Beyond Succession: Protecting Family, Wealth, and Enterprise
AN EVENING FOR FAMILY BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR ADVISORS
Join Mark Slater and Tom Deans for an evening of insight and conversation on transition, ownership, and legacy in family business.
Held at CIBC Square, Toronto, this Family Business Chronicles event includes keynote presentations, a guest panel discussion, and networking.
Event Details
Date: January 19
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: CIBC Square, Toronto
Agenda Highlights
5:00–5:30 PM — Reception
5:30 PM — Welcome
5:35 PM — Mark Slater
6:10 PM — Tom Deans
6:40 PM — Guest Panel
7:10–7:30 PM — Drinks and conversation
Space may be limited. Register in advance to reserve your spot.
January 19, 2027 5-7pm 81 Bay Street
Did you know that only 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation, and just 10% make it past the third? Most family business failures don’t result from poor business models. They fail because of preventable mistakes, unclear decisions, and conversations that never happen.
If you're a business owner or advisor committed to preserving legacy, relationships, and long-term success, this evening if for you!
This evening brings together two leading voices and a panel of experts to help owners and advisors approach those decisions with greater clarity.
About the Speakers
The 4 Critical Mistakes That Can Destroy the Future of Your Family Business and How to Avoid Them
Drawing on decades of advising business-owning families, Mark shares practical tools and cautionary lessons to help families:
· Create a framework for honest family dialogue
· Separate family relationships from business decisions
· Define roles and responsibilities fairly
· Build succession and contingency plans before they are urgently needed
MARK D SLATER
Author - Family Business Chronicles, From the Boardroom to the Dining Room Table.
TOM DEANS
Author Speaker Intergenerational Wealth Expert
Challenges conventional thinking about family business succession and asks the questions owners need to confront before transferring or selling a business. His keynote will explore:
· Why gifting a business can create unintended risk
· How to distinguish an inheritance from an entitlement
· The conversations that protect family relationships and wealth
· How clearer ownership decisions can strengthen both family and enterprise
Every Family's Business 12 Common Sense Questions to Protect Your Wealth has been named one of the top ten books business owners should read by The New York Times.
EXPERT QUESTION AND ANSWER PANEL
The evening will conclude with a moderated panel of experts who will respond to audience questions and bring the keynote ideas into practical focus.
This keynote isn’t just a conversation - you’ll leave with tools and clearer questions to ask, better conversations to begin and practical next steps
EVENING PROGRAM
5:00 PM Arrival and networking
5:30 PM Keynotes
6:30 PM Q&A Guest Panel of Experts
7:00 PM Refreshments, Snacks and Networking
7:30 PM Event concludes