74: Building a Family That Outlives You | John Knowlton on Shared Governance, Wealth, and Legacy

John Knowlton might be one of my favorite guests to date. If you're someone who wants to do business at a high level and have a thriving marriage, family, and financial life, this episode is for you.John co-founded several wealth management firms, growing the last one to $1.25 billion in client assets before selling his interest in 2020 to invest more deeply in his family. He's been a dual-career guy his whole adult life — part-time pastor, full-time business leader — and today he serves as chief of staff at his church after years of leading peer advisory groups for Christian CEOs through C12.In this conversation, John pulls back the curtain on something I haven't heard many people talk about: family governance. Instead of the traditional estate plan where parents manage everything and kids inherit it later, John and his wife Julie have invited their four adult kids into shared decision-making now. They've built a family board, a philanthropy committee, and an investment committee — and his kids are actually sitting on them. We get into how they developed their family's mission, vision, and values, and how this whole framework is designed to pass on more than money: the habits and wisdom that built it.We also talk about the "most important hour" of the day, how John listens for God's voice (often through his wife), what 25 years of marriage has taught him about partnership, and why the question "what's for dinner?" is the wrong one to ask your spouse.My challenge to you: write down three things from this episode you want to put into practice — today, this week, or this year. Then DM me on Instagram and tell me what you implemented. And go thank John on LinkedIn for sharing his wisdom.Let's get into it.