The family wealth industry is at a strategic inflection point with a future that’s both bright and turbulent. Wealth professionals will face challenges driven by the rising complexity of the families they serve and the imperative to evolve quickly and serve a broader range of their clients’ needs and expectations.  ...
Increased use of modern networking technologies, including social media, is creating new forms of participation, shifting power from producer to citizen and building customer sovereignty. For corporations and organizations, entry into the digital society rests on new economic principles, rules of play, and collaborative business models.
Recognize that a cyber attack will occur at some point during a business lifecycle. Whether it is through web attacks, email phishing, exploit kits, point of sale, keystroke logging, or ransomware, the bad actors have figured out how to defeat your latest defense against a cyber attack. They know what will make you click on the link that will give ...
Families are often overwhelmed by the complexity and sense of burden that comes with managing all the component parts of wealth across generations. More concerning, though, is the lost opportunities and the loss of capital that results from not getting it right. But owning and managing significant wealth does not have to be difficult, and learning ...
Cybercriminals targets the financial industry 300 times more frequently than any other industry, resulting in mega breaches and millions of records stolen through hacktivism, malware, social engineering, phishing, and other applications. The harsh consequences of remaining vulnerable to cybersecurity breaches are costly, and the number one threat t...
Strong cybersecurity for protecting sensitive client data is a critical capability for any Registered Investment Advisor firm. In 2013, Hardy Reed—one of the first firms to earn the Center for Fiduciary Excellence certification—considered cloud services as an option for its IT needs. They wanted to look at alternate options to replacing...
When a family needs to add to their domestic staff, they often call upon their family office for assistance in overseeing the process. This paper from Mahler Private Staffing provides an overview of the steps involved in hiring domestic staff, as well as questions to ask when assessing search firms.
To be competitive, advisors need to determine and consistently demonstrate what makes them unique and relevant to ultra-wealthy clients. This workbook from Natixis Global Associates helps advisors define what they stand for, understand how they are perceived, determine the priorities and needs of clients, create a personal brand message, develop an...
This PriceWaterhouseCoopers study of global private banking and wealth management provides insight into the themes and trends affecting the world of wealth management as well as practical suggestions for actions wealth managers should be taking. The study is conveniently divided into six sections covering performance, client service, products and s...
In the latest issue of Private Banking Newsletter, Baker & McKenzie examines the case of Centre Trustees (CI) Ltd & Another v Van Rooyen & Others, in which the Royal Court of Jersey endorsed the removal of the protector who had put himself in a position where his own interests were in serious conflict with the interests of the trust beneficiaries.
The crisis of confidence in private banking has some obvious causes. It also has one not so obvious remedy: change the ownership structure. This remedy, however, requires a high level of involvement in all aspects of the business. For those families willing to make the commitment, Mutual Private Bank says, the only confidence that matters may be in...
GenSpring reports that despite increased market volatility and instability on global markets, threats of inflation and recession, the age of affluence is upon us. It further argues that men play a central role in decision-making of most affluent families. Understanding their attitudes, views and practices may therefore help us to understand their f...
This research brief reports on declining UHNW client satisfaction levels among their wealth advisors and private banks.
This IBM report argues that many client relationship managers do not actively sell their firm. IBM also contends that there is a tremendous opportunity for wealth management firms to strategically use client attitudinal information to target and improve high-impact service interactions. Firms that get it right can strengthen their ability to improv...
Even with the recently enacted financial industry reform legislation, prudent investors should evaluate whether their advisors are truly acting in their best interest by examining nine areas in which a conflict of interest could exist.