Joe Paul

In loving memory

Joe’s specialties were families in business, families of wealth and family foundations. Since 1978, he helped families communicate better, plan for their future, and grow their tangible and intangible assets.

Author
Co-author

Overview & approach

Joe’s work focused on the recurring challenges that face families of means, such as:

  • Development, transfer and support of family and business leadership
  • Resolution of family issues that interfere with decision making
  • Development of the family’s intellectual and social capital
  • The stewardship of family wealth
  • Building trust among family members

In the first stage of an engagement, Joe’s work often focused on issues of trust and fairness among family members. Later, as the trust and fairness issues are resolved, the work shifted to the development of governance and management skills and structures. Joe was known for his ability to enter an emotionally-charged situation, calm things down, help family members resolve frustrating issues and then move forward productively.

Experience & skillsets

Joe consulted, trained and lectured around the world on family business issues to trade groups and professional associations. His work was featured in both national and international media.

Besides working directly with families in business, he also trained other professional advisors to serve their family business clients more effectively.

Joe was a former Director of the Family Firm Institute (FFI), an international professional association for family business consultants and advisors.

In 2003, he was honored by FFI with the status of Fellow because of his contributions to the field, and in 2011, he was given their Interdisciplinary Award.

Author & co-author

Joe is the co-author and author of several family business assessment devices including The Aspen Family Business Inventory, The Family Wealth Management Inventory and The Aspen Family Foundation Inventory.

Joe is also the co-author of The Keys to Family Business Success, a book for families in business, and the author of The Axioms of Family Business Counseling for advisors and family business leaders.

Personal & education

Joe was born 1948 in Atlanta and spent summers on the family farm that has been the “home place” of the family for 9 generations.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1976 from Southern Oregon State University and received an M.S. in Clinical Psychology in 1978 from the University of Idaho.

He is married with three adult children and five grandchildren. His hobby is leading multiple-day white water river trips.

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