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Meet Thayer Willis
Internationally acclaimed author, educator, speaker and wealth counselor
Thayer Cheatham Willis is a leading authority in the area of wealth counseling. Born into the founding family of the multinational Georgia-Pacific Corporation, she brings to her field a unique insider’s perspective on contending with family dynamics as they relate to the mental and emotional challenges of wealth.
Thayer holds an MA from the University of Oregon and an MSW from Portland State University. While completing her second master’s degree, she designed and conducted research studies that explored the psychological problems associated with wealth. A licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, since 1992, she has authored two books, and her writing has appeared in Worth Magazine, Forbes Magazine and many other publications. As a prominent voice in her field, she has been interviewed for top financial publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Business Journal, and Time Magazine.
Since 1990 she has helped a global client base of over 10,000 inheritors—via individual counseling, family meetings, group retreats and presentations—resolve wealth-related family conflicts and live more meaningful lives.
Thayer's Books
Full of inspiration and advice, Thayer’s books offer readers an opportunity for private, self-paced reflection on common challenges associated with wealth and time-tested strategies to meet them well.
Beyond Gold is a paperbound workbook containing practical exercises designed to help readers apply the concepts presented in Thayer’s first book, Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth. Issues about inheritance are woven into each chapter, and the book addresses specific questions that many inheritors face.
A printable PDF of the exercises, activities and figures from Beyond Gold is available for situations when free-standing worksheets would be beneficial.
Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth: A Life Guide for Inheritors
In Navigating the Dark Side of Wealth, Thayer dismantles the popular assumption that money buys happiness. The sobering reality is that financial wealth can be detrimental to one’s mental, moral, and emotional well-being. Thayer offers guidance for inheritors seeking balanced and fulfilling identities and relationships. Wealth can be a tremendous asset: the irony is that making it an asset that enhances your life requires focused, ongoing work.