After decades of low inflation, New Zealand finds itself in a high inflation world where rapid price rises have become the new normal and many businesses are suffering from margin compression. Many longer-term contracts have been negotiated with little thought about the possibility of high inflation returning. Some will become difficult or unprofitable to perform. By being proactive, family businesses can take steps to protect themselves from the negative effects of inflation and margin compression.

Discretionary trusts, often called family trusts, are important structures frequently used in intergenerational family business. As multiple family members are usually beneficiaries of such trust entities the treatment of the assets of these trusts are often considered in family law proceedings.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionising the business landscape and driving unprecedented changes across industries. Businesses are leveraging these technologies to create scalable solutions, improve production processes, automate tasks, and optimize customer service. However, this digital transformation is not without its challenges. It brings with it a host of reputational, regulatory, and legal risks.

Learning through shared perspectives and having a trusted ‘’safe space’’ to workshop challenges are 2 pillars of FBA’s highly successful Forum program. Our Forum Group program helps members become part of a trusted advisory board, leading to improved family business dynamics and personal and professional enrichment.

Let’s look at some of the things that world-leading family businesses do to keep things clear & achieve the best results. The best family businesses have clearly defined & separated their family from the family business & ownership of family assets.

These days, we seem to take technology for granted. It has become so intertwined in our daily lives, that we simply assume everything will just work and that there’s no need to worry about what’s “under the hood”.