10 April 2008

Wealth Management Quiz and other related Trivia

A personal post for some of my financial friends

NorthStar Wealth Management Quiz

According to AEFeldman.com :

Exceptionally rich families around the world are creating increased demand for wealth management services, according to the FT. Although investors remain cautious in their outlook on the U.S. economy, a recent survey of ultra-wealthy investors conducted by PNC Wealth Management finds that respondents express increasing optimism about their investment portfolios in 2008. Executive search firm, A.E. Feldman, reports that the trend is creating opportunities for financial advisors. Firms are staffing up as they expand retail banking and wealth management operations.

The ultra-wealthy are likely to think longer term about their investment, according to a recent survey conducted by PNC Wealth Management. Thomas Melcher, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Hawthorn, the division of PNC Wealth Management that serves clients with $20 million or more in investable assets, says, “With a greater capital base, the ultra-wealthy are often in a better position to withstand market volatility. Markets rise and fall over time. But the act of investing is long-term by definition and we advise people to diversify in order to smooth out the bumps.”

Meanwhile, banks are working to provide more sophisticated wealth management services, according to the FT. The report states that UBS Wealth Management pegs this to the increase in wealthy families with complex arrangements. Demand is also increasing for consolidated reporting of international assets and investments. Lastly, the FT reports that philanthropy is another area where wealthy families are taking more advice. The FT quotes Darren Allaway, Managing Director of its UK family office group, as saying, “The two trends we’re seeing are volume - there are many more families of substantial wealth - and sophistication.”

EUROMONEY states:

Private banking assets under management are up 128% to 7.6 TrillionUSD

= the combined GDP of Germany, France and UK

= 200 million Ferrari 599s

= 441,000 Sunseeker 37 tri-deck yachts

= one and a half times the market capitalisation of all companies listed on the London Stock Exchange

Net income growth for the private banking industry is averaging 44% year-on-year globally with the fastest growth coming from China.

06 April 2008

Baselworld 2008

Here are a few images from the highly exclusive watch and jewllery trade fair (4th to 10th of April 2008)

LeTemps.ch