Archive for July, 2010

Each generation is presented challenges to CONVENTIONAL WISDOM — our grandparents by The Great Depression, our parents by Woodstock & People’s Park and now the confluence of Social Security-Medicare-Housing Finance bubble bursts.  There is Value in Returning to Fundamentals.  When was the last time that you considered the following:

The Declaration of Independence

The Constitution of the United States of America

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

FUTR Family Management employs all three in its governance, investing discipline and client care.  Families will enjoy the benefits of “three branches” monitoring the activities of the other — Custody, Portfolio Management, & Family — to better focus on the fulfillment of the family’s goals.  Portfolio Management is characterized by security selection having  margin of safety and intrinsic value with constraints of the defensive, enterprising and special situation criteria.  All this is accomplished by the inalienable Rights created and identified in The Declaration of Independence to establish the divine right of the Individual versus Ruler, to establish property rights and the pursuit of that which makes us happy.  Three important fundamentals: Life, Liberty, Happiness (Aristotle’s reflection of credit on the individual).

FUTR Family Management is dedicated to preserving multi-generational wealth through superior organizational and financial advice to families, protecting their legacy and encouraging family member participation in the process . . . which is fully transparent.

The Leadership rests on three responsibilities everyone wants from people who give them direction.  First, everyone is looking for SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN,  Vision, Mission, Purpose and Values.  Second, everyone is looking for SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN, a person who “Walks-the-Talk” or Role Model.  Third, everyone is looking for SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN THEM which is practices that Empowers the Individual to take action to achieve personal and organizational goals.

Consider the picture taken in Chile on a very cold and rainy day.  Our VISION was a roaring fire created by the MISSION of getting fuel, heat source and intelligence to create fire for the PURPOSE of  personal solace and comfort.  Jake, seated on the cooler, was definitely the leader since he knew how to start a no-match fire and identified and demonstrated the selection criteria for fuel and he wanted to get warm without further delay.  We, FIVE-Doers, followed the leader who encouraged us as we collected dry tinder, kindling and wood for the fire . . . each of us had a try at the one match fire until Jake wisely ordered up stronger fuel from the boats and lit the pictured blaze.

FUTR Family Management believes these Three Responsibilities of Leadership can be developed and nurtured as a culture to improve investment discipline and extend the family’s legacy through development of family members as leaders and advocates of the Vision.  This summer look for our Family Leadership Workshop schedule for September and October . . . consider enrolling in a workshop . . . you will be glad you did.