Stewarding Wealth Across Generations

What does it really mean to be a “good steward” of wealth, and how do you actually do it across generations?

How can you make thoughtful decisions today that don’t unintentionally weaken what’s meant to last?

This course introduces the idea of stewardship as more than managing money; it’s about responsibility, awareness, and long-term thinking. It’s designed for anyone connected to family wealth, whether you’re just starting to engage or looking to participate more confidently. You’ll explore how wealth changes over time, what tends to erode or sustain it, and the role you can play in shaping better outcomes.

What You’ll Be Able to Do on the Other Side

• Understand what “stewardship” means in practice—not just preserving wealth, but managing it with intention
• See how wealth typically evolves (and sometimes fades) across generations, and where you fit into that story
• Recognize common pressures that quietly erode wealth, like spending, inflation, and growing family complexity
• Ask better questions about how wealth is being managed, even if you’re not the decision-maker
• Make more thoughtful tradeoffs between enjoying wealth today and protecting it for the future
• Move away from assuming wealth will “just be there,” and take a more active role in understanding how it’s managed and decisions are made
• Identify practical ways families sustain and grow wealth, including education, communication, and entrepreneurship
• Feel more confident participating in conversations with family, trustees, or advisors about long-term decisions

The Experience:
This course brings together a range of curated resources so you can learn from both experts and real family experiences. You’ll engage with selected chapters and writings from authors like Dennis Jaffe (Borrowed from Your Grandchildren), Barbara Blouin (The Legacy of Inherited Wealth), and Charlotte Beyer (Wealth Management Unwrapped), alongside podcasts exploring modern stewardship, family dynamics, and entrepreneurship.

This course is more than passive learning; you’ll also work through reflection prompts, interactive activities, and guided exercises that help you apply these ideas to your own situation. The experience is designed to build awareness, spark perspective, and give you a more grounded way to participate in conversations about wealth and responsibility.

Estimated Completion Time: 4 hours

Featured Resources:

   Books/Articles

• Borrowed from Your Grandchildren Chapter 3, “The Social History of Family Dynasties” by Dennis Jaffe
• The Legacy of Inherited Wealth, by Barbara Blouin
• The Complete Family Office Handbook, Chapter 13, "Family Entrepreneurship and the Family Bank" by Dr. Kirby Rosplock
• Labors of Love from The Inheritance Project by Barbara Blouin
• Family Business Myths by Russ Haworth
• "There is no 70% rule - improving outcome research in family wealth advising" by Dr. James Grubman
• Wealth Management Unwrapped by Charlotte Beyer

   Podcasts

• Podcast by Dr. Dennis Jaffe entitled, Modern Stewardship
• Podcast by Russ Haworth entitled, Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves
• Podcast by Warner Babcock entitled, Starting a Family Bank
• Podcast by Joseph W. Reilly Jr. entitled, The Inheritance Project
• Podcast by Charlotte Beyer entitled, Wealth Unwrapped: The CEO's Guide