We love reading, so forgive us if we nerd out a bit. Below is a list of highly recommended resources with some comments from Todd to help you figure out which one best fits your situation. Enjoy!
TOP 3 LEGACY BOOKS
1
Entrusted: Building a Legacy that Lasts by David R. York & Andrew L. Howell
Wonderfully Practical and field-tested guide to wealth transfer. We say wealth transfer over estate planning because “entrusted planning” gets at all aspects of planning.
2
Family. Money. Five Questions Every Family Should Ask About Wealth by David Wills, Terry Parker & Greg Sperry
A great biblically-driven book about how to talk about the non-financial aspects of money. This was instrumental in building the National Christian Foundation (NCF).
3
Family Wealth Continuity: Building a Foundation for the Future by David Lansky
More of a family business book, but it applies to continuity for family dynamics as well. Lansky is wonderfully free of simplistic “do-this-since-it-works-for-all-families” sort of advice.
A fourth favorite is Navigating Life with More than Enough, but that seems slightly self-serving… However, Todd thoroughly believes this book can be a great help to families. The book covers the non-financial issues of money, family dynamics and, in particular, how wealth affects your kids.
Other Legacy resources
Your Life...Well Spent: The Eternal Rewards of Investing Yourself and Your Money in Your Family by Russ Crosson.
As a financial advisor with Ron Blue Trust, Russ offers some practical grids for thinking through deep issues. He has a bent to the financial, is thoroughly biblical, and has some wonderfully helpful challenges.
To Whom Much is Given: Navigating the 10 Life Dilemmas Affluent Christians Face by E.G. “Jay” Link
Jay does a brilliant job teasing out biblical texts to high-capacity families. This book is worth it for alone chapter 2. Although honestly my entire copy is very marked up.
Oikonomics: How to Invest in Life‘s Five Capitals the Way Jesus Did by Mike Breen and Ben Sternke
These guys have a slightly different take on the five capitals than we do, but it’s good. They are grounded in Scripture, but also have a very helpful paradigm on how to invest in more than just the financial. Very short, but very powerful.
unPrepared, Heirs at Risk: 14 Elements of Successful Wealth Transfer by Conway Et al.
Really interesting paradigms. Full disclosure: Todd has a chapter in this one. Chapter 4 is from a multi-generational wealth builder. He talks about generational conflict from a G1 perspective. Todd talks through the differences from that of a G2. Those two chapters are unique and quite honest.
Giving It All Away…and Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously by David Green with Bill High
This is part biography on Hobby Lobby and the Green family story, and part biblical wisdom about money and generosity. Best part, it’s from a family who is doing it well, and is willing to tell their story. There is much to be learned here.
The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable... About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life by Patrick Lencioni
I give a blanket recommendation to everything Lencioni has written. This is my favorite work. Unfortunately, I’ve heard it’s his worst selling. Here Lencioni addresses the need to discover values the most important organization you are part of — your family. As always, it’s an easy read. And wonderfully stimulating. Highly, highly recommend it!
Wealth in Families by Charles W. Collier
My copy is incredibly underlined. Collier does a great job of describing what happens in high-capacity families.
Bridging Generations: Transitioning Family Wealth and Values for a Sustainable Legacy by Roy O. Williams and Amy A. Castoro
The Williams group research is classic to the space. Many of the statistics you’ve probably heard regarding wealth transfer originate from this book, and I love the treatment of how they describe it here. The book is worth it for chapter 1 alone.
Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth, A life Guide for Inheritors by Thayer Willis
Thayer does a wonderful job describing the inheritors side of the table. If you are considering giving your children a substantial inheritance, then reading through her story can be wonderfully informative. Chapter 5 titled “Teaching the Children” might just be my favorite on the subject.
Beyond Survival: a Guide for Business Owners and Their Families by Leon Danco
Although this book was originally published in 1975, it is still wonderfully useful. His descriptions of the family business in chapters 3-5 are wonderfully accurate and quite funny.
Strangers in Paradise: How Families Adapt to Wealth Across Generations by Jim Grubman
Grubman argues that inheriting wealth is like immigrating to a new land. This offers a thoroughly researched and a thought provoking paradigm. That metaphor in the first three chapters alone is worth the book.
GIVING resources
Gospel Patrons: People whose Generosity Change the World by John Rinehart
There’s been a lot of folks that have said they won’t go above say 10% on their giving to a project or organization. John offers a different paradigm. Supporting gospel-driven causes with more than just your money. Rinehart outlines three historical examples of the funding, and the more so the funders behind movements. It’s history but readable to the modern ear. Highly recommend this book, as well as their videos.
Check out their videos here: https://www.gospelpatrons.org/library/
Generous Giving & Generosity Path
Generous Giving and Generosity Path have some great videos that tease the giving conversation winsomely. They simply tell stories of people who are radically generous. The nice thing about both of these organizations is they don’t ask for money. In fact, they refuse any donations. Consequently, they offer a great place to discuss generosity because they simply want you to be generous, with a refreshing lack of agenda.
Mission Drift: The Unspoken Crisis Facing Leaders, Charities, And Churches by Peter Greer and Chris Horst with Anna Haggard
A fantastic look at how organizations shift overtime. Harvard was started to train pastors, and Yale was founded in response to Harvard’s move more liberal. Yet both organizations currently have no focus on training pastors. This book offers some wonderful insights on how missions drift, and how to make sure your organization won’t.
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Finkkert.
This to me is a classic work for a fully orbed response to alleviating and ending poverty. The premise is, a lot of times when well-meaning people attempt to help, unfortunately, they end up solving the wrong problem. The authors outline a wonderfully helpful and concrete approach on how to work together to solve this complex problem. It is a great paradigm for truly transformational generosity.
MORE resources
Still want more great resource recommendations? Check out the links below!