Legacy and Learning

Matter has recently made a decision that has significant meaning even if the result seems like an insignificant change. We take a comprehensive, integrated approach to managing wealth and have framed this as follows: Investment Management, Wealth Planning & Coordination, and Culture & Legacy. Truth be told, as we have learned more about what makes families successful and thrive, the word legacy does not capture the entirety of this critical aspect. The Oxford Dictionary defines legacy as “a gift of property by will, a bequest; or anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.” As our Culture & Legacy team was discussing the word, we agreed legacy does not align with the goals we hope to achieve for our client families. Legacy is something that feels set in stone. A legacy is immobile, permanent, unchangeable. A legacy is something given from one generation without input or participation from future generations. It is a passive gift. While creating a legacy has value, it does not align fully with our intent.

We believe families are dynamic and that every generation of a family adds to their family’s culture and success. We are much more interested in family learning than family legacy. Where legacy is static and unchangeable, learning is dynamic. Each generation participates in their family’s learning. As successful families transfer wealth to succeeding generations; they transfer more than financial capital. They also transfer human, intellectual, and social capital. Children and grandchildren add to this as they learn from their family and their own experiences. It is learning, not legacy, that empowers a family to thrive for generations. This is why we have chosen to rename Matter’s Culture & Legacy offering as Culture & Learning. Our team looks forward to continuing to enable and empower every generation of your family to learn together.


This report is the confidential work product of Matter Family Office. Unauthorized distribution of this material is strictly prohibited. The information in this report is deemed to be reliable but has not been independently verified. Some of the conclusions in this report are intended to be generalizations. The specific circumstances of an individual’s situation may require advice that is different from that reflected in this report. Furthermore, the advice reflected in this report is based on our opinion, and our opinion may change as new information becomes available. Nothing in this presentation should be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. You should read the prospectus or offering memo before making any investment. You are solely responsible for any decision to invest in a private offering. The investment recommendations contained in this document may not prove to be profitable, and the actual performance of any investment may not be as favorable as the expectations that are expressed in this document. There is no guarantee that the past performance of any investment will continue in the future.