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Building wealth through entrepreneurship

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23 August 2017: A common discipline that high-net-worth individuals share when building and sustaining wealth for future generations is the appreciation for entrepreneurship.

Eric Enslin, CEO of FNB Private Wealth and RMB Private Bank, says almost every wealth management strategy encompasses some form of entrepreneurship.

“For families who have already made their fortunes, emphasis is often placed on passing on legacies to a younger generation of leaders who will be responsible for breathing new life to well established corporations or scaling high growth potential businesses to new levels of growth,” says Enslin.

Entrepreneurship in this context can only be successful if a solid wealth management plan, which encompasses goals and aspirations, has been established. When executed correctly the model and principles can be replicated across multiple generations.

Enslin says wealthy families abide by four common principles when using entrepreneurship to build prosperity:

  1. Building a saleable asset – the challenge is usually not attracting investors to raise capital in order to start a business, but rather leveraging available funds and intellectual capital to build a profitable venture that can be sold for a premium. Many wealthy families go into business with an end goal in mind, either to sell the business for a return, raise money through mergers and acquisitions, list the company publicly or pass it on to future generations. The business is often started with an exit strategy already formulated.
  2. Diversification – by being active and having a stake across an entire value and supply chain of a particular industry, these entrepreneurs are able to diversity and overcome short term issues that may severely impact profit margins. For example, wealthy families in the commercial farming industry were more resilient to the recent drought conditions that impacted the whole country, through their exposure to the entire farming value chain.
  3. Long term potential – through experience these families understand that wealth cannot be built overnight and it may take years or even decades before a venture accumulates returns. Unlike some SME’s who may use entrepreneurship for instant gratification, making ends-meet or gaining financial freedom, wealthy families use businesses to leave a legacy.
  4. Accountability – as the old adage goes “with great power comes great responsibility” – successful heirs appreciate the responsibility that comes with inheriting and sustaining wealth, as well as risk of it diminishing over time. According to a study published by the Williams Group wealth consultancy in 2015, 70% and 90% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second and third generation, respectively.

Notwithstanding the appreciation for risk taking in entrepreneurship, proper due diligence should take precedence before any business venture is pursued.

“Lastly, while wealth advisors work behind the scenes, the contribution they make in helping families to structure their businesses, estate planning and succession planning is invaluable. As a result, every business decision or new venture undertaken has to align with the broader wealth objectives,” concludes Enslin.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.