Susan Schoenfeld is a Family Wealth Keynote Speaker on the human side of wealth who helps family offices, wealth management firms, and multigenerational families strengthen governance, prepare rising generations, and build enduring family legacies.
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Top rated!Susan R. Schoenfeld, JD, LL.M. (Taxation), CPA, MBA, is an award-winning keynote speaker on the human side of family wealth, family governance, and the family dynamics of wealth for ultra-high-net-worth families and their trusted advisors. A self-described "recovering" Trusts & Estates attorney and CPA, she spent nearly 15 years as a Principal at Bessemer Trust serving UHNW families before becoming Family Ambassador to a $600 million single-family office.
Today, she serves as a conflict-free thought partner on the human issues of wealth, offering no investment, tax, or legal advice and selling no products. Susan brings unfiltered, actionable insight to the conversations that matter most: legacy, stewardship, family governance, philanthropy, and leadership succession.
She combines decades of real-world experience, compelling stories, and practical frameworks that audiences can immediately apply to their own families and clients.
Susan brings a keynote that combines expertise, storytelling, and actionable conversations
Audiences leave with practical strategies to:
5 of 5
“Thank you so much for speaking for our group this morning. It was a fantastic event and I received excellent reviews from audience members so wanted to thank you again.”
Eva MinsterisCPA, Senior Managing Director
5 of 5
“Susan connected immediately with a small but diverse audience and held them rapt for the entire presentation. Her points were well supported, not just with data (over which she showed her mastery), but also with real-world, first-person experiences from her personal and professional background. Also importantly, she was a world-class person with whom to work. Our team loved getting to know her and were genuinely delighted at how friendly and pragmatic she was. She’s permanently on our short list of future speakers!“
Michael M. GodsyGeneral Counsel & Director of Operations, LionsGate Advisors, St. Louis, MO
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“Grateful for the outstanding thought leadership presented by Susan Schoenfeld at The Dallas Foundation Professional Advisor Seminar. Her expertise in helping clients navigate the complexity of family wealth dynamics was truly insightful and informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!”
Alex UggePrivate Wealth Advisor, Bank of Texas
5 of 5
“Susan spoke to our network of professional advisors about the importance of the ‘soft’ topics when discussing family wealth. Her message hit home with our group, and it helped facilitate some amazing conversation about charitable giving within families of wealth. Her presentation was precise, thoughtful, and provided some amazing takeaways for our network of advisors. We absolutely loved working with Susan and would recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable speaker!
Halee CunninghamGeneral Counsel/Director of Planned Giving, Blue Grass Community Foundation
5 of 5
“Susan spoke at our annual conference, and we invited her back to speak at our regional summer conference. An accomplished speaker, Susan addresses the topics foremost in the minds of family enterprise owners and stakeholders, as well as the attorneys and others who serve them. Her organization and responsiveness from planning through follow-up make her a pleasure to work with.”
Andrew N. KarlenEsq., (former) President Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises
5 of 5
“Susan joined us at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to discuss the importance of family legacy with professional advisors who work with charitable clients. Not only does she understand the unique qualities of community foundations as valuable partners for generous families, but Susan also has both a heart and a mind for philanthropy, and she uses both to truly engage her audience.”
Michele CareyVice President, Philanthropic Strategies Greater Cincinnati Foundation
5 of 5
“Thank you Susan for your fantastic talk at our Marcum Wealth Dimensions meeting. Your insights are spot-on, and the audience just loved it. Everyone was completely engaged.“
Rorrie Gregorio CPAPartner and Family Office Practice Leader, Marcum LLP
5 of 5
“We were so happy to have Susan Schoenfeld present for our virtual Annual Professional Advisor Virtual Continuing Education Seminar. Her talk, ‘Family Wealth — A Hard Look at the “Soft” Issues,’ really hit home. Susan has such a great way of talking about the human side of wealth: things like family dynamics, communication, and preparing the next generation – in a way that’s relatable, practical and actionable. Susan’s expertise, warmth, and clarity made complex topics accessible and relevant to our professional advisor audience. She kept them engaged from start to finish, and the feedback from our attendees was fantastic!“
Pragya MurphyCAP®, MBA, Director of Development & Impact Investing, Central New York Community Foundation
5 of 5
“Susan delivered an exceptional and deeply meaningful presentation to our fundholders and professional advisor community. Drawing on her extensive experience, she offered clear, thoughtful perspectives and practical strategies that genuinely connected with our sophisticated audience. Her remarks were both compelling and timely, equipping donors and advisors with actionable ideas for navigating the complex intersections of family wealth, legacy, and philanthropic decision making.”
Julie Van TongerenVice President of Development Collier Community Foundation
5 of 5
“It was a true pleasure to host Susan Schoenfeld for our recent Cincinnati Estate Planning Council event. Susan’s presentation was not only insightful and engaging, but also keenly relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing families of wealth today. We especially appreciated the thoughtful prompts and the interactive working session, which sparked meaningful conversations and led to key action items we’re now implementing in our practices. Susan brings a rare blend of technical expertise and human connection that elevates every conversation. I highly recommend her as a speaker and thought partner in the wealth advisory space.“
Rachel RasmussenPresident of Cincinnati Estate Planning Council, and Investment Manager, Shareholder of Foster & Motley
5 of 5
“Susan masterfully connected with audience members on a personal level, as well as their other roles, such as donor, professional advisor, or nonprofit fundraiser. The plain language content and real-life examples were very approachable for everyone, but still profound. We had great feedback from attendees in the room that day , and we have continued to receive positive feedback since her presentation.”
Randall S. RossVice President, Donor Services, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
5 of 5
“Susan Schoenfeld delivered an insightful and engaging talk to some of our firm’s top clients, focusing on family governance and strategies for growing a lasting family legacy. Her professionalism, depth of knowledge, and warm presence made her a joy to work with, and her message truly resonated with our audience.”
Michael D. NapierManaging Partner HORAN Wealth
5 of 5
“Susan Schoenfeld is a gifted storyteller who blends expertise, experience, and insight in a way that draws people in—and moves them forward. Her keynote at our recent event for affluent families and business owners was met with universal appreciation from clients, our internal team, and outside experts alike. Susan has a rare ability to make complex topics feel clear, relevant, and actionable. Thanks to her contribution, our event was elevated and made more valuable for everyone in the room. She brought the same clarity and impact when speaking to one of our city’s most respected philanthropic organizations.”
Mike TaylorFounder & Chief Strategist Mike Taylor Consulting
5 of 5
“Susan nails it every time! She first spoke at Opal’s Annual Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum back in 2014, and we’ve invited her back to speak every year since. Our audiences love her insight and actionable takeaways, and our in-house event planners love her flexibility and responsiveness.”
David LeibowitzSVP of Investor Relations, Opal Group Opal Group
5 of 5
“As an advisor who deals with money behavior issues each and every day, it was great to have Susan speak at a recent client event of mine. Not only is she articulate and to the point with her message but she really shares a unique angle of openness to the fragile topic of Family ‘money talks.’”
Christopher CobbSenior Vice President – Investments Wells Fargo Advisors
5 of 5
“One of the few women on the national speaking circuit who is guiding financial services firms and their clients to connect with the human side of the client relationship.”
Family Wealth Report Awards
Keynote by Susan Schoenfeld:
Susan’s most requested topic!
The human issues that keep UHNW families up at night: communication, stewardship, and preparing the next generation.
Ideal audience: Clients, Donors, Family offices, Wealth advisors, Estate planners, Private banks, Other Professional Advisors
Audience learns
Available as a keynote or workshop, or a blend of the two.
“One of the few women on the national speaking circuit who is guiding financial services firms and their clients to connect with the human side of the client relationship.” – Family Wealth Report Awards
45–120 minutes
Keynote by Susan Schoenfeld:
Practical strategies for creating productive family meetings, improving communication, and building governance that works across generations.
Keynote by Susan Schoenfeld:
Navigate the emotional dynamics of leadership transition while preserving family relationships, business continuity, and long-term legacy.
Watch Susan Schoenfeldin action!
