How did Richard's father influence him, his work ethic and his view of family and business?

How My Father Influenced Me, My Work Ethic, and My View of Family and Business

1. I learned early that family identity and business values are connected

When I think about my view of family and business, one of the strongest influences has been seeing family as something bigger than one person or one generation.

For me, the Wilson family crest represents that long-term view. It is a reminder that what we build is not only for today - it is something we steward for future generations.

"When I was growing up, my family had an old, beaten-up wooden shield in our house with the 1586 Wilson family crest painted on it (similar to what you can see to the right). It seemed only natural to focus our global family office and related finance brands on this crest. For me, the Wilson family crest symbolizes a long-term view and the importance of family and loyalty."

"Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Latin phrase Res Non Verba appears in the banner beneath the shield. Res Non Verba means to take focused action instead of talking and to be resolute in your focus instead of just talking about it."

That idea - focused action instead of just talking - has shown up repeatedly in how I have approached business.

2. My father showed me the importance of service and philanthropy

One of the clearest lessons I took from my father was seeing that wealth is not just about accumulation.

It is about stewardship.

Growing up around his work with philanthropy gave me an early appreciation for how families think about giving, impact, responsibility, and making sure resources are used effectively.

"I grew up around my father advising ultra-wealthy individuals and non-profit hospitals and universities on philanthropy. My father has raised over $1 billion for these groups through philanthropy advisory work, and this led to an early appreciation for what goes into ensuring donors are getting a positive ROI as well as transparency on their donated money."

That shaped part of how I think about family offices today.

A family office is not only about investing money.

It is about coordinating:

3. I learned that relationships and treating people well matter

Another lesson that has influenced how I operate is that business is not just transactions.

It is relationships.

Building something meaningful requires people who trust you, want to work with you, and believe in the mission.

"But, you know, he basically says you have to treat others well and get them to like and want to work with you. It's not about just being a jerk and ordering people around. So those are some of the insights I took from him."

That principle has influenced how I think about:

You can push for excellence without treating people poorly.

4. My work ethic came from seeing what long-term commitment requires

I have always believed that meaningful accomplishments usually require years of consistent effort.

When I started the Family Office Club, there was no guarantee it would work. I had to keep learning, experimenting, and building.

That mindset connects back to a bigger family lesson: focus on what you are building over decades, not just immediate results.

"Richard C. Wilson is a third-generation Eagle Scout, husband, and father of 3 living in Kailua, HI. He is the CEO & Founder of the Family Office Club..."

The third-generation Eagle Scout background is meaningful because that culture emphasizes:

Those ideas have carried over into how I approach business.

5. I believe founders should build something that lasts beyond themselves

One of the biggest lessons I have taken from family and business is that the goal is not simply to win one generation.

The goal is to create something durable.

That is why I focus so much on:

A founder's job changes over time.

At first, you create.

Then you protect.

Then you transfer wisdom.

6. My family history reinforced the importance of legacy

The Wilson family history has also influenced how I think about long-term reputation and responsibility.

The story is not about a single person.

It is about generations of people contributing different skills and values.

"The Wilson family comes from western England and has several generations of capital raising, practicing medicine, and trade roots, with Thomas D. Wilson having raised well over $1B in his career before the current Richard C. Wilson had even started his career working with family offices and the ultra-affluent."

That history reinforces something I tell families often:

Your name, reputation, and relationships are assets.

They should be protected like any other asset.

7. The lesson I would pass on to other founders

If I were advising a founder today, I would say:

Do not only teach your children how much wealth exists.

Teach them:

The biggest mistake families make is transferring assets without transferring the mindset.

Money can disappear.

Values, relationships, and judgment can continue compounding for generations.

Final Thought

The biggest influence my father had on me was showing that business and family are not separate worlds.

How you build matters.

How you treat people matters.

How you use success matters.

The playbook for this

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