As we approach World Health Day on April 7th, I find myself returning to a simple yet often overlooked truth: without family health, wealth is only a potential.

In our work with families of exceptional success, we’ve come to understand just how closely long-term wealth preservation is tied to the wellbeing of the people who carry it forward. This year’s World Health Day theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how we nurture family health and harmony. These are not abstract concepts; they shape your legacy just as powerfully as investment performance or strategic planning.

Family Health: The Invisible Infrastructure of Wealth

When we talk about wealth management, the focus often falls on asset allocation, tax optimization, family governance, and capital preservation. Yet behind every lasting family organization lies a quieter, often invisible structure: emotional wellbeing, strong relationships, open communication, and a shared sense of direction.

We have seen families with flawless financial structures undone by silence, misalignment, or unresolved generational tensions. Conversely, we have seen others thrive, not because they avoided complexity, but because they intentionally invested in the health of their family system.

What a Healthy Legacy Looks Like

1. Prioritizing Communication as a Wellness Tool

Wellbeing isn’t just about lifestyle or nutrition; it’s also about emotional security and the ability to express oneself freely.

For many successful families, wealth can bring joy, but also pressure, anxiety, or uncertainty. Families who engage in open, intentional conversations about responsibilities, values, and expectations, build deeper trust and long-term cohesion.

This kind of communication is a form of preventive care. Think of it as estate planning for the heart.

2. Involving the Next Generation – Early and Often

Children and young adults thrive when they feel included. We encourage families to create structured opportunities for the next generation to participate in meaningful ways:

• Invite them to attend family council meetings or philanthropic board discussions.
• Encourage them to voice their opinions on values-based investment decisions.
• Provide tailored education, not just in finance, but in leadership, mental resilience, and governance.

Early involvement fosters confidence, connection, and competence. It also eases the emotional burden that can accompany transitions or unclear expectations later.

3. Integrating Family Health into the Family Office

More families are now asking: How do we embed wellbeing into our overall family strategy?

Some are adding health specialists or psychologists to their trusted team. Others are integrating wellness retreats into annual family meetings, combining strategic planning with mindfulness sessions, nutrition workshops, or emotional intelligence sessions.

These are not fringe ideas, they are forward-looking practices for families who want their legacy to support not just financial growth, but personal fulfillment.

4. Education as a Lifelong Endeavour

Continuous learning is a powerful tool to protect families from confusion, fragmentation, and dependency, which can take various forms:

• Financial literacy workshops tailored to every generation.
• One-on-one coaching in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, or emotional intelligence.
• Structured training for family members joining the business, foundation, or family office.

Education builds both individual autonomy and a sense of shared purpose, cornerstones of resilient legacy.

A Conversation Worth Having

As we celebrate Global Health Day tomorrow, perhaps it is also a time to pause as a family and ask these important questions:

What does health mean to each of us – physically, emotionally, and relationally?

How do we support one another’s wellbeing, within and beyond the family organization?

Are we as attentive to our family health strategy as we are about our financial one?

These are not easy questions, but they pave the way for greater clarity, connection, and continuity.

At Sagard Wealth, we believe in multidimensional wealth, where financial, relational, intellectual, and emotional capital are all consciously cultivated. Our role is not only to manage your assets, but to help create the conditions that will allow both your wealth and your family to truly thrive.

With warmest regards,

Aurélie Jaclot

CEO