In a world where sudden shifts are inevitable, natural disasters such as the recently devastating Hurricanes Helene and Milton are powerful reminders of life’s unpredictability. Such events highlight the importance of robust financial preparation for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), especially on the West Coast—an area prone to natural risks. While personal disaster preparedness is key, UHNWIs should also focus on “storm-proofing” their estates and real asset portfolios. Just as it's necessary to reinforce a home to withstand a hurricane, safeguarding wealth from the unexpected requires a strategic approach. Proactive wealth planning can act as a financial safety net, helping to ensure financial resilience against both environmental and economic storms and unforeseen complications.
What Are The Challenges For An Estate?
Earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters can create challenges for property, businesses, and financial portfolios. In 2020 alone, OEHHA reported that California experienced a record high of 4.2 million acres burned, which was more than 4% of the state's land. As of October 22, 2024, Cal Matters has recorded 1,708 structures that have already been destroyed by wildfires this year. The California Department of Conservation also estimates that the state's annual earthquake loss is around $3.7 billion.
UHNWIs are advised to consider not only that real assets could be in danger but a broad spectrum of risks—including family challenges, market volatility, and even potential economic disruptions—that could impact their financial well-being. By aligning wealth management strategies with these regional threats, UHNWIs can create more resilient financial plans.
Staying Ahead of Risk: You May Not Be Thinking About It, But a Good Advisor Is
Ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals already have much to consider, and while they’re deeply invested in managing their estates, they may not fully grasp the range of challenges that could impact their assets. In other words, people often don’t know what they don’t know to look for. Fortunately, multi-family offices and experienced advisors do, and it’s proven to be a sound practice to trust long-term preparation and proactivity to the professionals.
As an example and an area of focus often impacted by “Acts of God,” Whittier Trust helps clients stay on top of essentials like insurance, ensuring that their coverage matches the current value of their properties, collections, and other real assets and is comprehensive enough to mitigate for any number of events. Proper coverage for homes, collectibles, and other valuables is essential in regions prone to earthquakes and wildfires, where the cost of damage can quickly escalate. Additionally, business owners may need specific policies to protect against disruptions from natural events, ensuring continuity and stability despite environmental challenges. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your family office has thought through every detail—both expected and unexpected—means clients can focus on their passions, families, and future without worry. It’s about being able to enjoy the present, knowing the future is secure.
For ultra-high-net-worth families, a trusted family office does more than manage finances—it handles the day-to-day, so clients can focus on what truly matters, while also preparing for the unexpected. A family office like Whittier Trust is dedicated to looking out for every aspect of a client’s wealth, anticipating needs they may not even be aware of, from tailored insurance coverage to proactive asset protection.
Protecting Real Estate Assets
Real estate can be an impactful asset, but it comes with its own set of risks—especially in regions prone to natural disasters. For the same reasons that Whittier Trust portfolio managers diversify to mitigate the effects of market instability and disaster-related threats on investments, Whittier Trust understands these challenges and takes a “storm-proofing” approach to managing real estate portfolios. This means not only diversifying locations but also selecting properties and investment strategies that can weather market and environmental changes. What sets Whittier apart is their in-house real estate team, which actively manages assets with an eye toward both protection and growth—a unique benefit few family offices offer.
Communication and Education: Ensuring the Family Is Prepared
Preparing for the unexpected isn’t just about securing assets; it’s also about ensuring that family members are prepared. Whittier Trust holds firm to the belief that open communication and education are essential. Our team understands the unique dynamics of family relationships and helps navigate these to promote cohesion and clarity, particularly in times of change or uncertainty. By working closely with families to keep them informed on the protections and strategies in place—from insurance to estate plans—we ensure that each member understands their role and responsibilities in case of an emergency.
Empowering the next generation with financial stewardship education is also a crucial piece of preparation that multi-family offices and wealth management advisors employ to ensure younger members of the family are ready to take on future challenges and responsibilities. Family meetings led by Whittier Trust advisors not only keep everyone informed and engaged but also foster a culture of resilience across generations, making it easier to adapt and respond effectively to the unexpected.
Estate Planning: The Silver Bullet of Preparedness
Estate planning is one of the most valuable tools for preserving family wealth against all manner of challenges. Whittier Trust focuses on creating estate plans that account not only for life’s expected transitions but also for impactful natural events and sudden changes within the family or Family Business. A comprehensive estate plan includes everything from trusts and charitable foundations to provisions for asset distribution and protection in unexpected circumstances. Our goal is to ensure that, no matter what happens, your family’s vision is safeguarded, and your legacy is protected for generations to come.
By working with a multi-family office to prepare for both expected and unexpected events, UHNWIs can build resilience and confidence, allowing them to weather not only financial storms but also life’s inevitable shifts with stability and foresight.
To learn more about how an experienced multi-family office can help protect your assets, start a conversation with a Whittier Trust advisor today by visiting our contact page.
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