Dr. Jim Grubman is an internationally recognized consultant to families of wealth, family enterprises, and the advisors who serve them. His work with clients at every level of wealth has earned him a global reputation for thought leadership within the field. Integrating his deep knowledge of psychology, family dynamics, wealth management, and family business, he has specialized in trusts and estates issues, family governance, and the unique adaptations needed with personal and family wealth.
Lifetime Achievement Award Honor
Dr. Jim Grubman Presented with Top Award by Family Wealth Report
The 2024 Family Wealth Report Awards presented Dr. Grubman with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the black-tie ceremony in New York City in May of 2024. Jim’s decades of experience in the wealth management field were honored for his thought leadership and innovative work in advancing the field. This award follows Jim’s prior award in 2021 (with Dr. Dennis Jaffe) for Outstanding Contribution to Thought Leadership for their constant advocacy of family dynamics, family governance, advisor skills training, and the family’s needs in wealth management.
New & Notable
Wealth 3.0 Article Focuses on Legal Services
Trusts & Estates magazine published a third major article discussing the tenets of Wealth 3.0, focusing on the unique skills and procedures that attorneys must have when working in an UHNW or family office system. Authored by Jim Grubman with renowned attorney Kim Kamin, “How to Be a Wealth 3.0 Attorney” addresses the many questions that lawyers have about collaborating in a team environment.
Prior articles include “Wealth 3.0 in Practice” from 2023 and the inaugural article “Wealth 3.0: From Fear to Engagement for Families and Advisors” published in 2022.
There is No 70% Rule – A Critique of Williams and Preisser
The wealth management industry has consistently cited the “70% global failure rate of wealth transitions” put forth by Roy Williams and Vic Preisser since the 1990s. In this International Family Offices Journal article, each citation for this assertion is tracked back to original sources, finding the “rule” was built on a single study from the 1980s that was superseded by better research decades later. The article also critically reviews Williams and Preisser’s own research on the supposed causes of these family failures. Recommendations are outlined for truly learning about family wealth longevity in the modern era.
The UHNW Institute – Emeritus Recognition
Jim’s longstanding contributions to the prominent nonprofit think tank, The UHNW Institute, were recognized by the Institute’s Board of Directors in his appointment to emeritus status as of January, 2026. Engaged in the startup and development of the Institute since early 2019, Jim helped spearhead many groundbreaking models and initiatives. These have included development of The Ten Domains of Family Wealth™ as well as the Institute’s glossary of wealth advisory terms – the Wealthesaurus™, the AIM Framework™, and the broad initiative helping to set guidelines for Integrated Family Wealth Management. Jim also helped found and oversee the Institute’s extensive Resource Library as well as multiple events, webinars, trainings, and activities. He will continue to be active in The UHNW Institute as a strategic advisor and contributor on special projects.
Events & Activities
2026 Cornell/RSM Program – Advanced Training for Family Office Advisors
at New York NYJanuary 27, 2026Jim Grubman returned to the RSM Family Office Advanced Leadership Program for a second year, collaborating with Kristin Keffeler on the fundamentals of understanding family clients, generations of wealth, and
UHNW Institute Symposium – New York City
at New York NYNovember 17, 2025 - November 18, 2025The renowned UHNW Institute Symposium returned for another day and a half of trainings, rollout of new frameworks and tools, and intensive learning and networking for the family office practitioner
Family Firm Institute Annual Conference
at Boston MAOctober 29, 2025 - October 31, 2025Jim attended the FFI Annual Conference in Boston, MA, USA, with special interest in the tracks discussing family wealth across cultures, led by long-time colleague and collaborator Dennis Jaffe.
FBN Americas – Webinar
at Virtual EventSeptember 16, 2025Jim presented a well-attended webinar for the Family Business Network chapters covering North and South America on topics related to the economic immigrants-and-natives cultural model of wealth, led by the
2025 PPI Rendezvous Attendance and Participation
at Denver COJuly 28, 2025 - July 31, 2025Jim Grubman attended the 2025 Purposeful Planning Institute gathering in Colorado, his 15th consecutive Rendezvous since its inception in 2011. He joined a main stage panel of senior PPI Fellows,
In The Media
Podcast with Family Office Exchange
Jim Grubman is interviewed by FOX CEO Peter Moustakerski about the book Wealth 3.0: The Future of Family Wealth Advising and how its positive approach dovetails well with FOX’s training and consulting activities. Listen here on FOXCast.
The Inheritance Podcast with Joe Reilly
In Joe Reilly’s inaugural podcast in a series on the nonfinancial aspects of UHNW family wealth, he interviews Jim Grubman and Dennis Jaffe on their long-term perspectives about different generations of wealth. Listen here on Apple Podcasts for a warm, engaging conversation.
The Rational Reminder Podcast
One of the best podcasts from 2023. Cameron Passmore and Ben Felix of The Rational Reminder share a wide-ranging engrossing conversation with Jim Grubman about the psychology of wealth, parenting, Wealth 3.0, and related topics. Listen to the podcast or watch the video here.
Books
Wealth 3.0
The Future of Family Wealth Advising