The Hundred-Year Map
One picture of who controls what, and where that control goes next.
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.
The Hundred-Year Map
What it is
A single map of every person, entity, control role and asset in the family, and what happens to each role on death, incapacity or separation. We build it from the family’s own deeds, constitutions and wills in the first 60 days, then test it against real scenarios.
- Every trustee, director, appointor, executor and attorney role on one page
- The gaps: roles with no successor, out-of-date documents, conflicts
- A “what happens if” test for each scenario that matters
- A short list of fixes, followed through to signed documents
How it works
Gather
Interviews, deeds, constitutions, ASIC extracts, wills and powers of attorney.
Map
People, entities, control roles and assets, linked on our reporting platform.
Test
Run each scenario: a death, a loss of capacity, a separation.
Close the gaps
The family decides each fix. We brief the lawyer and accountant and see it signed.
A worked example, using the Hartley family
The Hartley Map
Illustrative sampleBefore the Map, the family thought of its wealth as “about $82m”. The Map showed eight structures – five companies, two trusts and a super fund – with every control role resting on one person.
- Family home $9m
- Beach house $4m
- Cash $4m
- 1The family trust’s appointor role (Richard) has no named successor.
- 2Margaret is now sole director of all five companies.
- 3The SMSF death benefit for Richard is still to be paid, and Margaret’s binding nomination has lapsed.
- 4Her 2015 will still names Richard as executor.
- 5The warehouse lease to the buyer of the business has no named review owner.
- If Margaret dies
Her 2015 will names Richard as executor, so no one is named to administer her estate or take over the control roles.
Fix: successor appointor, new will - If she loses capacity
No one can act for any of the five companies, or sign for the property company’s lease.
Fix: second directors, enduring power of attorney - If James separates
Past distributions, and his interest through the family trust, may come into the property pool.
Fix: distribution records, Charter clause - If Sophie needs help
No policy exists, so the trustee decides ad hoc.
Fix: hardship clause in the Charter
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 usedSee it
WEALTH PICTUREEntities and assets consolidated on our reporting platform.
Solve it
TOTAL WEALTH ASSESSMENT · TRANSITIONBuilt in the first 60 days as the entity map.
Run it
PRIVATE OFFICE GOVERNANCEKept current and re-checked at every annual Balance Sheet.