Family to Family: Laird Norton Tyee Family Business Survey 2008

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Laird Norton Tyee is a leader among wealth management firms, overseeing nearly $4 billion in assets under management. The company was formed more than 40 years ago to serve the wealth and trust needs of the Laird and Norton families, who are now in their seventh generation of family business ownership. Our history is deeply rooted in serving businesses-owning families. Their challenges and successes are the inspiration for continuing the family business research we began in 2005, which was followed by a national family business survey in 2007, and now this report, the 2008 Laird Norton Tyee Northwest Family Business Survey.

To further support collaboration and learning among family businesses, we offer Family Business Thought Forums™, a series of workshops designed to promote best practices for family-owned businesses. Conversations with business owners who attended the Thought Forums helped us frame the topics and questions for our annual family business surveys.

As a firm, Laird Norton Tyee focuses on growing wealth and growing people – driven by the belief that wealth is not an end in itself, but a launching pad. Whether clients aim to start a new business venture, provide for their children’s futures, or make a substantial contribution to the community, their missions and their goals become the firm’s goals.

Led by a local team of recognized experts in Seattle, Laird Norton Tyee has assembled a highly educated and experienced group of professional advisors certified in every field of trust and investment advisory services. The company works together with clients’ outside advisors to help them achieve their goals.

The complexities of the clients’ wealth require LNTyee advisors to be experts in serving the diverse wealth management needs of high-net-worth individuals. Laird Norton Tyee applies research-based, proprietary investment strategies to all investing. The firm is compensated solely for expertise, underscoring its commitment to putting client interests first. No proprietary products are sold and no commissions are received from outside vendors.

Laird Norton Tyee builds client relationships around three pillars of expertise – Personal Strategic Planning, Generation-to-Generation Planning and Investment Stewardship. The company offers wealth and estate planning, trust and fiduciary services, wealth preservation and client education programs for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and private foundations.

Laird Norton Tyee has served as trusted fiduciaries to five generations of families, and looks forward to serving many more generations to come.

Rich Simmonds, managing principal at Laird Norton Tyee, led the 2008 survey team. For questions about the survey or if you would like to know more about Laird Norton Tyee, contact him at 206.464.5100.