Beneath the Canopy - April 2025
- Robert Carson
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 6
In this month's edition of "Beneath the Canopy"
Speaking engagements - "How to Destroy your Legacy in One Generation"
Financial Disaster or Family Disaster? - Yet another example of family disharmony hits the news and looks like it is turning into a financial disaster for those involved.
Avoiding Family Disaster- Strong families tend to hold on to their core values - Can this be the glue that keeps generations together?
Re-building Venture Capital- Guest writer, Dan Winter of Arbor Capital suggests we should be looking at Venture Capital differently.
Artificial Intelligence - What's your take- AI-focused VC fund, Tidal are posing the question to the market. Give them your thoughts on how to play AI in the current environment
"Looking East" - Investment opportunities that have crossed my desk this month.
Please follow Canopy East's LinkedIn page to gain further insights.
Speaking Engagements
Having advised families on their personal and family wealth for more than two decades, I am now available for speaking engagements to your family, your staff or your clients.
"How To Destroy Your Legacy in One Generation" is a dive into the behaviours that have been the cause of some of the world's greatest family financial disasters, and how to avoid the pitfalls that come with significant wealth.
Please contact me directly to discuss this opportunity.
Financial Disaster or Family Disaster?
As I sat to write this month's "Beneath the Canopy", a quick flick of The Australian Financial Review revealed yet another case of 'Family Disaster' turning into 'Financial Disaster'. The unfortunate news that Justin Levis is suing his parents over their succession plans (paywall) of the family's fashion manufacturing and retailing businesses which include brands such as Cue, Veronika Maine and Dion Lee.
While I do not know Levis, or his family personally, you do become aware of issues such as these issues arising on a constant basis throughout Australia, and indeed across the world. You feel for the family who, and I am speculating, most likely wish they could turn back the clocks, change their decisions and keep the family together.
While difficult to assess what it took to get to this position based on the detail in the article, one has to wonder if it all started with the blurring of the separation between family and business - Justin Levis did not have a formal employment contract for his role as Executive Director of Cue back on 2000. From there, the boundaries that dissect the family enterprise become hazy, and it takes strong will and a lot of hard work to realign the family's values and business interest to work in parallel.
Avoiding Family Financial Disaster
Strong families tend to agree on their core values. While individually, they may hold
different priorities, when these are shared across family members, values can be aligned resulting in a strengthened family unit.
While much of this is a product of their upbringing, as family members grow there can be a tendency to drift from core beliefs as the personal circumstances and priorities of each family member changes.
Re-building Venture Capital
"After nearly a decade of investing in venture capital and critically observing its evolving
dynamics over the last five years, a growing conviction has emerged that the traditional venture capital model is fundamentally flawed" writes Guest Contributor Dan Winter, Founding Partner of Arbor Capital.
Guest Contributions
If you would like make a contribution to the monthly publication of "Under the Canopy" and reach the broad network of readers, please get in touch with Robert directly.
Artificial Intelligence - What's your take?
With the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence in the investment landscape, VC manager, Tidal VC are conducting a survey to see how sophisticated investors, and their advisers are approaching AI - everything from investment vehicles to stage preferences and challenges.
Given both the scepticism and enthusiasm among investors in this space, I am curious to read the outcomes of this survey when they are released.
Tidal have invited your participation in the short 5 minute survey and I will happily share the results here for your interest.
Please click this link to access.
'Looking East': Investment opportunities
Not investment Advice
With the US President stirring the pot, and geo-political tensions sky high, one could be forgiven for forgetting there was a Federal Budget on last week, and the election campaign has finally kicked off.
Every major investment house is currently writing about volatility, interest rates and President Trump's trade intentions. But in all reality, no one really knows what shape the upcoming 'Liberation Day' announcements will take.
I heard of a family holding an emergency meeting among members just 3 weeks ago, concerned about the state of their family's investment in global markets. (READ). Here's a reminder: Even if Trump continues his trade wars for the entirety of his four-year tenure in the White House, this equates to just 4% of the 100-year investment time horizon families should be looking toward when it comes to creating a long-term family legacy. These events require some perspective.
It wasn't a huge month from Fund Managers, with many having bunkered down following the fast-paced start to the calendar year, with updates from:
Talaria Global Equity Fund
Remara Credit Partners-
Hamilton Lane
Please contact me should you wish to be introduced to any of the opportunities above.
Spread the Word
Canopy East is a unique offering for families - giving them an independent advocate to represent their financial interests.
Thank you for your support. Of course, we welcome any opportunity to discuss families who may need our assistance.
Please contact Robert to arrange a time to discuss his services further.
Robert Carson robert@canopyeast.com.au +61 406 934 231
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