Grayson Clements

27/10/2026

What’s the point of building generational wealth if it doesn’t make life better for the generations that follow?

Our director Andrew Clements joined Frances Cook - Journalist on the Making Cents podcast to discuss why conversations about money, family expectations and shared values are just as important as the wealth itself.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation below.

26/10/2026

When Andrew Clements joined Nadine Higgins on the NZ Herald’s Prosperity Project podcast, they tackled one of the big questions facing families: how do you help the next generation financially without creating unintended consequences?

From the Bank of Mum and Dad to family values, fairness and succession planning, the conversation explored how families can use their wealth to help the next generation get ahead — without creating conflict or entitlement along the way.

Read more on our website, where you’ll also find the link to listen to the full NZ Herald podcast:
www.graysonclements.co.nz/how-to-help-your-children-buy-property-without-risking-family-fallout-andrew-clements-on-the-prosperity-project-podcast

22/10/2026

When a family member is administering an estate, a lack of communication can quickly become frustrating - and sometimes worrying.

But silence or delays don’t necessarily mean something is wrong. There may be information still being gathered, third parties involved, or simply someone feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility.

A good first step is to ask what has been done so far, what happens next and when you can expect an update. If the lack of communication continues, or you have concerns about how the estate is being managed, it may be worth getting independent advice about your options.

Grayson Clements lawyer Tefin Joseph explains what to look out for and the steps you can take when an executor - or an attorney acting under an EPA - isn’t fulfilling their role as expected.

Learn more here: www.graysonclements.co.nz/what-to-do-when-an-attorney-or-executor-fails-their-duties

20/10/2026

What does wealth have to do with wellbeing?

Quite a lot, actually.

When we talk about building wealth for future generations, it's easy to focus on the financial side. However, as our Director Andrew Clements explains in this conversation with Frances Cook on the Making Cents podcast, true wealth goes well beyond money.

It's also about the knowledge, relationships, values and opportunities we pass on to the next generation.

Because building generational wealth shouldn't just be about leaving your family more money, it should be about helping them live better lives.

20/10/2026

If you couldn’t make decisions tomorrow, who actually has the authority to run your business?

For many founder-led businesses, the obvious answer might be a spouse, co-founder or trusted senior employee.

But as Grayson Clements Director Andrew Clements explains in NZBusiness, being the obvious person to step in and having the legal authority to do so aren’t necessarily the same thing.

It’s one of the vulnerabilities that can emerge when a business grows faster than the governance structures around it.

Andrew looks at founder dependency, why succession planning matters well before retirement, and the importance of making sure governance evolves alongside the business you’ve built.

Read Andrew’s full opinion piece in NZBusiness: “The hidden vulnerability inside many successful SMEs”:

https://nzbusiness.co.nz/opinion/the-hidden-vulnerability-inside-many-successful-smes

19/10/2026

When it comes to family wealth, it's often the conversations that haven't happened that cause the biggest problems.

Who will take over the family business? What do the children expect to inherit? Does everyone actually agree on what the future should look like?

These aren't always easy conversations to have, but leaving them until decisions need to be made can create misunderstandings, conflict and unnecessary stress.

Our Director Andrew Clements recently joined financial journalist Frances Cook - Journalist for a second episode of the Making Cents podcast, this time taking a closer look at the family dynamics behind generational wealth.

Drawing on his experience working with families on private wealth and succession, Andrew discusses how unspoken expectations can derail even the best intentions, why involving the next generation early matters, and how families can approach succession with a shared sense of purpose.

It's a fascinating conversation about the human side of wealth and what it takes to protect both a family's assets and its relationships.

Thank you to Frances for having Andrew back.

🎧 Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/YxkKq0yxCIc?si=SXdt8qrnbvRdyURH

19/10/2026

What does it really take to build wealth that lasts for generations?

It's about much more than the money you leave behind.

Our Director Andrew Clements is back on Making Cents with Frances Cook, this time exploring why some families successfully pass wealth from one generation to the next, while others struggle with expectations, disagreements and family relationships.

Drawing on his experience advising families on private wealth and succession, Andrew shares why building a lasting legacy starts with understanding your family's values, having conversations early and preparing the next generation for responsibility.

And these aren't lessons reserved for the ultra-wealthy. They're relevant to any family wanting to give their children the best possible start in life.

A big thank you to Frances for inviting Andrew back for another great conversation!

We work hard so our kids don’t have to struggle the way we did - but could protecting them from money stress be the very thing that sets them up to fail?

It’s natural to want a softer landing for the next generation. But hand them everything on a plate, and you risk building entitlement instead of capability.

Parents want to protect, kids want freedom, and the real world doesn't care about good intentions.

The goal isn’t to let them ruin their lives or torpedo their reputation. It’s about handing them enough rope to learn the ropes of business and money for themselves.

That means giving them room to trip up, make poor calls, and face the natural consequences while the stakes are still manageable.

You can't teach money smarts if you never let them experience failure.

Broke down the balance between giving kids a hand without creating entitlement, on the latest episode of Making Cents with Andrew Clements from Grayson Clements.

Comment 262 and I'll send you the full episode!

18/10/2026

We’re proud of the people behind Grayson Clements and the expertise and experience they bring to our clients every day. So, over the coming months, we’re putting the spotlight on some of the people who make up our team.

First up is Donna Gifford, Senior Associate and Registered Legal Executive, who leads our Residential Property unit.

Donna has extensive experience helping clients navigate property transactions and settlements, where there can be plenty of moving parts - and plenty of important details to get right.

Known for her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to client service, Donna works to keep transactions moving smoothly and ensure clients know what’s happening throughout the process.

She’s also an active contributor across the wider firm, including Grayson Clements’ professional activities and pro bono support of key charities.

16/10/2026

Sometimes the most important question a client asks isn't the one they came in with.

A conversation about retirement becomes a discussion about helping children into their first homes.

A meeting about business performance turns into a question about succession.

The reality is that people's financial, business and family lives don't fit neatly into professional disciplines. The most effective advice often happens where different areas of expertise meet.

That's why, at Grayson Clements, we work alongside accountants, financial advisers, bankers and other professionals, bringing specialist legal expertise into the conversation when it's needed.

A little more about how we work together: https://www.graysonclements.co.nz/working-with-professional-advisers-on-family-wealth-governance-and-succession

14/10/2026

When ageing parents move onto an adult child’s property, contribute towards a minor dwelling, or provide money towards shared living arrangements, it often starts with the best of intentions.

But what does that financial contribution actually represent?

A gift? A loan? Something that should later be recognised through the estate?

And what happens if the property is sold, care needs change, or circumstances within the family shift?

Without those conversations, different family members can come away with very different understandings of what Mum and Dad intended.

Grayson Clements Director Andrew Clements shared his perspective with the nzherald.co.nz on the challenges families can face when supporting ageing parents and why having the tough conversations upfront can go a long way towards protecting family relationships.

Read the article here: www.graysonclements.co.nz/supporting-ageing-parents-how-to-avoid-family-conflict-and-protect-relationships