Family ties: strength or strangle hold?

INVESTMENT TRUSTS

Is it a good idea to have a dominant family interest involved when it comes to managing money, asks Morningstar's Jackie Beard.

Since the late 1900s, the investment company has been popular with families of great wealth. Its structure permits family members to assume the role of majority shareholders, a position they can maintain even while expanding the pool of investible assets in a controlled fashion by issuing limited share capital. But is it really a good idea to have a dominant family interest involved when it comes to managing money? I have yet to meet a family that does not have fair share of tension and troubled relationships, with the danger of family disputes and the impact these can have. Caledo...