2009 is a year to remember for many private banking professionals. Hedge funds failed, Bernard Madoff convicted, clients withdrew assets from private banks. The global financial crisis has fundamentally changed how the HNWI clients invest and the wealth management business itself. As part of an orginal research, we study financial data and key events in [...]

Before you open an account with an advisor, make sure you conduct your own due diligence and know the answers to the key questions on topics such as conflicts of interests and fees. This special due diligence checklist has been created to help you understand your risk. Private Banking Due Diligence Checklist (pdf)

For most investors and financial professionals, 2009 is a year to remember. The collapse of Lehman brothers, the conviction of Michael Madoff, the massive layoff within the industry and the dramatic drop in equity value make 2009 a year to remember, for all the wrong reasons. Two Harvard Business School professors, Michael Porter and Jan [...]

This is a book summary I have written for “The relationship edge: the key to strategic influence and selling success” by Jerry Acuff. Selling success comes from meaningful dialog and meaningful dialog in turn comes from trust. Good relationship itself doesn’t sell, people still have to explain benefits and features in order to close a [...]

Recently I read an article on Wall Street Journal about the trend of NGOs turning to professional wealth managers for financial help. The article cited that the total foundation assets in the US dropped about 22%, or almost $150 billion, in 2008.  There are many benefits for charity boards to use professional financial advisory services, [...]

Excellent advisors can help you draft complex strategies to protect your assets, manage your cashflows and provide high value strategic advice. Mediocre advisors on the other hand only want your commissions and often encourage you to take positions that don’t serve you any good. Because of how “secretive” the private banking industry is, it is [...]

In short, the answer is YES. However, clients have to prove that their losses are direct results of negligence on the private bankers part. When the market is hot and everyone is making money, life is easy for wealth advisers. Advisers take their clients to lunch at Four Seasons, or go for a round of [...]

When people talk about private banking, some images automatically come to mind: Switzerland, secret vault and mysterious account holders. There are many good reasons why many high net worth individuals choose to put their money in offshore accounts, but before you decide to open one, I urge you to think through the following issues: Insurance [...]

Middle East is one of the fastest growing market for private banks. The international monetary fund estimated the GCC countries have more than $1.5 trillion in total private wealth. Like other regions, the Middle East market is unique in many ways. If you live in the region and plan to use a private bank to [...]

Boutique firms can be appealing for many reasons. For most seasoned investors, the reputation of the private banker is just as important as that of the bank. Savvy investors need to like their relationship manager AND the bank itself before transferring assets. Some private banking clients are willing to move part of their asset with [...]

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