How can your family create future success? While each family is unique, we have found after decades of working with wealthy families across generations, those that find success tend to focus on four key principles—what we call the Four C’s: clarity, communication, culture and cohesion.

Families that have achieved significant financial success often wonder, “How can we ensure our family continues to be successful?” They tend to worry about the negative effects of their wealth. They hear adages such as “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” and negative comments about “trust fund kids.” Parents we meet with acknowledge that they are nervous to leave too much of their wealth to their children because they do not want to bring them harm.

Why do these stereotypes exist? These negative or fear-inducing stories are what get attention. Great outcomes can be achieved—in fact, families have great outcomes all the time; they just are not loudly seeking attention for their success.

Toward a more holistic approach

3 generation Family at home

There is a significant shift in the field of family advisory to focus more on working toward positive outcomes, and less on fears. When you stop viewing wealth as a negative or positive force, and instead understand that it is a complex, multifaceted engine, you will be better prepared to handle what it brings.

Both research and our experience show that families who want to flourish over generations need to foster the qualities and skills that contribute to success beyond investing and overseeing financial assets. This includes:

  • Defining roles and responsibilities for the family
  • Preparing heirs with needed skills for success
  • Fostering strong family relationships
  • Ensuring a legacy that reflects the family’s values and goals

In helping wealthy families craft customized road maps for holistic, multigenerational success, we have found that those that find ‘success’ tend to focus on four key principles—what we call the Four Cs: clarity, communication, culture and cohesion.

Let’s take a closer look at each :

Clarity: a clear understanding of what matters most

To create a roadmap for your family’s future, it’s important to gain clarity on:

  • Vision for success
  • Purpose of your wealth
  • Goals and expectations for family members, heirs and future descendants

Culture: a shared vision and purpose

Enduring success depends on a strong family culture that is:

  • Aligned with and grounded in values
  • Multigenerational
  • Continually strengthened by being actively shared

Communication: an open and inclusive dialogue

Strong communication practices are the foundation of flourishing families and are:

  • Meaningful, including topics such as family values, purpose, legacy and succession planning
  • Open, frequent and regular
  • Two-way and intergenerational

Cohesion: the ties that bind

This is the ‘glue’ that holds your family together, through good times and bad, fostered by:

  • Strong relationships
  • Shared sense of purpose and responsibility
  • Long-term multigenerational commitment

While your family’s definition of success may be different from anyone else’s, many of the opportunities and challenges you face are familiar. Great outcomes come from surrounding yourself with great teams, experienced professionals who understand your objectives and can help create a strategy to sustain your wealth for generations to come.

Dive deeper

For more information about the 4 Cs and other aspects of family success, download our publication, Flourishing multigenerational families: Attaining your vision of success. Connect with a ۶Ƶ Financial Advisor to learn more about the full range of family advisory services available to you.

Approval code: 20250519-4512026, Expiration: 5/19/2026

Flourishing multigenerational families report cover

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