High net worth investors face investment challenges that some would consider unique to their financial status. The fundamental tenets of investing apply equally to them as with any other investor, but the affluent investor needs to be mindful of issues that typically arise only from substantial wealth.
Let’s examine a few of these.
Being Too Conservative - When an individual has more assets than they think they’ll ever spend, there can be a tendency toward conservative investment. This may result in lower long-term returns that may shortchange the impact of bequests to charities or the wealth that will transfer to the next generation.
Collectibles - The affluent often invest in their passions, and many collectibles have performed well over the years. However, one common mistake is not keeping up-to-date appraisals on record, which may have adverse consequences with regard to estate liquidity and taxes.1
Concentrated Equity - Some senior executives accumulate large stock positions in the company that employs them.2 This creates a unique risk and potentially can be managed in several ways.
DIY Mentality - Some wealthy investors have achieved a high level of success in their careers, in large measure due to their intelligence, hard work, and self-confidence. This very success often carries over to the belief that building or managing successful enterprises is not dissimilar to managing great wealth. But it can be quite different, requiring a whole different body of knowledge and experience.
Too Many Professionals - Affluent investors often place their investment assets with multiple professionals, thinking that better results will arise from that. However, many of the key needs for larger portfolios, such as risk management and tax efficiency, will suffer since there is no overarching view into the larger picture of an individual’s entire portfolio. The independent actions by separate professionals, all with the best of intentions, may actually work to suboptimal outcomes. One could consider working with a Private Wealth Advisor with the capability to aggregate assets to a personal website created for the affluent investor. This enables the investor to see all assets located with various custodians in one place to ascertain if they are organized and working together; while leaving the investments intact.
With increasing wealth come even more unique challenges. Life can become more complicated beyond those issues covered by this discussion. Consequently, affluent investors are encouraged to seek professional guidance that may be best suited for their particular needs and circumstances.
Hiring an advisor with a Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) designation might be a good place to start. Give us a call.
Important Discloure Information
The comments above refer generally to financial markets and not Bazis Private Wealth LLC portfolios or any related performance. The content of this article should not be considered financial advice. The article is not intended to offer specific investment recommendations and is general in nature and should not be considered a comprehensive review or analysis of the topics discussed. This article is not a substitute for a consultation with an investment adviser in a one-on-one context whereby all the facts of the attendee’s situation can be considered in its entirety and the investment adviser can provide individualized investment advice or a customized financial plan. Opinions expressed are current as of the date shown and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results and diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss. All investments carry some level of risk including loss of principal. Information or data shown or used in this material was received from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy is not guaranteed. This information does not provide recipients with information or advice that is sufficient on which to base an investment decision. This information does not consider the specific investment objectives, financial situation or need of any particular investor and may not be suitable for all types of investors. Recipients should consider the content of this information as a single factor in making an investment decision. Additional fundamental and other analyses would be required to make an investment decision about any individual security identified in this report.
Bāzis Private Wealth, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or expertise. Any discussion of specific securities is provided for information purpose only and should not be deemed as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any individual security mentions or to allocate assets in any manner discussed.