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This paper is a technical summary of some of the challenges facing the U.S. nonprofit museum community in regard to risk management of art ownership. It includes a summary of key events that has shaped the art market over the last 50 years as well as consideration of the effects of Sarbanes-Oxley and issues surrounding D&O insurance, where muse...

Families that marry the strength of individualism with a more inclusive, long-term mindset can capture the best of both worlds. They can improve on a traditional foundation with diversified business interests and strategically populate affiliated ventures with members of the extended family.

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.

While the outcome of many global issues remains uncertain, we believe the risk/reward equation favors taking well-calculated, above-average risk. Investor psychology can change at any moment. When the market returns its focus on individual company fundamentals, we expect significant alpha will be generated by portfolios that own high-quality compan...

Investors and advisors focused on wealth growth and preservation may see environment, social, and governance/socially responsible investing as taxing a portfolio's performance. This paper offers a framework with associated metrics for assessing ESG/SRI integration into the portfolio with the same rigor and discipline used in all other fiduciary dec...

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...

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...

Altair looks at why bank custody ensures greater safety of client assets in this Worth magazine article.

One of the key benefits of having a financial plan is how it can inform decisions regarding spending patterns and investment strategy. There are two questions that often come up during the process of developing a financial plan: How much risk should I take in my portfolio, assuming different spending levels and if I seem to have enough to cover rou...

Identity theft is now the fastest-growing financial crime, according to Thomson Reuters. Some 8.1 million people or 3.5 percent of the U.S. population were victims of identity theft last year. This paper outlines best practices to help safeguard your assets.

While family businesses are playing an important role in the economy and studies have regularly shown that in the long-term they outperform other businesses, there is the continual challenge of succession to the next generation. An estate is built up over the generations and the family grows larger. This source of diversity is not without its chall...

For many private collectors of fine art, lending artwork from their collection to a museum or cultural institution is a highly valuable and meaningful experience. For the good of the arts, it is very important that collectors continue to loan, but for the protection of collectors, it is also important that the financial value of the artwork be full...

Volatile financial markets can create potential problems for investors and their advisors. While many expenses are generally fixed, assets designated to fund expenses may increase or decrease in value. In a worst case scenario, managers may have to liquidate assets at potentially “distressed” levels to meet these obligations.  This paper reviews a ...

SmartLife Funding dynamically manages life insurance by aligning the funding strategy with the insureds health profile to target the optimum period of coverage.

Home networks, social media and mobile devices have enriched our lives in many ways, but they have also multiplied the opportunities for security breaches. Families, especially those of substantial means, need to carefully evaluate the precautionary measures and protocols that protect their cyber environments.