Wealth management decisions carry an inherent risk for all investors but especially for ultra-wealthy families that require the services of a range of providers. Regardless of the advisory firm a family selects, it’s in the family’s best interest to ensure that, above all, the firm adheres to five core fiduciary principles of wealth management.
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More frequent review and adjustment of asset allocation, incorporating opportunistic investing and employing flexible strategies, such as global asset allocation and global macro managers, enables investment programs to increase return and manage risk more effectively.
Case management, a new concept in the addiction and behavioral health field, can significantly increase the likelihood of sustained recovery for individuals who suffer from chronic diseases such as alcoholism, drug dependence, depression and other addictive and behavioral disorders.
Supportive and knowledgeable family members can be very influential in supporting a loved one’s recovery from addiction. With the help of a trusted addiction counselor, families can become “positive enablers” by developing a long-term recovery management plan, looking for effective treatment and identifying sources of leverage for treatment compliance.
Not every family member may want to be directly involved in a family’s core operating business. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be part of the family’s legacy. A family bank gives all family members the opportunity to be “makers” rather than simply benefiting from the hard work of those who came before them.
Giving forethought to difficult circumstances can provide important clarity that helps companies avoid worst-case scenarios. Owners can begin by being as objective as possible, treating shares and structure with respect and thinking of the next generation.
In examining the process of transitioning the ownership and management of a family business, this paper discusses pre-transition planning, considers the challenges of intergenerational ownership transfers vs. third-party sales, and proposes a framework for meeting family and business goals through the process.
Thoughtful planning before the sale of a business can yield many benefits to its owner, including ensuring the owner’s family is financially protected if something unexpected happens to the owner or the business before a sale, reducing potential family conflicts that may arise as a result of a potential sale and minimizing the impact of future gift and estate taxes.
Parents often struggle with determining when to talk with children about family finances, what information to share and how family wealth can be used to provide children with the best resources and opportunities without creating passive expectations that discourage financial independence. This sourcebook provides recommended resources categorized by type and, when appropriate, organized by age group.
Questions of what should be revealed, to whom and when all make up what Inheriting Wisdom refers to as the “Transparency Myth.” The Transparency Myth relates to the belief that transparency among families, although generally considered a good attribute, can also have less productive results if offered at inopportune times. This paper examines in-depth the question of transparency, arguing that transparency among families of wealth is not a zero sum game.