“People often think: if you have a lot of money, you shouldn’t complain.” But wealthy families have their own dynamics—and their own questions and concerns.
Maussen Family Confidants acts as a trusted advisor to wealthy families. Founder Bart Maussen comes from an entrepreneurial family himself. “I found out on the evening news that our family business had been sold.” Of course, there are families who manage to pass on wealth smoothly from generation to generation. But in many cases, the process is far from easy.
Since 2005, Bart Maussen has worked with Edward Koldewijn, who has a background in relationship and family therapy. “Mainstream care doesn’t address the specific challenges faced by wealthy families. My mission is to support these families through life transitions.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Next Gen programme for children of wealthy families"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"For the fifth consecutive year, Maussen Family Confidants is facilitating the Next Gen programme for ING Private Banking. This programme supports children of wealthy families as they prepare for the next phase: managing the family wealth and, where applicable, taking over the family business.
Participants receive support and coaching in an intimate setting. “Everything we discuss remains confidential,” Bart emphasizes. “Even ING Private Banking’s relationship managers are not privy to the session content. Confidentiality, safety, and discretion are the foundation of what we do.”
Participants in the Next Gen programme are aged between 21 and 35. Edward explains: “Some participants wonder at the first session: why am I here? They often have no idea of the family’s wealth. But they quickly realise how valuable it is to be among peers. We often hear: ‘This is the first time I’ve been able to talk about things I never dared to discuss before.’”
“And meaningful friendships are formed,” Bart adds. “The social aspect is very important. Some participants even go on to collaborate professionally.”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"In their parents’ footsteps…"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Next Gen participants often recognise each other’s doubts and uncertainties. Bart: “In the case of a family business, the question often arises: should I join the company or not? This is rarely openly discussed. The child senses the expectation to follow in the footsteps of their father—or even grandfather. That can create a lot of pressure. How successful can you be? Outsiders may think you’ve had everything handed to you. But if the market turns against you, you could undo everything previous generations have built.”
Edward: “And if you choose not to join the family business, what will you do with your life? What are your interests? Can you say, ‘this is my path,’ even if it diverges from the family’s expectations?”
Bart and Edward often encounter the concept of “emotional ownership.” Edward explains: “Even if children aren’t active in the business or don’t hold shares, they still feel emotionally invested. If the company plays a central role in the family and receives so much of the parents’ love and attention, the children may feel neglected. We often hear: ‘My parents weren’t there for my graduation or other important moments.’”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Preventing spoiled children"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"“For many children, the struggle lies in conditionality,” Bart says. “They feel they must meet certain expectations to receive affection. This gives them the sense that they’re never good enough. Often, parents aren’t even aware of this. They want to prevent their children from becoming spoiled; their intentions are good. Or they’re simply repeating patterns—they themselves were only sparingly appreciated by their own parents.”
“That’s why we encourage children to start the conversation. Ask your father or mother: ‘How did grandpa show his appreciation when you took over the business? What did he say or do? And what can I do to show my appreciation?’ That often breaks the ice.”
At the same time, parents carry a lot of concern, Edward notes. “Understandably so. They’ve often worked hard and with great dedication. ‘If we give all this wealth to our children, what will be left of their drive and motivation?’ You can avoid the topic and delay the transfer in the hope that they’ll develop perseverance on their own. Or you can talk about it: ‘We think it’s important that you learn to work for something. That’s why we’d like to make certain agreements.’”
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The next generation takes the lead"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"One way or another, the current generation must act: divide the wealth—and often sell the business, either to a third party or to the next generation.
“In the case of a family business, it’s usually the departing generation that decides who takes over leadership and who receives the shares,” Bart says. “We advise involving the next generation in that decision. Ideally, the children take the lead in the succession process. That way, they can do it in their own way and collectively decide who will take the reins. This ensures the decision is broadly supported.”
Bart and Edward would also like to see children involved in their parents’ (entrepreneurial) lives from an early age. “Fortunately, this is happening more and more. Ultimately, everyone—parents and children—benefits from open communication. It’s a key factor in ensuring a smooth transition to the next generation.”
"}},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"Related"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/private-banking/our-clients/family-solutions","text":"Family Solutions"}]}]},"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Make an appointment","intro":"Let's start a conversation.","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/3e538078-976f-4b74-b49c-90d7cd895df2/Web-12","type":"image","width":307,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/1d41bac33a10b194/original/Web-12.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"/en/private-banking/customer-service"}},{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Log in to My ING","intro":"Quick insights into your financial situation","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/33c4e3a2-7e3d-47a1-9c6f-1993eedcdb8c/Web-13","type":"image","width":307,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/5aecfb619a645cd6/original/Web-13.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"https://mijn.ing.nl/login"}}]}]}}}