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To be competitive, advisors need to determine and consistently demonstrate what makes them unique and relevant to ultra-wealthy clients. This workbook from Natixis Global Associates helps advisors define what they stand for, understand how they are perceived, determine the priorities and needs of clients, create a personal brand message, develop and implement a brand-building plan, and measure the results.

Babson Capital explores distressed debt investing, describing the bankruptcy process, the role of debtor-in-possession facilities and the importance of valuation in understanding the investment opportunity. The report also outlines three distressed debt investment strategies based on the level of involvement: discount value, activist and control. While written for a U.S. audience, this report contains information relevant to investors globally.

Many donors are reassessing their charitable giving practices in the wake of the recession. It is in this context that Strategic Philanthropy Ltd. has compiled its annual guide for donors interested in thinking more concretely about how to be effective with their charitable donations at a time when the value of their philanthropic assets has likely decreased.

The 2010 health care legislation imposes numerous new taxes and mandates. This summary from Glenmede highlights key tax changes to which individuals and businesses may become subject. It combines the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act enacted in March.

A paper from Memoir Shoppe examines ethical wills and the age-old tradition of passing on spiritual assets. Most commonly written as letters, ethical wills are a unique, everlasting forum through which the ultra-wealthy come to understand and accept that authentic wealth can come from perpetuation of values, hopes, convictions, lessons learned and heartfelt blessings.

Deutsche Bank details the benefits, rationale and structures for short selling in making the case for the United States and European Union arriving at an equivalent regulatory framework for short selling. Currently, varied rules raise the cost of compliance, complicate assessment of market conditions and increase legal risks, the authors say.

If the market continues to transition to a more fundamentals-driven recovery, investment managers – including Shariah managers - with a track record of strong security selection capabilities may be in a better position than other managers to navigate such an environment, according to SEI Investments. Managers who follow strong due diligence processes and stringent risk management practices may be better positioned to make more consistent and less risky returns for their investors.

Research from Barclays Wealth finds that four factors keep individuals from donating more: a lack of financial security heightened by turbulent markets; a missing need to donate for familial, societal or religious reasons; concern about how charities are operated; and an unsupportive tax system.

A short article from TaylorWessing highlights the benefits of a Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility, including a shorter taxable period, lesser tax penalties and the guarantee of no criminal prosecution than would be otherwise available within the UK tax regime. For an individual eligible for the LDF, in the great majority of cases the LDF will offer a lower-cost tax deal than he or she could otherwise get.

The case of Agbaje v Agbaje is the first time the justices of the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) have been asked to consider under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 the circumstances in which a spouse may seek an additional financial award in England where the divorce has been concluded elsewhere. In the light of the judgment on 10 March, it is likely to lead to far more applications of this nature.