What Relative Solutions does

Relative Solutions is a privately held, founder-led boutique consulting firm established in 1992 by Fredda Herz Brown, PhD, that advises multi-generational enterprising families who share assets — including operating businesses, family offices, joint investments, and foundations — on the intersection of their emotional and financial lives. The firm is headquartered (mailing) in Westmont, New Jersey, with regional presence in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Tampa, and operates with a partnership structure of approximately 8-9 professionals supported by a manager of operations.

The firm's core offerings are bespoke consulting engagements in family enterprise governance, succession and transition planning, family office development, wealth and family dynamics, family education and leadership development, and family philanthropy. Its proprietary methodology stack comprises the Family Enterprise Sustainability Index (FESI), a five-dimensional assessment (Family Legacy, Governance, Financial Accountability, Human Capital, Generosity) that aggregates confidential responses across 20-40 minutes per participant; the Family Enterprise Leadership System (FELS), a 360-degree leadership survey accommodating up to 15 reviewers per subject; the Family Intelligence Quotient (FQ) framework derived from family systems theory; and the Family Diagram tool co-developed with nonprofit 21/64. The firm also publishes books authored by its principals and earns ancillary revenue from sales of physical tools and royalty-bearing publications.

Relative Solutions is sales-led, with all consulting delivered through direct engagements at quote-based, undisclosed rates; consumer product revenue (Family Diagram at $26, Exploring Wealth Deck at $20) and book royalties are immaterial lines. The firm has no external investment, no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no acquisition history. Its go-to-market relies on thought leadership through a quarterly newsletter, active blog, recurring contributions to Trusts & Estates, Forbes, and Family Business Magazine, podcast appearances, and conference speaking at FOX Forum, Family Business Magazine conferences, and IFERA. The firm competes on the depth of its specialist talent — multiple partners hold Family Firm Institute certifications (CFWA, CFBA), Bowen Center training, and 21/64 advisor credentials — and on the institutional credibility of its founder, who is a Beckhard and Hollander award recipient and FFI Fellow.

Name

Relative Solutions

Legal name

Relative Solutions

Website

https://relative-solutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Relative Solutions is a privately held, founder-led boutique consulting firm founded in 1992 that advises multi-generational enterprising families who share assets on governance, succession, family office development, and wealth dynamics, using proprietary frameworks (FESI, FELS, FQ) and a partnership team of approximately 8-9 professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Enterprise Consulting

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Business & Succession Advisory (FSAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Office Advisory (Single/Multi-Family) (FSAEAAAI), Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking Advisory (FSAAADAG), Next-Gen Education & Family Learning Programs (FSAAADAM), Family Office Administration & Operations (Accounting, Reporting, Payroll) (FSAAADAD)

Keywords

• Family enterprise consulting
• Succession planning services
• Family office advisory
• Family governance consulting
• Wealth dynamics advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting engagements providing guidance on family enterprise governance, succession planning, family office development, wealth and family dynamics, and family education and leadership development.
2. Assessment Tools and Products: Sale of proprietary tools including Family Diagram ($26.00) and Exploring Wealth Deck ($20.00), along with FESI and FELS assessment services.
3. Publications and Royalties: Sale of books authored by Fredda Herz Brown including The Essential Roadmap, Reweaving the Family Tapestry, and Live Inside Out Not Upside Down.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Relative Solutions provides professional consulting services to multi-generational, enterprising families who share assets, helping them manage the joining of their emotional and financial lives. The firm delivers advisory engagements across family enterprise governance, succession and transition planning, family office development, family education and leadership development, wealth and family dynamics, and family philanthropy, supported by proprietary assessment tools including the Family Enterprise Sustainability Index (FESI) and the Family Enterprise Leadership System (FELS).

Product overview

Relative Solutions offers a portfolio of consulting services and proprietary tools for family enterprises. The core methodology centers on the Family Enterprise Sustainability Index (FESI), an assessment evaluating families across five dimensions of sustainability. Complementary offerings include the Family Enterprise Leadership System (FELS), a 360-degree leadership assessment, and physical tools like the Family Diagram and Exploring Wealth Deck. The firm also publishes books authored by its principals, including "The Essential Roadmap" by Fredda Herz Brown. Services span family governance, succession planning, family dynamics, family office development, education and leadership development, and family philanthropy advisory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Family Enterprise Sustainability Index (FESI): An assessment tool that provides families with a systematic way to evaluate their sustainability across five dimensions: Family Legacy and Connection, Governance Structures and Processes, Financial Accountability and Management, Human Capital and Leadership Development, and Generosity and Gratitude.
• Family Enterprise Leadership System (FELS)

Products and services

• Family Enterprise Sustainability Index (FESI) A systematic assessment tool that allows family members to evaluate their preparedness across five dimensions: Family Legacy and Connection, Governance Structures and Processes, Financial Accountability and Management, Human Capital and Leadership Development, and Generosity and Gratitude. The survey takes 20-40 minutes per person and provides aggregated, confidential results for enterprising families.
• Family Enterprise Leadership System (FELS) A 360-degree leadership assessment survey designed specifically for family enterprises that enables next-generation leaders to compare self-perception with how others perceive their capabilities. Reviews can include up to 15 stakeholders per person reviewed with no limit on concurrent reviewers.
• Family Diagram A high-touch diagramming tool created in partnership with 21/64 that helps users connect to their multi-generational family histories, identify behavioral patterns within family systems, and gain insight into current family dynamics. Sold at $26.00 per unit and includes a 14x8.5 custom 25-page pad with legend, colored pencils, custom shapes stencil, extended legend, and detailed how-to guide.
• Exploring Wealth Deck A deck of topical questions developed with 21/64 that enables families to thoughtfully consider how their attitudes and behaviors impact their decisions around wealth, designed for use in various settings with multiple audiences. Priced at $20.00 per deck.
• The Essential Roadmap: Navigating Family Enterprise Sustainability in a Changing World A book by Fredda Herz Brown providing a framework for family enterprise sustainability based on five dimensions, with practical case studies and suggestions for families navigating generational continuity.
• Reweaving the Family Tapestry: A Multigenerational Approach to Families A book exploring multigenerational approaches to understanding and working with family systems, authored by Fredda Herz Brown.
• Live Inside Out Not Upside Down: A Dynamic New Method of Self-Therapy A book by Fran Lotery that walks individuals through practical steps for clarifying values and defining a personal mission.
• Succession and Transition Planning Consulting Advisory engagement helping families prepare for ownership transition, business leadership succession, trustee succession, and board succession across generations.
• Family Education and Leadership Development Advisory engagement focused on educating and developing the next generation of family leaders, including leadership skills, family literacy, and readiness for future roles.
• Family Enterprise Governance Consulting Advisory engagement helping families develop governance structures, policies, and processes for managing shared ownership and decision-making across generations.
• Family Office Development and Planning Advisory engagement supporting the setup, strategic planning, executive transition, communication processes, and next generation engagement for single-family and multi-family offices.
• Wealth and Family Dynamics Consulting Advisory engagement helping families enhance communication, prevent and manage financial conflicts, focus on shared goals, and balance individual and collective needs using the Family Intelligence Quotient (FQ) framework.
• Family Philanthropy Advisory Advisory engagement supporting philanthropic strategy development, foundation governance, and next-generation engagement in family philanthropy.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 21/64coreStrategic or Co-development Partner21/64 is a nonprofit specializing in multi-generational engagement in philanthropy. Relative Solutions partnered with them to develop the Family Diagram tool and Exploring Wealth Deck. The firm also has team members who are certified advisors/speakers for 21/64.
• Center for High Impact Philanthropy at University of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRebecca Meyer served as consultant to the Center, writing a guidebook for social impact investors. The firm contributed to their XX Factor framework and guidebook for social impact investors.
• Columbia Business SchoolminorOthersCarolyn Greenspon has been regularly invited to lead sessions of the Family Enterprise and Wealth course at Columbia Business School.
• Ultra High Net Worth Institute (UHNWI)minorOthersBryn Monahan is a member educator with the UHNWI and serves as governance domain faculty member.
• Southeastern Family Office Forum (SEFOF)minorOthersBryn Monahan volunteers with SEFOF industry conference and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
• Kennesaw State University Cox Family Enterprise CenterminorOthersJillian Wagenheim served as adjunct faculty at Kennesaw State University's Cox Family Enterprise Center, assisting families with succession process.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Northern Trust Wealth Management: Large incumbent wealth management firm offering comprehensive family office, trust, and multi-generational advisory services. Represents the scaled, institutional alternative to boutique family enterprise advisors.
• Glenmede: Multi-family office and investment manager serving HNW and UHNW families across generations. Competes in family office development and multi-generational wealth advisory.
• Aspiriant: Wealth management firm focused on HNW families and family enterprises. Provides family governance, succession, and next-gen planning as part of a broader wealth advisory offering.
• Family Firm Institute (FFI): Global professional membership organization for the family enterprise field. Provides certification, education, and a practitioner network that overlaps directly with Relative Solutions' professional sphere.
• Family Office Exchange (FOX): Membership organization and information platform serving single- and multi-family offices. Overlaps with Relative Solutions' family office advisory work and has recognized the firm's founder as a thought leader.

Direct peers

• 21/64: Nonprofit specializing in multi-generational engagement and next-generation philanthropy. Strategic partner of Relative Solutions and serves overlapping client populations (enterprising families and family foundations).
• The Williams Group: Family wealth and legacy consulting firm providing multigenerational planning services to enterprising families. Comparable niche advisory focus on family dynamics and wealth transition.
• Lansberg Gersick & Associates: Boutique consulting firm specializing in family enterprise governance, succession planning, and next-generation leadership development. Closely comparable in scope, methodology, and target client (multi-generational enterprising families).
• Cambridge Advisors to Family Enterprise: Family enterprise advisory firm providing consulting to enterprising families on governance, ownership succession, and family dynamics. Directly comparable niche focus and boutique structure.

Regional players

• Pitcairn: Single-family office and multi-family office serving ultra-affluent families. Rebecca Meyer previously served as strategic advisor to Pitcairn; competitor and talent source for the family office advisory niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RelatvSolutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/RelatvSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/relative-solutions-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Relative Solutions