In 1764, the young Mayer Amschel Rothschild started his business as a dealer in coins and antiques in Frankfurt's Jewish quarter, Judengasse. Five years later, thanks to his expertise and entrepreneurial spirit, he won the prestigious position of court agent to Prince Wilhelm of Hesse. This story illustrates the essence of wealth management - a service that has grown from a personal relationship between banker and client to a sophisticated industry managing assets worth trillions of euros.
From aristocracy to modern elites
"Wealth management is a truly comprehensive service designed to bring the highest added value to investors. The key is to get to know the client perfectly, their needs, and to have an ideal overview of the whole family," explains Michal Kasana, wealth management director at WOOD & Company. The story of this service is adaptation to the changing sources of wealth - from noble families to industrial dynasties to today's technology entrepreneurs, who, according to the latest Forbes ranking, represent the fastest growing segment in the creation of new wealth.
Why isn't "just" a financial advisor enough?
"Wealth management is more complex than just holding your investments in ETFs on the US S&P 500 stock index or in corporate bonds," explains Maroš Ďurik, wealth management director at WOOD & Company. The difference between a financial advisor and a wealth manager is like the difference between a commercial airline pilot and a private jet captain - both will get you safely to your destination, but the latter offers personalized service, flexibility and exclusive destinations unavailable to ordinary travelers.
It's not just about investing or choosing financial products alone. According to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group, around €60 trillion worth of wealth is expected to be transferred to the next generation in Europe over the next two decades. Wealth managers are therefore dealing with complex issues of succession, tax optimisation and asset protection. They provide sophisticated advice on real estate, art collections and, increasingly today, digital assets.
Who uses wealth management?
The history of wealth management is closely linked to the aristocracy and wealthy business families. Today, however, the profile of clients has changed dramatically. "Someone who has gone out of business is looking at the service more from the perspective of protecting the value of assets. Conversely, an active entrepreneur is looking for opportunities for greater appreciation," explains Michal Kasana.
Modern wealth management today serves a wide range of successful individuals. This includes business owners and former business owners, professional investors or members of the professions such as lawyers or doctors. Athletes and artists are also a significant group who need to not only value their wealth but also protect it for after their active careers are over. "Clients have become more demanding, at the same time 'spoilt', but also more experienced and courageous," adds Maroš Ďurik.
A new and dynamically growing group is represented by technology entrepreneurs, founders of successful startups and investors from the digital world. Fidelity Digital Assets' 2023 survey shows that up to 58% of high-income investors have digital assets in their portfolio, illustrating the growing interest in modern investment opportunities.
European tradition and modern trends
While Swiss private banks started with wealth management in the 18th century, today European wealth management is modernising at an unprecedented pace. According to a Morgan Stanley survey, up to 84% of millennial investors are interested in sustainable investments, with 90% of them actively requesting ESG products from their wealth managers.
In response to the growing demand for unique investment opportunities, WOOD & Company is creating its own exclusive products. "If an investment theme appeals to us, offers attractive returns and does not exist in an accessible form of investment product, and we have expertise in that area, we will create such a product," explains Maroš Ďurik. "We offer investments in renewable energy sources, the construction of a battery storage facility in Sweden, or the development of logistics parks in Poland. We invest in all projects ourselves, not only as individuals but also as a group," adds Michal Kasana.
Modern challenges and the future of the industry
"A lot has happened in our world in the last 5 years, from COVID to war in our neighbourhood to changing interest rates or inflationary expectations. However, the basic principle of investing remains the same - diversification remains a key tool," notes Kasana.
"The worst-case scenario is when a client suffers from a lack of essential information and slides into panic reactions," Kasana points out. "This service has long been standard abroad, but in our latitudes it is in many ways still in its infancy."
With the expected massive transfer of €60 trillion of assets to a new generation of European investors comes a significant change in asset management requirements. As Ďurik concludes, "It is important that assets continue to appreciate, do not fragment, and are not exposed to situations outside the financial market that may permanently reduce their value."