Episode 63: Amy Griman on Trust, Governance, and Human Readiness in Family Office Services

Amy Griman — founder of Delta Creative Group and former global president of the BMO Family Office — joins R. Adam Smith to explore what she calls the readiness gap: the distance between technically sound estate and governance structures and a family's actual preparedness to act on them. Drawing on more than 30 years at the intersection of trust law, family office services, and human capital, Amy unpacks how communication breakdowns, undefined decision-making architecture, and generational misalignment can unravel even the most sophisticated plans. The conversation spans succession, legacy, the Canadian versus U.S. wealth landscape, and how culture must inform governance — not the other way around.00:00 Welcome & Amy Griman Introduction01:53 Founding Delta Creative Group03:54 Trust & Estate Settlement: Early Career Lessons06:13 M&A, Liquidity Events & Readiness for Day Two08:48 Decision Architecture: Boards, Councils, and Charters10:46 Stress Testing Governance & Communication Cadence14:53 BMO Family Office: Platform, Culture & Client Experience17:14 Boutique vs. Institutional Advisory Models18:09 Family Culture, History, and the Ownership of Story22:36 Canadian Wealth Landscape vs. U.S. Market Dynamics24:28 Fusing Governance with Culture: G1 to G2 Transitions29:11 Defining Legacy: The Why Behind the Wealth30:10 Closing Reflections & Sign-Off