Integrate an acquisition quickly or risk failure 28/03/2013 Better cash balances and reduced organic growth opportunities are expected to increase M&A activity in the wealth management industry this year, with an emphasis on acquisition, rather than merger. However, business integration specialist Stuart Crowther argues that acquiring the right business is only half the story, the difficulty is ensuring a quick and successful integration.
The unsung investment opportunity for UK resident, non-UK domiciled investors 22/03/2013 In recent years the number of UK residents registered as non-domiciled for tax purposes has fallen considerably. Since 2008, long-term residents with non-domicile status have had to pay an annual levy of at least £30,000, increasing to £50,000 to continue to be taxed on the remittance basis, raising fears that wealthy individuals are being driven away from Britain.
Handling private credit strategies in a challenging macro environment 13/03/2013 Private Credit Strategies have recently attracted the attention of the LPs’ and more broadly the investor community. The main reason is performance: investors are looking at ways to enhance their returns on traditional credit and fixed income portfolios which have displayed meagre returns over the last couple of years due to a very low interest rate environment in most of the Western World.
Does your client need a reputation management plan? 14/02/2013 Reputation in a trading name, brand name or individual's name, when nurtured, protected and managed, is what generates goodwill and market presence for an entity or individual. While it often takes years to build an enviable reputation, it can take just moments for it to come toppling down. With online publishing ever increasing and with the ability of news to spread throughout the world at huge speed via social media, this becomes ever more the case. Stories have the potential to “go viral” in minutes.
Have policy decisions turned every investor into a speculator (except for in Asia)? 16/01/2013 Congratulations are due to the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. Having slashed policy rates (and therefore by natural extension cash deposit rates) to all-time lows, typically well below inflation (however defined), these bodies have managed to turn just about every investor in the world into a speculator. Legions of savers have felt compelled to play the stock market just to keep their capital above water. Having forced reluctant punters into uncertain waters, will the central banks ensure that these bathers aren’t swamped? Can they even? Should they?
Luxury Retail and KYC: A Relationship-In-Progress 14/01/2013 Diamond earrings and designer handbags may sound innocent, but luxury retailers are increasingly coming under scrutiny by regulators over money laundering compliance. Here Wealth-X examines how high value retailers should prepare for additional KYC requirements.
