Facilitate Meaningful Conversations About Wealth and Purpose
With Shaking the Tree Interactive Productions
Conversations about decision-making, trust, communication, and family dynamics within affluent families often become tense, fragmented, or avoided altogether, leaving key generational insights and meaningful connections untapped.
That’s why we created Shaking the Tree…
Shaking the Tree bridges this gap using an immersive, theater-based approach to spark open, engaging, and meaningful intergenerational dialogues, helping families navigate complex topics with empathy, creativity, and clarity.
Our Story
Launched in 2000, by wealth management executives Maryann Fernandez and Paul McKibbin, in partnership with Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Founding Ensemble Member, David Kersnar, Shaking The Tree is a nonprofit content production company with a unique theater-based approach to enriching multi-generational conversations about wealth and purpose. For more than two decades, our productions have inspired meaningful insights into the challenges facing affluent families and their advisors.Â
Our Living Case Studies are multi-layered stories that explore complex topics such as family business succession, family governance and decision-making, philanthropy, and the dynamics of inherited wealth.
Click below to learn more about our team and our clients.
Learn MoreWork With Us
Shaking the Tree works with individual families, family offices, advisor firms, and industry associations to help facilitate meaningful conversations around family wealth and legacy. We can help create your custom training plan that can include:
- Access to Living Case Studies
- Live Theatrical Productions
- Support with Facilitation
- And more!
Learn More about How We Work with Clients
Learn More
What Audiences Had to Say About Shaking the Tree
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“A must-see for anyone working with wealthy families. This is a powerful presentation.” Â
“I was uncertain about this at first, but it turned out to be a great session.”Â
“Excellent interaction that developed good discussion and group work.”    Â
“An all too familiar scenario....great learning tool."
“Fabulous! Very realistic.”Â
"Very helpful. Good way to illustrate tough issues."
The Living Case Study
Shaking the Tree developed The Living Case Study as a pathway to exploring such emotional issues as succession, corporate governance, family decision-making, and the responsibility of inherited wealth, including philanthropy.
Through the combined use of professionally produced live or video content and expert facilitation, The Living Case Study generates meaningful and open discussion on the real impact of the choices made and actions taken by individuals and families of substantial resources.
The best way to understand the impact of our Living Case Studies is for you to experience them for yourself. Get a sample of our content with our 7-Day Free Trial.
Sample the Living Case Studies