Family business consultants are experiencing unprecedented demand as baby boomers prepare to transfer $84 trillion in assets over the next two decades. Doug Baumoel founded Continuity Family Business Consulting after watching his family's $60 million industrial manufacturing company sold through court at a fraction of its value due to succession conflicts. The Great Wealth Transfer has transformed what was once a niche service into a booming industry.

Major financial institutions like UBS and Boston Consulting Group now offer family-focused services, charging clients anywhere from $100,000 to over $1 million for guidance. These consultants navigate complex corporate governance, succession planning, and philanthropic decisions while addressing the emotional impact of wealth on family dynamics. They serve as neutral arbiters before major events like succession or business sales.

The work extends beyond traditional business advice to handle deeply personal issues that can derail succession plans. Consultants must understand how businesses work without making clients feel "psychoanalyzed," dealing with everything from sibling rivalries to family histories involving addiction or incarceration. Families pay premium prices for this expertise because the consequences of getting wealth transfer wrong—both financially and emotionally—can be devastating.