The Medici were once the most powerful family in Italy, the family ran a bank and one of its biggest clients was the Pope. In addition, the family helped sponsor and encourage the Italian Renaissance particularly around the city of their hometown – Florence. In the book The Medici – Godfathers of the Renaissance written by Paul Strathern, Vintage Books, London, 2007, the Medici were the dominant financial and political family in Florence.

In many communities, a group of families tend to dominate the political arena and conversely the financial sector. This is both good and bad, but it can be great if the right leader emerges and brings stability to the region. In the Medici times when families disagreed, were jealous, or had grand ambition,  the families often had private armies which lead to someone dying. Plots are hatch, the people back one group or another, people flee, come back and life goes on. Politics really was a blood sport. Thankfully, we now talk about it, not very often kill people. In the Medici times, the political aspirations is interesting reading.

Linking to dividend producing stocks, the head of the company have the ability to add to the wealth of the shareholders and can do so much more if desired. There has been a variety of Presidents who feel only the financial results are important; there are others who do both. The important aspect is the balance and where in the strategic plan it fits in for the President and the Company.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.