A method for determining the complexity level of a prospective client and evaluating if they are a good fit for the firm's services.
Even with the recently enacted financial industry reform legislation, prudent investors should evaluate whether their advisors are truly acting in their best interest by examining nine areas in which a conflict of interest could exist.
In our 1st Quarter 1991 newsletter, FOX interviewed the Laird Norton family office, which at that time had become a Private Trust Company and had been serving outside clients for several years. Now a firmly established Multifamily Office, Larid Norton discusses how their firm has evolved.
In general, a lifestyle specialist should save you time, reduce your stress, be exceptionally trustworthy and honest, and demonstrate veritable focus on making your specific desires and objectives into exceptional realities. The imperative to preserve your complete privacy, security, and integrity should be both second nature and at the front of...
Social media has moved from the fringes of techno geek culture to the mainstream with astonishing speed. The terms “social media” (or “social networking” or “Web 2.0”) is a catch-all for a variety of digital services, usually free to users and carrying advertising. Technology has always outpaced regulation and social media is no exception. Regulato...
Just a couple of decades ago a fortune of $50 million was more than sufficient to justify directly employing a staff of accountants and investment managers to keep track of the family finances, including the holdings of various trusts and foundations. Today, the “break even” point is closer to $250 million and climbing. Hence, many former single-fa...
Once a “fad” for tweens, teenagers and young adults, social media has morphed into a long list of websites and other applications that are frequented and used by people of all ages. Used correctly, social media can reap many benefits for families of wealth and their businesses. However, inappropriate use can wreak havoc on families' reputations and...
To select a high quality advisor, families must do their due diligence to verify experience, credentials and weed out conflicts of interest. This article, originally published in Worth magazine, looks at what questions you should ask during the selction process.
Altair looks at the diversification and safety benefits of placing all assets with one advisor in this article originally published in Worth magazine.
Portfolios do not exist in a vacuum. Investment decisions have tax implications, estate plans often have investment implications, and insurance may affect all aspects of your financial plan. With this level of interconnectedness, a lack of strong coordination among advisors leads to inefficiencies and, perhaps worse, missed opportunities.
How much capital does your family have? Is there enough to secure a stable and happy future for you and your children, or even for your children’s children? When the topic is one of financial capital, these are likely familiar questions to anyone dealing with wealth transfer concerns. But what many families often fail to see is the opportunity to b...
One of the greatest concerns among wealthy parents is that the family’s great fortune might inadvertently lead to misfortune for their children. Raising responsible children in affluence is a life-long task requiring patience and persistence. Like learning to read, financial literacy is a process that is best started in early childhood. Teachable m...
For financial advisors, starting or expanding family office services can be a challenging task, especially when considering the multi-family office model. This report examines how traditional financial advisors are confronting growing demand for family office services among their wealthy clients.
Family offices of all sizes face document management challenges for a number of reasons: Increasing regulatory compliance requirements are revealing existing document management gaps/deficiencies. As FOs increase advisor productivity in client service and business development through advanced CRM systems, the deficiencies...
The loss of a spouse to either death or divorce is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through. Life will change irrevocably in many ways for the surviving spouse or separated partners. This article reviews often-neglected steps that may lessen the burden and financial issues that you and/or your spouse may face when this painful lo...