Family Legacy Assessment

Please answer the 10 questions below. Rate your family for each question on a scale of 1-10, using the example statements to inform your answer. Upon completion, your score will be tallied for you automatically.

Rate your family’s communication on a scale of 1-10:

10 – Our family maintains open lines of communication and can discuss even difficult matters together. Each member knows they have a voice and will be heard out.

5 – We often have good conversations, but we carefully avoid certain topics.

1 – Why would we want to talk to each other?

Rate your family’s relationship to conflict on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We approach conflict as an opportunity for growth and keep talking until we find a productive resolution.

5 – Conflict means a lot of unpleasantness for everyone until things settle back down.

1 – We’ve had conflict and plenty of it. That’s why some of us don’t talk to each other anymore.

Rate your family’s views on personality on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We understand and value each family member’s personality type. We seek to help them thrive in who they are called to be.

5 – We know there are different personalities, but when it comes down to it people should just do what they have to do.

1 – What does personality have to do with anything? Personality tests are just for fun.

Rate your family’s approach to vision, mission and values on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We are all on board with the family vision and mission statement we’ve articulated, and we try to live out our shared values.

5 – Our family has attempted to talk through our values and vision but haven’t gotten very far.

1 – I don’t know any other families who talk about vision, mission, etc. We’re doing fine without them.

Rate your family on continued learning and fun on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We regularly get together to learn new things that will help our family, or to enjoy having fun together.

5 – A few of us have tried to get everyone together more often for new experiences or for fun, but it’s an uphill battle. Some of us are game.

1 – We don't get together if we can help it. Family gatherings are not our thing.

Rate your family on family governance on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We have a written plan for the structures and processes to keep our children, grandchildren and future generations unified and working together.

5 – We’ve learned some about structures and processes that will help our family move forward, but we haven’t gotten very far.

1 – What’s family governance?

Rate your family on charitable giving on a scale of 1-10:

10 – Our family gives charitably together, with clear guidelines on what we will and won’t support. It’s a positive influence in our family.

5 – We give to support a variety of nonprofits and causes.

1 – We don’t currently give charitably as a family.

Rate your family’s relationship with your advisor team on a scale of 1-10:

10 – Our advisors know and share our values and regularly work together to determine how best to help our family.

5 – Our advisors each do fine in their area of technical expertise.

1 – We’re not at all satisfied with our current financial, legal and other advisors.

Rate your family’s succession planning on a scale of 1-10:

10 – We have developed and communicated a plan to transfer leadership to the next generation of leaders in our family.

5 – We’ve thought about succession some but don’t yet have a solid plan.

1 – We’ve not given any thought to succession matters.

Rate your family on collecting and passing on your wisdom and stories on a scale of 1-10:

10 – Our family knows and values the stories that form our family history. We have taken steps to collect, preserve and retell the stories and lessons of the older generations.

5 – We all like telling family stories when we’re together, though we haven’t formalized anything.

1 – We don’t pass on our family's wisdom or stories.