As a family office principal, I think a lot about what it means to be long-term steward of capital. Not just for the next deal—but for the next generation.
Shutting down the office earlier this month gave me time to read and reflect. In The Missing Billionaires, Victor Haghani poses a sobering question: Why do so many great fortunes vanish? It’s not always bad luck. More often, it’s poor risk sizing, overconfidence, and failing to align spending with wealth volatility.
In Die With Zero Bill Perkins flips the lens: What if the greater failure is not living fully? Many HNW families accumulate more than they ever use—while deferring joy, impact, and connection to “someday.”
I believe the right approach lies in the middle:
- Risk capital should be sized thoughtfully, not fearfully.
- Spending and giving should be deliberate and timely, not postponed.
- And legacy isn’t just about what you leave—it’s about what you activate while you're here.
This is why many families (like ours) have such large allocations for real estate – we diversify our risk by investing across multiple properties and benefit from the value appreciation while generating strong current cash flow. Our investment theses - whether it’s industrial outdoor storage or self storage - are designed to help my family (along with our family and friends who invest with us) structure investments that endure across cycles.
Let’s build capital that grows—and a life that’s lived well alongside it.
Capital, Legacy, and Living Well
