Case Studies

Counseling High Net Worth Families & Their Advisors

I have worked with high net worth individuals, couples and families. I have consulted with other professional advisors around the emotional issues their clients face.

Here are some of the issues and outcomes of this work.

Father & Adult Daughter

Task: Communicate more effectively about inter generational money goals and tensions.

Outcome: Reduction in family tension.  Father more able to treat his daughter as an adult: daughter assumed more financial responsibility.

 

High net worth divorce

Task: Coaching client and her family throughout divorce process.

Outcome: On-going resource to client throughout highly contentious financial and parenting negotiation process. Reduction in extended family tension. 

 

Long-range personal goal clarification

Task: Collaboration with young executive following sale of family business to identify values and interests beyond corporate management.

 

Outcome: Extensive exploration of personal and family issues that limit client's freely choosing new direction

Investment manager for high net worth clients

Task: Create plan for working with highly critical boss and enhancing assertiveness skills.

Outcome: Better working relationship with boss, effective negotiation regarding professional role, enhanced self-esteem.

Second generation family business owner

Task: Assess management style and devise new approach.

Outcome: Established responsibility-sharing for corporate success with managers. Significant reduction in reported stress.

Media consulting firm founder

Task: Analyze role of money in family business and with extended family.

Outcome: Clarification of family and business roles and responsibilities. Dramatic improvement of relationships in both domains.

Family-owned Business

Task: Develop strategy for spouse/owner and children to determine business succession plan in light of husband/owner's alcoholism.

Outcome: Successful plan implementation & transition.

Investment advisor to high net worth families

Task: Consult with firm executive to develop family systems assessment and strategy to help client resolve conflict with financially irresponsible extended family members..

Outcome: Collaboration with advisor provided considerable "value added" in resolving client concerns.

 

Psychologist developing  parenting plan in conflictual divorce.

Task:   Jointly coordinated services to support client and provide input into joint custody plan.

Outcome: More effective counseling around parenting issues.

 

Family office executive

Task: Brainstorm with advisor regarding family dynamics of high net worth clients.

Outcome: Effective navigation of complex family dynamics to meet client goals.

 

Divorce Attorney

Task: Maintain regular contact with attorney negotiating divorce agreement for high net worth client.

Outcome:  Decreased client anxiety and enhanced understanding of financial aspects of divorce.

Here are some of the tasks and  results of the way I blend coaching and therapy in my work with specific clients.

Financial Services Executive

Task: To develop strategy for managing stress and working with new company ownership and difficult boss.

Outcome: Significant reduction in stress and development of effective exit strategy

College professor seeking tenure

Task: Analyze writer’s block and time-management challenges.

Outcome: Successful completion of book and requirements for tenure.  Now tenured professor.

Financial services consultant

Task: Analyze “stay or go” options. Identify and plan for next career based on personal values and passions.

Outcome: Appropriate exit strategy. Recognition of new ways to assess career options.

University executive

Task: Identify and resolve issues related to poor working relationships and marital concerns.

Outcome: Greater satisfaction and excellent feedback from management regarding performance and attitude. Happily reconciled with husband following trial separation.

College professor

Task: Develop techniques to navigate highly conflictual departmental environment. Prepare for tenure application process.

Outcome: Successful resolution of departmental conflict. Awarded tenure.

Physician, major medical center

Task: Enhance skills in anger management and navigating organizational politics.

Outcome: Successful elimination of workplace outbursts,  positive performance evaluations.

Law school applicant

Task: Reduce test-taking anxiety and related stress. Challenge assumptions underlying  perfectionism.

Outcome: Passed LSAT with high scores. Improved stress management and relaxation skills. Enrolled in target law school.

Foreign-born non-profit executive

Task: Analyze cultural differences and required skills to work effectively with the Board and understand operational politics.

Outcome: Improved working style. Chosen for community award. Developed better coping strategies in personal and professional life.

Managing partner of law firm

Task: Reduce interpersonal conflict and low morale by planning and facilitating retreats for all firm personnel. Develop performance evaluation system.

Outcome: Significant improvement in management of cases, office administration and morale. Successful implementation of performance evaluation process.

Accounting firm

Task: Resolve high level of conflict between managing partner and COO through joint counseling sessions.

Outcome: Developed exit strategy for COO. Identified new resources to manage firm's day-to-day operations.