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Many family businesses are undergoing or anticipating transitions, prompting the need for trusted advisors more than ever. This session features experts who have deep breadth of experience in helping families manage business transitions and the complexity that comes with them, including new liquidity, helping founders find their next purpose, and m...

The term “passion investments” has gained currency within the wealth management arena to describe high-end collectibles and other luxury possessions that hold emotional as well as financial value for their owners. When considering that this new asset class has generated noticeable returns, it’s no surprise that owners want to protect their high-val...

The decision to sell or continue ownership of a family business is complex. Business owning families who recognize early the importance of both the financial and non-financial considerations of a potential sale are more likely to make good transition decisions.

Whether your collection of paintings are decorative pieces or appreciative investments (or both), they can hold a tremendous amount of meaning and value. As to the decision regarding how and where to display your fine works of art, it’s important to identify and consider the many factors that could lead to a loss. All paintings—including oils, acry...

No matter what stage of the business cycle you are in, you should always have a defined strategy for your business operations and potential exit. For many family business owners, the sale of their business will be the single largest transaction of their lives. Yet many enter this transaction not fully prepared. To ensure you maximize your sale, the...

Works of art are at great risk of being damaged during handling and transportation. To reduce the likelihood of loss, it is important to adhere to a stringent set of guidelines for every transit. Arrangements will differ in each situation, but following the recommended steps—including selecting a fine art specialty shipping company and reviewing yo...

When you’ve made the decision to protect a collection through insurance, you want to be sure that coverage amounts measure up to the value of your items. Determining proper values can be tricky, as so many variables impact a piece’s worth. Given the ever-changing market, values are in constant flux. That’s why professional appraisals are critical, ...

As high-net-worth investors discuss plans for charitable giving and investing with their financial advisors, it is absolutely crucial for them to be on the same page in terms of the outcomes desired, both financially and philanthropically. For this reason, advisors and their clients need a set vocabulary of terms going into the first meeting. Only ...

While many business owners are struggling to find qualified successors, family members oftentimes oppose proposed sales to outsiders because they think they should have the chance to take over the business. Research from Rothstein Kass suggests that advance planning can minimize family squabbles and ensure smoother business transitions.

While it is impossible to predict every catastrophe, thorough pre-event preparation and post-event response planning can help reduce the likelihood of loss and limit the severity of damage that can’t be avoided. This reference guide and sample planning forms based on decades of experience will help you proactively keep art and other valuables ...

Across the world, philanthropy is undergoing a transformation that offers both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. With so much in flux, emerging donors and established funders are seeking new models not only for funding strategies and impact measures, but also for organizational design and management systems that will serve them well in...

Art collections are unique and very personal assets. Planning to build and maintain a collection, and ensuring its future, requires balancing special rules applied to collectibles and the personal and financial realities of individuals or families. When collectors, their families, and their trusted advisors engage in purposeful planning for art col...

This issue brief examines the kinds of decisions that family foundations often face and sets out practical, easy-to-apply guidelines for ensuring that the foundation’s decision-making methods vary appropriately, as conditions and circumstances change. It includes factors to consider when selecting a decision-making method, guidance on how to commun...

Just as government and businesses require sound governance to do their work well, so too do families—and their philanthropy. The Family Governance Pyramid provides a model and framework for philanthropic families that is even more relevant and necessary today than when it was first introduced nearly two decades ago. This article by the National Cen...

Like any other objective, acquiring art is a goal that needs careful planning. To help make the art collector's experience more enjoyable and less risky, this checklist was developed for collectors to use to ensure they're investing wisely. Hear more from AXA XL’s Farzina Coladon, Underwriting Manager of Art, who offers advice on how new a...