CHARACTERISTICS OF A MEANINGFUL LEGACY

Observations from family meetings conducted for hundreds of wealthy families are summarized here. Wealth Counselors leading the meetings see how families honoring God often enjoy the richest relationships and greatest prosperity. Successful families (and family businesses) often have clear answers the six questions in the first three columns, consistent reflection of Godly ideals in the fourth column, and high likelihood of finishing well according to Bobby Clinton's standards in the fifth column below (and at www.Covenant.Net/!/Clinton6)

Personal Questions from www.Legacies.info		Family Questions from www.Legacies.info		Family Business Questions from www.Legacies.info		Summary of Characteristics of Successful Christian Families		Bobby Clinton's Finishing Well Principles
What resources do you have available (after taxes) to help you fulfill your calling?	R	How has God blessed your family across the generations with His Revelation and resources?	R	Has your leadership team identified your primary strengths and opportunities while being realistic about weaknesses and threats?	R	God's revelation and resources are seen as part of the abundant blessings available for each Christian to steward.	4	Truth is lived out in their lives so that convictions and promises of God are seen to be real.
Can you articulate a clear purpose for your life, mission for your team(s), and vision for your future?	T	How has your family pursued a vision and mission?	T	Have you defined a vision statement that can guide mission, values, and strategy?	T	Relationships in their church, family, and businesses reflect a vision and mission for upholding Godly ideals.	1	They maintain a personal vibrant relationship with God right up to the end.
Are your planning team members qualified and unified?	H	How does your family seek wise counsel?	H	Does your governance structure encourage input from wise counselors and focus managers on servant leadership?	H	Wise pastors, teachers, and prayer partners unite in providing wise counsel.	2	They maintain a learning posture and can learn from various kinds of sources—life especially.
Do your team members agree with your priorities (e.g., budgets and schedule) and principles?	E	What principles and priorities should matter most when making wealth management decisions?	E	Do policy and procedures encourage faith, hope, love, service, truth, grace, and similar core values?	E	Biblical character principles are honored and spirit-led priorities are fulfilled consistently	6	They walk with a growing awareness of a sense of destiny and see some or all of it fulfilled.
Have you implemented planning tools for growing your wealth tax-efficiently?	O	How do you feel about the risk, complexity, tax-efficiency, and effectiveness of the trusts, investments, and other planning tools that you have considered?	O	Does faithful execution of the plan result in rewards for employees, customers, the broader community, and financial stakeholders (as indicate in KPI)?	O	Faithful commitment to Biblical ideals leads to growing prosperity and spiritual fruits.	3	They manifest Christ-likeness in character as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.
Have you prepared successor owners and managers?	S	How would you like to see your family and charities stewarding your wealth 100 years from now?	S	Is the next generation of managers developed and empowered to build teams and reflect God's character in the marketplace?	S	Wealth is invested in family members, churches, and businesses that perpetuate values that contributed to the accumulation of the wealth.	5	They leave behind one or more ultimate contributions.