This white paper collects research highlights from earlier papers by Generation Investment Management on five key subjects: Climate Change, Pandemics, Real Needs at the Base and Peak of the Economic Pyramid, Water, and Demographics.
Liquidity, in simplest terms, is the ability to meet your financial obligations, to cover your interest, principal and expenses. It is commonly thought of ready cash or the ability to convert assets to cash, quickly and without a loss. Why is liquidity important? Having enough cash to handle those shocks and surprises that inevitably occur will hel...
Altair looks at why bank custody ensures greater safety of client assets in this Worth magazine article.
Under certain conditions, illiquid wealth can quickly evaporate, or worse – assets can suddenly start to behave like liabilities. If you are successful, then you are wealthy – on paper. Illiquid assets carry a high potential for risk on the balance sheet. But individuals who hold illiquid assets tend to have many wealth planning opportu...
The fundamental problem with the art and collectibles market is opaqueness in transactions. This article explains how transactional standards for fine art and collectibles compare to real estate and the role of a title insurer in art transactions.
Artwork or other collectibles often comprise a special part of a family's assets. In addition to holding deep personal meaning, they may have significant financial value. While these items should be viewed just like other assets such as real estate or financial investments, there are some unique factors and complexities to consider.
The global law firm Withers has witnessed an increase in the number of art-related cases coming before the English courts. Although individuals and entities involved in these art disputes will attempt to resolve their differences out of court and through settlement, they often end up in litigation, which carries financial costs. It is important to ...
Art ownership disputes occur every day in the market, which may include historical theft or traditional liens and encumbrances. Buyers, sellers, museums and fiduciaries should be aware of liability issues created by lack of transparency in art and collectibles transactions.
No Lapse Guarantee (NLG) policies, or policies with NLG riders are attractive to some insureds. The premise behind these policies is that as long as the premium is paid on time each year, the death benefit is guaranteed. Thus, many insureds, advisors, and trustees are under the impression that these policies do not require ongoing review. This is a...
It is frequently suggested that that family offices should mimic institutions and adopt an institutionally disciplined and process-oriented approach when managing their investment portfolios. Through a process-oriented approach, institutions and family offices can be more effective and produce more efficient long-term results.While this concept is ...
Family business owners begin their adventures balancing two priorities: keeping the business as an integral part of an ever-expanding family and creating a profitable, sustainable organization. In the end, family is the guiding force behind the company’s success; maximizing value for the next generation is sometimes more important than maximi...
With more people investing more money in art and fine collectibles, whether for purely aesthetic or for strategic financial purposes, awareness of the risks associated with these investments and the ways to protect these assets is vital. Collectors should pay particular atte...
While everyone is at risk when it comes to hackers and online thieves, the wealthy are specifically targeted, and increasingly by aggressive and well-organized individuals. The good news is there is a lot you can do to protect yourself and your family. It won't take much time - most of the effort involves simple, common-sense steps ...
The paper discusses how many advisors and high net worth clients view life insurance as an expense as opposed to a dynamic asset that requires constant monitoring, analysis and periodic decision-making to give it the best opportunity to perform as it was intended. Included are some case examples of real life situations and once read can provi...
Family offices are complicated because of the scope of services they deliver, the high number and complexity of entities they oversee and the staff they must manage. These complexities can open the door to liability. Employing consistent policies and procedures, establishing an annual entity review process, maximizing protection provided by indemni...