Our Approach

The journey requires both a clear vision and a steady hand

Family enterprise work is complex, and the transitions often feel insurmountable.

Working with an advisor who has shepherded numerous family owners through this process, with a series of best practices and good communication structures, can help your family business move forward with clarity and intention.

The work is never transactional; rather, our approach is routed in building long-term trust, partnership, and thoughtful decision making for the future. We often work with clients for several years, setting up their Owner Councils and building their leadership skills and decision making for enterprise success and family harmony.

  • LBF Advisory begins each engagement with a Discovery Phase. During this stage, the LBF Advisory team interviews family members, as well as key senior executives and trusted advisors, to understand the enterprise system’s strengths and challenges. The team also reviews all relevant documentation as part of this process. LBF Advisory then presents the owners with a comprehensive assessment of the family enterprise system, and together we align on priorities and chart the path forward.

  • Having trained at Banyan, LBF Advisory strongly believes in the value of the Four Room Approach and in establishing structures that support effective governance. The Four Rooms—Owner, Board, Management, and Family—create clear boundaries for discussion and decision-making, ensuring the right people are engaged at the right time and in the right setting.

  • After reviewing the assessment, we partner with the Owners to define a clear roadmap—identifying the priorities we will tackle together and establishing a meeting cadence that best supports informed decision-making. Most often, Owners meet quarterly to discuss and align on Owner-level matters, which may include Owner strategy and financial guardrails, reviews of the business and/or board of directors, distribution policies, and decisions related to buying or selling business entities. In our experience, family enterprises that meet consistently and communicate well are best positioned to thrive across generations.