A.D. Financial (Singapore)

A.D. Financial’s Singapore executive director, Isaac Low, conducted a workshop on wealth preservation practices for participants at the Association of Financial Advisers (Singapore) Annual Conference last week. The event took place over 25-26 July 2024 at ParkRoyal on Beach Road.

When a patriarch is widowed, an Asian culture of unspoken expectations can create challenges. Often, children may unintentionally cause their father to feel unloved. Without effective communication, it’s hard to address these issues and find a satisfactory resolution. A structured communication process can help bridge this gap. A professional family officer can identify underlying issues and propose creative solutions, ensuring a harmonious outcome for the family.

Last week’s Practice Managers Community (PMC) online discussion was about protecting a son’s family inheritance should he go through a divorce. 🔍 The Scenario A high society family has a son who is in love with a young lady from a poor and broken family. His parents worry that the marriage will end in a divorce. They want to protect his inheritance from erosion if that happens. 💡Segregation from Matrimonial Assets Our community participant Bernard Foong, CFP®, Affiliate (ACCA, TEP) pointed out one way to protect the family assets was to ringfence it from the heir’s matrimonial assets. This can be done via a trust structure. Matrimonial assets are what both husband, wife and their children normally use for shelter, transportation, household, education, recreational, social or aesthetic purposes. It also includes assets substantially improved during the marriage by either husband or wife. Our community continues to provide invaluable insights and solutions for complex family governance issues. Stay tuned for more discussions! #familyoffice #financialplanning #FamilyLegacy #WealthPreservation #trusts

Last week’s online Practice Managers Community discussion was about protecting the family legacy when the only heir is a woman who does not want to run the family business. 🔍 The Scenario The patriarch and matriarch own the controlling stake of a successful business. The couple want an estate plan that protected their daughter should she be trapped in an unhappy marriage. Upon their retirement, their plan was for a minority partner to run the business. 💡Trust Structure Our family advisor community agreed that this family needed a trust structure that named their daughter as its beneficiary. The payout can provide a comfortable lifestyle, such as meeting the housing and education needs of their daughter and her children. 💡Pre-nuptial Agreement The prospective husband must also accept a pre-nuptial agreement that requires him to forego payouts from his wife’s estate in event of a divorce. Case facts in the video below are fictitious and resemblance to real-life individuals are purely coincidental.

🌟 To our Muslim friends celebrating Hari Raya Haji, may this special day bring you peace, happiness, and prosperity. Let us cherish the spirit of unity and compassion as we come together with family and friends. 🕋✨ #HariRayaHaji #EidAlAdha #UnityInDiversity

Patriarchs don't have it easy. Here's what happened when the founder of a successful business decided to lead by example of self-reflection. Happy Father's Day 2024 #familyoffice #financialplanning #FamilyLegacy #WealthPreservation #trusts

Trust-Fund Baby Last week’s online Practice Managers Community discussion was about a founder’s dilemma with her entitled son who identified himself as gay. (Case facts are fictitious and resemblance to real-life individuals are purely coincidental.) 🔍 The Scenario Janet is past retirement age and wants to pass on the leadership baton of a thriving business that she founded. She has only one son, John, who neither involves himself in the family business nor has his own career. Alvin Yap, Principal Consultant of A.D. Financial Group, shared that when the only heir apparent can’t assimilate into the family business leadership, some have opted to skip the second generation and groom the third generation instead. Conservative Asian jurisdictions, such as Singapore, do not support same-sex family units. Neither does Singapore allow commercial surrogacy. The government’s position is to only allow legally married couples to adopt children.  Skipping a generation may be challenging if John opts for the emotionally exhausting, lengthy and costly option of getting a child via surrogacy overseas. 💡 Bequeath Sideways In such a complex situation, Janet’s best option may be to groom a nephew or niece for succession, according to Alvin. “Provisions for John making a comeback can be made if he complies with criteria set by his parents,” he added. “Under such circumstances, the Family Council should provide the relevant life coaching sessions for John.” #familyoffice #financialplanning #FamilyLegacy #WealthPreservation #trusts Our community continues to provide invaluable insights and solutions for complex family governance issues. Stay tuned for more discussions! For more info: https://lnkd.in/gts2Jsux

This week’s online Practice Managers Community discussion was about handling an heir’s request for early distribution of inheritance. 🔍 The Scenario: A couple with substantial property holdings has a daughter and a son. One day, their daughter, who had married into greater wealth, suddenly approaches them for her inheritance. There was stark economic disparity between their two children. How may the couple leave a legacy that addresses real needs such as housing, medical insurance, and education for their children and grandchildren? 💡 Master Trust Solution: Our family advisors concluded that a master trust that drip-feeds into two sub-trusts protects the family inheritance should either sibling go through a divorce. This structure also allows the family wealth to be eventually channeled to the lineage who bears children. Our community continues to provide invaluable insights and solutions for complex family governance issues. Stay tuned for more discussions! #familyoffice #financialplanning #FamilyLegacy #WealthPreservation #trusts

A longsuffering mother seeks professional solutions for family wealth complexities.

This weekend, we celebrate the incredible strength, love, and wisdom of all mothers around the world. Whether you're a biological mom, a stepmom, a foster mom, or a mother figure, your impact is immeasurable, and your sacrifices are deeply appreciated. Happy Mother's Day! 💖 #MothersDay #Gratitude #Love"