sagas have been watched as closely as the Murdoch family’s. For decades, speculation has surrounded billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s succession, the business magnate who built a single Australian newspaper into a global media empire, News Corp. After dominating the conservative media landscape and exerting considerable influence over politics, journalism, and entertainment for over seven decades, 93-year-old Rupert is now attempting to amend an irrevocable trust in court…
The Nordstroms are finally doing it: They’re taking their four-generation family business private. The deal marks the end of over 50 years as a public company since 1971 for the 123-year-old Seattle-based retail chain. This move will give the Nordstrom family the freedom and flexibility to focus on long-term strategy, without the pressures and scrutiny of being publicly traded. In other words, the Nordstrom family is repositioning themselves to play the long game…
Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) has long been a foundation in the world of investment portfolio management. The added benefit of combining MPT with participating whole life insurance empowers business families to optimize the risk-return relationship within their portfolios, giving them another tool in their arsenal to steward the wealth they’ve worked hard to accumulate…
What started as Guccio Gucci’s vision of Italian luxury — inspired by his days as a luggage porter at London’s famous Savoy Hotel — quickly became a cautionary tale littered with deceit, fraud, and murder. Three generations of a family managed to make Gucci the most sought-after luxury brand and empire. But, over a few decades, they lost it all. Today, Gucci is owned by Kering, a multinational holding company based out of France…