Tool 3 of 14

The Confiance Family Balance Sheet

A family’s wealth is more than its assets. This is the annual scorecard for all of it.

The scenario

Meet the Hartleys (fictional)

Margaret was widowed eight months ago. The family business was sold in 2024, leaving about $82m across eight structures: five companies, a family trust, a unit trust and a super fund. Her private bank wants the portfolio reinvested within 60 days, and she does not know who now holds the family trust’s appointor role.

  • MargaretAge 58

    Widowed eight months ago (Richard). Sole director of all five companies.

  • JamesAge 31

    Commercial lawyer, married to Priya, one child.

  • SophieAge 27

    Ceramic artist, irregular income.

  • TomAge 19

    Engineering student.

  • Family Trust discretionary
  • Investment Trust $38m
  • Property company $14m
  • Distributions company $6m
  • Super Fund (SMSF) $7m
  • Held personally $17m
  • About $82m · eight structures

The Confiance Family Balance Sheet

What it is

What it is

An annual scorecard across the five capitals that make a family last (Financial, Human, Intellectual, Social and Purpose), plus the governance that holds them together. It shows where the family is strong, where it is exposed, and where members quietly disagree.

High-level version · Health Check

The member survey and our adviser read. A fast, confidential first look, without a full asset map.

Full version · Total wealth assessment

A complete asset and entity map on our reporting platform, the fully scored Balance Sheet and the top three priorities with owners.

What the family gets
  • A score from 1 (at risk) to 5 (exemplary) for each capital and for governance
  • The areas where members see things differently, flagged for discussion
  • No more than three priorities for the year, each with a named owner
  • A baseline to measure progress against, every year
Step by step

How it works

  1. Member survey

    Each adult member rates 24 short statements in about 20 minutes. Answers stay confidential to us.

  2. Adviser assessment

    We rate each area against evidence: documents, structures, reports and interviews.

  3. Score and spread

    We combine both views and flag any area where members differ by two points or more.

  4. Three priorities

    The family agrees its priorities and owners. We track each one to completion.

Illustrative sample

A worked example, using the Hartley family

The Hartley baseline

Illustrative sample
Governance1.6Priority 1
Intellectual2.1Priority 2
Purpose2.4Priority 3 · 2.5-pt gap
Social2.82.5-pt gap
Human3.2
Financial3.4

  1. Secure the control points. Every trust and company role named, with a successor.

  2. A structures briefing for every adult member, then a personal Capability Pathway plan.

  3. A first facilitated family meeting on what the wealth is for.

From the member survey
“I can explain what the family’s wealth is for.”
Purpose
“Someone other than the principal could step in tomorrow.”
Intellectual
“We can discuss money without it becoming a conflict.”
Social
“It is clear who decides what.”
Governance

The Hartley family is fictional and all figures are illustrative. This material is general information only and is not personal financial, tax or legal advice.

Where it’s used

See it

WEALTH PICTURE

The asset and entity map that feeds the full Balance Sheet.

Solve it

HEALTH CHECK · TOTAL WEALTH ASSESSMENT

High-level version in the Health Check; full version in the Total wealth assessment.

Run it

PRIVATE OFFICE

Refreshed every year at the Family Assembly.