U.S. Trust 2012 Insights on
Wealth and Worth TM
Annual Survey of High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth Americans
F
or more than 200 years, wealthy individuals and families have relied on U.S. Trust to help them manage their wealth. To better advise our clients, U.S. Trust goes to great lengths to understand the values, needs and aspirations of wealthy Americans. Central to this effort is our annual Insights on Wealth and Worth survey, which takes the pulse of high net worth and ultra high net worth Americans on wealth management needs ranging from investing to trust and estate planning to philanthropy. We are excited to report that the 2012 survey revealed an intriguing finding with important ramifications for the wealth management community, namely that the attitudes and behaviors of wealthy Americans vary significantly depending on whether they were born before, during or after the baby boom.
"Our survey points to a shift in generational behavior and outlook, most likely shaped by personal experience and societal responses to economic realities. Understanding the different perspectives from which each generation approaches the management of their wealth is vital for advisors because that insight positions them to better serve their high net worth clients and their families."
- Keith Banks, President, U.S. Trust
The survey provides significant insight into the factors that influence these three generations — and the different approaches that they may take to wealth management, philanthropy, estate planning, tax planning, eldercare, business planning and privacy and security. We believe these findings are profoundly important, because generational differences in attitudes and priorities likely will exert a strong influence on how wealthy American's strive to grow, preserve and use their wealth. We hope you will find the report's findings interesting, and we encourage you to reach out to U.S. Trust's wealth management professionals, who can draw on their extensive experience to elaborate on the survey's findings and use this valuable information to help you address your unique wealth management needs.
2012 U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth
U.S. Trust's Insights on Wealth and Worth survey is one of the most in-depth studies of its kind to explore both the rational and emotional perspectives of three generations of high net worth and ultra high net worth Americans.
The survey studies attitudes and perceptions about:
- Growing and preserving wealth
- Transferring assets to their heirs
- Meeting their responsibilities to family members
- Building a legacy of philanthropy
- Maintaining family privacy and security
- Selecting financial advisors
- Building a thriving business
For more information, please contact your U.S. Trust representative.