For bankable assets, such as listed shares, estate planning is generally relatively streamlined. Valuations are readily available, assets are visible within the banking system and transfers are handled through banks and notaries according to familiar procedures.
For physical assets, the situation is fundamentally different. Art, watches, jewellery, precious metals and other collectibles require a specific and carefully considered approach, in which both valuation and the practical and legal organisation of the wealth are central.
In practice, this raises many questions:
how should these assets be valued in a correct and defensible manner?
where and how should they be stored and inventoried, so that they can actually be located and transferred upon death?
how can collections be prevented from being split up when several heirs are involved?
how can conflicts between heirs be avoided, for example regarding the allocation of specific artworks or parts of a collection?
how should potential liquidity issues be addressed, for example when inheritance tax is due but the assets are difficult to realise?
These are not merely theoretical questions, but concrete issues that frequently arise in matters involving physical assets.
Arx Aurum has extensive experience in this field and assists clients in developing tailored estate and succession structures. This includes, among other things:
assistance with gifts of physical assets
setting up control and wealth structures, such as a partnership or private foundation
support with the valuation of assets, in cooperation with specialised experts where necessary
advice on the organisation, allocation and transfer of collections
Through this integrated approach, we ensure that physical assets are not only treated correctly from a tax perspective, but are also transferred to the next generation in a sustainable and manageable way, with attention to avoiding family conflicts.
