Family Office Best Practices

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Social Media: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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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 can result in other costly damages. This paper outlines the most popular types of social media as well as its good, bad and downright ugly aspects.

Employee or Independent Contractor? Your Chance to Come Clean
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The decision of whether to treat someone working for you as an employee or an independent contractor is not always crystal clear. With increasing frequency, IRS is assessing tax, interest and penalties in situations where they believe workers have been incorrectly treated as independent contractors. This white paper examines the legal and tax considerations of treating a worker as an independent contractor and how to rectify past errors of categorization.

Social Media in Investment Management
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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. Regulators in the US and Europe have so far issued only general regulatory guidance and many firms are skeptical about what steps they should take – if any – to start their foray into social media.

Insights into Planning a Family Vacation to China
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This report looks at the keys to planning a successful trip to China, including aviation, medical care, and personal security. It includes a case study of family traveling to Beijing and Shanghai.

Business Continuity in the World of Technology
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In this 2012 Financial Executives Forum presentation, Jeremy Kahn, AVP of IT at Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc., provided an overview of cloud computing and their benefits to family offices. He defined cloud computing as “a model for enabling on-demand access to a pool of computing resources that can be provisioned and released with minimal effort.”

Going Beyond the Traditional Quarterly Financial Report
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In this 2012 Financial Executive Forum session, a panel of Heather Asher, Family Office Exchange; W. Jackson Parham, Jr., Chief Investment Officer, Eton Advisors, LP; and Michael Madigan, Director, Product Management, Advent Software, Inc.; discussed approaches to reporting that promote readership, prompt broader family involvement and engagement, and ultimately help family members remain focused on their long-term goals.

Human Resource Challenges
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In this 2012 Financial Executive Forum panel discussion, Bonnie Gauger of Johnson Keland Management and Shannon Zur from Vogel Consulting provided the contrasting human resources perspectives of a single family office and of a department in a multi-family office.

Holding a Family Meeting at an Overseas Destination
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A family meeting held at an overseas destination can enable a family to impart values to younger generations, strengthen its legacy, and engage in hands-on philanthropic activities together. Learn how in this article.

Family Reputation Management: Practical Advice
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When it comes to families, reputation management involves much more than preparing for or responding to critical incidents. It is connected to the family’s values, history, and future aspirations. This article provides an overview of best practices families can institute to foster and safeguard their good name.

How to Fully Utilize Your Luxury Concierge
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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 their minds. They should make life better, easier, and more fulfilling for you. Lifestyle specialists, like personal assistants, concierges, and estate managers, are problem solvers.