Values Over Valuables

Kong offers a semi-autobiographical guide to financial matters for families. The author is the cofounder and chief wealth manager at a firm called Apriem that serves clients who are "relatively affluent folks who are financially comfortable yet are looking to grow in other ways." These people do not need help making money; they need guidance in figuring out what to do with the money they have and ensuring the inheritance they leave is put to good use. (As Kong points out, it is not uncommon for a family to lose a fortune over just a few generations.) For context, the author digs into his personal background, mixing lessons learned from his childhood (particularly with regard to his Hawaiian ancestry) with practices he has used with his own family. (The author presents a set of Kong family values that include family, faith, service, generosity, and community.) The author emphasizes to his clients that, while not everything in the world is in their control, "they certainly can influence the destiny of their own families." Kong's combination of autobiography, straightforward advice, and even some Christian ethics (including a biblical passage on generosity) makes for a distinctive read in the crowded market of financial guidance books. In these pages, the author effectively highlights very specific situations; while the question of how one leaves money to children without them spending it irresponsibly is an out-of-reach predicament for many readers, it is nevertheless a real-world problem. And as inconceivable as it might be for some families to engage in practices like regular family meetings, it is an attainable goal. Such actionable advice, conveyed in simple, direct prose ("Have you ever met an unhappy generous person?"), is the book's strongest feature. A welcoming, practical approach to making the most of personal wealth.

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