A grandparent and child spending time at the beach.A grandparent and child spending time at the beach.

Case Studies

Below are three types of family situations that we commonly work with.

Entrepreneurial Liquidity

A recent sale of a business has left this family figuring out how to deal with issues related to their new wealth.

Multi-Gen Family

A third generation wealthy family needs some help effectively managing all the details of an increasingly complex set of investments and private businesses.

Time Challenged

A busy executive needs help managing the wealth that she and her family are accumulating, as she doesn’t have the time to devote to it.

Peter & Mary Hall*

Peter and Mary Hall have always lived quite modestly, but they recently sold their business for $50 million. Unaccustomed to such wealth, they have limited knowledge about investments and are unsure how to proceed. Used to managing a business, rather than the proceeds of a large sale, they know they must protect their new-found wealth, invest it wisely and save on their taxes as well. The family is small, just Peter and Mary, both in their fifties, and their two children, in their early twenties.

The Northwood Approach

  • A comprehensive review of the family’s financial situation as well as their goals and objectives
  • Tax planning and income splitting opportunities with their two children and the use of a family trust
  • An investment management approach that allows the Halls to be comfortable and confident, including a mix of investments that will meet their long term goals
  • Financial and wealth management education for the children
  • A review of charitable goals and a resulting structure that is efficient and easy for the Halls to manage

The Result

The Hall family is secure in the knowledge all of their affairs are being managed through one team dedicated to their needs. In addition to helping them manage their finances, Northwood also advised the Halls as they built a family cottage, consulted with them on initiating family meetings and set up comprehensive insurance structures to protect their wealth in future years.

“We now feel secure that our money is being managed expertly and that we’re getting the right advice to help us to educate our children about the wealth they will inherit one day and how to be wise stewards of that legacy.”


*Names have been changed to ensure confidentiality


The Peterson Family

The Peterson family is the third (and fourth) generation of a wealthy family (net worth of $350 million) increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed by the growing complexities of their business activities and investment holdings, which were largely established by their grandparents. This large family, with four adult children living and working both in Canada and abroad, owns a number of different manufacturing businesses as well as multiple private equity investments. They don’t feel as if they are managing these complexities as effectively as they should, and they worry that important details are falling through the cracks

The Northwood Approach

  • ​​A broad strategic review of all the businesses resulting in a clear set of goals
  • Streamlining and improving the complex family business structures to be tax efficient, meet the goals established, and make management easier for the family
  • Reviewing the large number of investment managers and products accumulated over time and developing a streamlined strategic investment portfolio designed to be more efficiently and effectively meeting family goals, with lower risk and lower fees
  • Formalizing inheritance objectives and setting up trusts for the children
  • Establishment of a regular communication process with all family members to ensure consistency of information received
  • A long term succession plan to deal with business and family holdings when key events occur

The Result

The Peterson family feels reassured that all of their affairs are being managed more effectively, both in terms of business structures, investments and complex family interrelationships.

“Now we have a much clearer overview of how our businesses contribute to our overall family wealth. We know that Northwood really understands all the complexities and we have confidence in their ability to manage all the details.”



*Names have been changed to ensure confidentiality

Sarah & Murray Tevalas

Sarah Tevalas is a senior partner with a major investment banking firm (net worth $12 million). Her husband Murray is a dentist with a thriving practice. Her job is her passion and she devotes herself to it fully. What little spare time she has she devotes to her husband and growing family of teenagers and to their sports passions of golf and skiing. What worries her is the lack of time she has to devote true attention to her financial affairs, investments, stock options, and taxation issues. Sarah and Murray came to Northwood looking for advice, and the kind of time and attention devoted to their affairs that their demanding jobs didn’t allow.

The Northwood Approach

  • A complete review of all compensation programs, including stocks, options, pension plans and a long term strategy to deal with concentration issues, as well as timing of exercising of options to achieve family goals
  • Advice and counsel on the Tevalas family investment portfolio and a new approach to evaluation that fits the time that Sarah has to devote to her affairs
  • A review of the family’s overall tax structure and implementation of a family trust to help split income and provide for the children over the long term
  • Redrafting of wills and powers of attorney to reflect the changes made above

The Result

Sarah and Murray Tevalas can concentrate fully on their jobs and family, secure in the knowledge that Northwood is efficiently managing all the other aspects of their financial and family affairs. They have the confidence that they will be able to retire with the kind of income that will protect their family and allow them to pursue their personal passions.


“There are so many things to think about and decisions to sort out. But I don’t have enough time to devote to do it properly. I worry that I am leaving money on the table because I’m missing opportunities to maximize our net worth.”



*Names have been changed to ensure confidentiality

Sudden Wealth

Peter & Mary Hall*

Peter and Mary Hall have always lived quite modestly, but they recently sold their business for $50 million. Unaccustomed to such wealth, they have limited knowledge about investments and are unsure how to proceed. Used to managing a business, rather than the proceeds of a large sale, they know they must protect their new-found wealth, invest it wisely and save on their taxes as well. The family is small, just Peter and Mary, both in their fifties, and their two children, in their early twenties.

*Names have been changed to ensure confidentiality

The Northwood Approach

  • A comprehensive review of the family’s financial situation as well as their goals and objectives
  • Tax planning and income splitting opportunities with their two children and the use of a family trust
  • An investment management approach that allows the Halls to be comfortable and confident, including a mix of investments that will meet their long term goals
  • Financial and wealth management education for the children
  • A review of charitable goals and a resulting structure that is efficient and easy for the Halls to manage

The Result

The Hall family is secure in the knowledge all of their affairs are being managed through one team dedicated to their needs. In addition to helping them manage their finances, Northwood also advised the Halls as they built a family cottage, consulted with them on initiating family meetings and set up comprehensive insurance structures to protect their wealth in future years.

“We now feel secure that our money is being managed expertly and that we’re getting the right advice to help us to educate our children about the wealth they will inherit one day and how to be wise stewards of that legacy.”


Complex Affairs

The Peterson Family

The Peterson family is the third generation of a wealthy family (net worth of $350 million) increasingly frustrated and overwhelmed by the growing complexities of their business activities and investment holdings, which were largely established by their grandparents. This large family, with four adult children living and working both in Canada and abroad, owns a number of different manufacturing businesses as well as multiple private equity investments. They don’t feel as if they understand or control these complexities effectively, and they worry that important details are falling through the cracks

The Northwood Approach

  • ​​A broad strategic review of all the businesses resulting in a clear set of goals
  • Streamlining and improving the complex family business structures to be tax efficient, meet the goals established, and make management easier for the family
  • Formalizing inheritance objectives and setting up trusts for the children
  • Establishment of a regular communication process with all family members to ensure consistency of information received
  • A long term succession plan to deal with business and family holdings when key events occur

The Result

The Peterson family feels reassured that all of their affairs are being managed more effectively, both in terms of business structures, investments and complex family interrelationships.

“Now we have a much clearer overview of how our businesses contribute to our overall family wealth. We know that Northwood really understands all the complexities and we have confidence in their ability to manage all the details.”



Time Challenged

Sarah & Murray Tevalas

Sarah Tevalas is a senior partner with a major investment banking firm (net worth $12 million). Her husband Murray is a dentist with a thriving practice. Her job is her passion and she devotes herself to it fully. What little spare time she has she devotes to her husband and growing family of teenagers and to their sports passions of golf and skiing. What worries her is the lack of time she has to devote true attention to her financial affairs, investments, stock options, and taxation issues. Sarah and Murray came to Northwood looking for advice, and the kind of time and attention devoted to their affairs that their demanding jobs didn’t allow.

The Northwood Approach

  • A complete review of all compensation programs, including stocks, options, pension plans and a long term strategy to deal with concentration issues, as well as timing of exercising of options to achieve family goals
  • Advice and counsel on the Tevalas family investment portfolio and a new approach to evaluation that fits the time that Sarah has to devote to her affairs
  • A review of the family’s overall tax structure and implementation of a family trust to help split income and provide for the children over the long term
  • Redrafting of wills and powers of attorney to reflect the changes made above

The Result

Sarah and Murray Tevalas can concentrate fully on their jobs and family, secure in the knowledge that Northwood is efficiently managing all the other aspects of their financial and family affairs. They have the confidence that they will be able to retire with the kind of income that will protect their family and allow them to pursue their personal passions.

“There are so many things to think about and decisions to sort out. But I don’t have enough time to devote to do it properly. I worry that I am leaving money on the table because I’m missing opportunities to maximize our net worth.”


Interested in Learning More?

We are a professional, boutique firm that specializes in serving the needs of families of wealth with a personal touch. We’d love to start a conversation. 
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