Articles

First generation wealth creators may recognise the importance of family governance as a way of preparing their family for their financial future. Getting started can be difficult and although these wealth creators may think they can institute family governance in their own families, it’s more a process the family needs to reach together.

Art is generally bought as a collector’s item or simply to decorate one’s home. However, recently the phenomenon of art as an asset class has become more prominent, partly fuelled by the 2006-2008 boom years when extraordinary prices were achievable.

With many family offices reaching the 2nd, 3rd of 4th generation, the average number of family members is growing. Many families also have more and more members living in different parts of the world, which makes it difficult to meet physically and to share information rapidly.

The fall-out from the global financial crisis of the last 18 months hasn’t been all bad. Many investment houses not only lost a sizeable portion of their clients’ wealth but a good measure of their trust and confidence.

The cleantech sector is now just over five years old. Of course it has been around a lot longer than that but in terms of its classification as a viable alternative asset class with professional investors involved - five years is the age. What have we seen over that period? What returns have been achieved by investors or not, as was often the case?

Much of British private client investment management is dominated by investment in equities, an asset class which has lost some 15% in nominal terms (and much more in real terms) over the past 10 years.

Most people today would say the world is global and certainly everybody would agree the economy is global.

From its very inception, it was always the plan that Iveagh would be a family office with a difference.

Aristotle once said: “To give away money is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.” I admire that quote as it’s perfectly true: the more money you want to give away, the more complicated it can become.

The events of the past two years have led many to question the wisdom of Fund of Hedge Fund (FoHF) investing. Those who say FoHFs should not be a seriously considered asset class for any family office point to a multitude of negatives.