俗话说,有钱就是爷,但在富豪们看来,似乎是“有钱也得低调”。
“低调的奢华”一词是当前互联网最流行的趋势之一,它彰显了一种理念:超级富豪会避开花哨的品牌和标签,并选择更加低调的优质产品。
之所以这一趋势能够重见天日,其中一个原因便源自于美剧《继承之战》(Succession)里的一个场景:一群超级富有的角色嘲笑了其中一位约会对象“异常能装的手提包”。
这段视频的言下之意是说,有钱人不需要手提包——他们会无缝地从私人飞机转移至有司机接送的车里,最后,管家会在家门口等待其归来。
同样,如果我们看看今年早些时候格温妮丝·帕特洛滑雪时的衣橱,或者再次关注一下英国皇室,那么人们会对这一理念有更深刻的印象。
金融专家曾经表示,这并非是什么新理念,例如Meta的创始人马克·扎克伯格在多年前便称自己每天都穿着同样的纯色衬衫,但它的确为公众带来了新的启发。
为什么不能炫富?
专家们称,高净值个人隐瞒自身财富的原因有很多,有的是为了保护其隐私和安全,有的则十分介意与他人对比其财务状况。
位于美国洛杉矶的Bel Air Investment Advisors的总裁大卫·萨德金对《财富》杂志表示,很多客户选择“低调行事”,原因在于此举还可以避免来自于朋友和熟人的尴尬期许。
“我认为这一经验适合所有有钱人。”萨德金说,“西奥多·罗斯福曾经说过:‘说话温柔,手持大棒。’超高净值人群的解决之道便是‘不要华而不实,不要让外人知道你有钱。’”
萨德金的观点得到了卡丽·加洛韦的支持,后者是摩根大通私人银行(J.P. Morgan Private Bank)的咨询实验室(Advice Lab)的全球负责人,她指出,对很多客户来说,“谨慎是睿智的表现”。
她解释道:“考虑到其他人并没有类似水平的财富自由,他们会避免炫耀自身财富。此外,我们会看到客户会专注于安保,尤其是在旅行的时候。他们往往不会透露信息,例如地点和日程,以减少成为黑客首要攻击对象的风险。”
“在旅行时,一些人会彻底远离社交媒体,因为网络犯罪分子能够使用贴文来发现潜在的作案对象是否已经出城,是否对网络安全的关注度有所下降。”
财富托管人
另一个不花钱购买豪车、衣服和珠宝的原因在于,这些人士并不将其财富视为个人所有,而是将自己看作是财富的托管人。
埃利亚纳·塞德斯是位于英国伦敦的投资资产组合网站Y TREE的财务终身策略的负责人。该公司在平台上拥有价值70亿英镑的资产,而且称她的众多客户将其财富视为其“责任”。
在《财富》杂志的视频采访中,她表示自己的客户对于可以获得这些财富十分感激。“其职责并非是逢人便告:‘嗨,我比你更加聪明或者更幸运。’而是会说:‘我还扮演着社会角色。我认真思考了自身的作用和存在。’”
加洛韦还向《财富》杂志表示,特别是那些白手起家的人,他们都会通过花钱来反映自身价值,因为人们经常会“担心财富会带来负面影响。”
她说,受此影响,“接地气和谦逊”也会催生一定程度的自豪感,并指出,“这些人也担心,如果人们知道了自己的身价,那么自己可能就会受到区别对待,或被他人利用。这些人希望成为其孩子和孙子的楷模,并将其价值观灌输给子孙后代。比如,重视健康和福祉的家庭可能会把更多的钱用于反映这些价值的经验和服务,而不会把钱花在那些引人注目的有形物品上,例如高级珠宝或房地产。”
塞德斯还表示,对于所有家庭来说,处理好金钱与价值观的关系都是一个重要话题,这一点与财富本身价值无关。
她解释道:“我经常向客户提起的一件事情就是,要试着围绕什么是生命中最重要的内容,树立家庭观念,而不是等到金钱成为这一内容的主题之后才着手应对。”
“不妨问问孩子们:‘自己在7岁、10岁或15岁时觉得什么最重要?如今作为一个家庭,我们得决定,这些最重要的事情是否应该由大家共同进行投资?’因此,与其花钱购买孩子的个人用品,不如将钱用于对孩子精神和情绪十分重要的事情上。不要给他们购买能够为其提供金钱愉悦感的东西,而是要给他们购买可以帮助他人的事物。通过这种方式,你将为孩子们树立有关金钱的社会认知,而不是让孩子仅看到金钱对自己的价值。”
与下一代对话
专家们称,巨额财富的托管人通常会发现其目光会自然而然转向下一代人,因此,有必要尽早开展有关赚钱的坦诚对话。
塞德斯表示,零花钱便是灌输这一理念的便捷途径,而一致性是贯彻这一理念的关键。
她解释说:“如果你的理念是,‘只有干家务才能得到零花钱’。那么在孩子没有干家务的情况下随意给[孩子]钱,将破坏这一理念。如果你的理念是‘不,我会教育[孩子]不要把钱与行动挂钩’,然后在某一天转而对孩子说‘如果你不这么做,你就得不到零花钱’,就会混淆这一理念。”
她还表示,公开地讨论财富,不管是百万美元的财富还是标准的401(K),对每个家庭而言都是必要的。
塞德斯表示:“我们应该在教育孩子的过程中让其意识到金钱是一个复杂的事物,挣钱养活自己是一件复杂的事情。随着孩子的成长,有一些事情得由你来向孩子们传授,因为学校并不教授这些内容。一些人在走出校门后对于活出自我所需付出的代价和金钱一无所知,而且都抱着不切实际的期许。”
“在我看来,如果你没有让孩子为真正的成人生活做好准备,这对于家庭来说是一场灾难。这件事确实取决于孩子自身,以及你自己对于这类事情的信心,不过,我在孩子们8、9岁的时候便开始和他们谈论养老金的事情。”
“如今,在这个年龄讨论这类事情似乎为时过早,但如果在特定的环境下,比如围绕养老金问题出现很多罢工运动时,展开这一讨论也就合情合理了。”
专家们还表示,在富有家庭中,通常出现价值问题的并非是第二代,而是第三代。
萨德金警告说:“财富很难创造,但很容易被破坏。尽管我们的客户及其家人应该享受其财富,但他们还应该通过投资使其增值。”(财富中文网)
译者:冯丰
审校:夏林
俗话说,有钱就是爷,但在富豪们看来,似乎是“有钱也得低调”。
“低调的奢华”一词是当前互联网最流行的趋势之一,它彰显了一种理念:超级富豪会避开花哨的品牌和标签,并选择更加低调的优质产品。
之所以这一趋势能够重见天日,其中一个原因便源自于美剧《继承之战》(Succession)里的一个场景:一群超级富有的角色嘲笑了其中一位约会对象“异常能装的手提包”。
这段视频的言下之意是说,有钱人不需要手提包——他们会无缝地从私人飞机转移至有司机接送的车里,最后,管家会在家门口等待其归来。
同样,如果我们看看今年早些时候格温妮丝·帕特洛滑雪时的衣橱,或者再次关注一下英国皇室,那么人们会对这一理念有更深刻的印象。
金融专家曾经表示,这并非是什么新理念,例如Meta的创始人马克·扎克伯格在多年前便称自己每天都穿着同样的纯色衬衫,但它的确为公众带来了新的启发。
为什么不能炫富?
专家们称,高净值个人隐瞒自身财富的原因有很多,有的是为了保护其隐私和安全,有的则十分介意与他人对比其财务状况。
位于美国洛杉矶的Bel Air Investment Advisors的总裁大卫·萨德金对《财富》杂志表示,很多客户选择“低调行事”,原因在于此举还可以避免来自于朋友和熟人的尴尬期许。
“我认为这一经验适合所有有钱人。”萨德金说,“西奥多·罗斯福曾经说过:‘说话温柔,手持大棒。’超高净值人群的解决之道便是‘不要华而不实,不要让外人知道你有钱。’”
萨德金的观点得到了卡丽·加洛韦的支持,后者是摩根大通私人银行(J.P. Morgan Private Bank)的咨询实验室(Advice Lab)的全球负责人,她指出,对很多客户来说,“谨慎是睿智的表现”。
她解释道:“考虑到其他人并没有类似水平的财富自由,他们会避免炫耀自身财富。此外,我们会看到客户会专注于安保,尤其是在旅行的时候。他们往往不会透露信息,例如地点和日程,以减少成为黑客首要攻击对象的风险。”
“在旅行时,一些人会彻底远离社交媒体,因为网络犯罪分子能够使用贴文来发现潜在的作案对象是否已经出城,是否对网络安全的关注度有所下降。”
财富托管人
另一个不花钱购买豪车、衣服和珠宝的原因在于,这些人士并不将其财富视为个人所有,而是将自己看作是财富的托管人。
埃利亚纳·塞德斯是位于英国伦敦的投资资产组合网站Y TREE的财务终身策略的负责人。该公司在平台上拥有价值70亿英镑的资产,而且称她的众多客户将其财富视为其“责任”。
在《财富》杂志的视频采访中,她表示自己的客户对于可以获得这些财富十分感激。“其职责并非是逢人便告:‘嗨,我比你更加聪明或者更幸运。’而是会说:‘我还扮演着社会角色。我认真思考了自身的作用和存在。’”
加洛韦还向《财富》杂志表示,特别是那些白手起家的人,他们都会通过花钱来反映自身价值,因为人们经常会“担心财富会带来负面影响。”
她说,受此影响,“接地气和谦逊”也会催生一定程度的自豪感,并指出,“这些人也担心,如果人们知道了自己的身价,那么自己可能就会受到区别对待,或被他人利用。这些人希望成为其孩子和孙子的楷模,并将其价值观灌输给子孙后代。比如,重视健康和福祉的家庭可能会把更多的钱用于反映这些价值的经验和服务,而不会把钱花在那些引人注目的有形物品上,例如高级珠宝或房地产。”
塞德斯还表示,对于所有家庭来说,处理好金钱与价值观的关系都是一个重要话题,这一点与财富本身价值无关。
她解释道:“我经常向客户提起的一件事情就是,要试着围绕什么是生命中最重要的内容,树立家庭观念,而不是等到金钱成为这一内容的主题之后才着手应对。”
“不妨问问孩子们:‘自己在7岁、10岁或15岁时觉得什么最重要?如今作为一个家庭,我们得决定,这些最重要的事情是否应该由大家共同进行投资?’因此,与其花钱购买孩子的个人用品,不如将钱用于对孩子精神和情绪十分重要的事情上。不要给他们购买能够为其提供金钱愉悦感的东西,而是要给他们购买可以帮助他人的事物。通过这种方式,你将为孩子们树立有关金钱的社会认知,而不是让孩子仅看到金钱对自己的价值。”
与下一代对话
专家们称,巨额财富的托管人通常会发现其目光会自然而然转向下一代人,因此,有必要尽早开展有关赚钱的坦诚对话。
塞德斯表示,零花钱便是灌输这一理念的便捷途径,而一致性是贯彻这一理念的关键。
她解释说:“如果你的理念是,‘只有干家务才能得到零花钱’。那么在孩子没有干家务的情况下随意给[孩子]钱,将破坏这一理念。如果你的理念是‘不,我会教育[孩子]不要把钱与行动挂钩’,然后在某一天转而对孩子说‘如果你不这么做,你就得不到零花钱’,就会混淆这一理念。”
她还表示,公开地讨论财富,不管是百万美元的财富还是标准的401(K),对每个家庭而言都是必要的。
塞德斯表示:“我们应该在教育孩子的过程中让其意识到金钱是一个复杂的事物,挣钱养活自己是一件复杂的事情。随着孩子的成长,有一些事情得由你来向孩子们传授,因为学校并不教授这些内容。一些人在走出校门后对于活出自我所需付出的代价和金钱一无所知,而且都抱着不切实际的期许。”
“在我看来,如果你没有让孩子为真正的成人生活做好准备,这对于家庭来说是一场灾难。这件事确实取决于孩子自身,以及你自己对于这类事情的信心,不过,我在孩子们8、9岁的时候便开始和他们谈论养老金的事情。”
“如今,在这个年龄讨论这类事情似乎为时过早,但如果在特定的环境下,比如围绕养老金问题出现很多罢工运动时,展开这一讨论也就合情合理了。”
专家们还表示,在富有家庭中,通常出现价值问题的并非是第二代,而是第三代。
萨德金警告说:“财富很难创造,但很容易被破坏。尽管我们的客户及其家人应该享受其财富,但他们还应该通过投资使其增值。”(财富中文网)
译者:冯丰
审校:夏林
Money talks—or so the saying goes—but it seems that wealth whispers.
The term “quiet luxury” is one of the loudest trends on the internet at the moment, encapsulating the idea that the ultrawealthy steer clear of flashy brands and logos—instead picking more understated premium products.
Among the reasons for the trend bubbling to the fore is a scene from TV show Succession, in which the über-wealthy characters mocked the “ludicrously capacious handbag” carried by one of their dates.
The clip played on the idea that the very rich have no need for handbags—they simply slip seamlessly from private jets to chauffeured cars, before a housekeeper opens their front door at the end of the day.
Likewise, a focus on Gwyneth Paltrow’s wardrobe during her ski trial earlier this year, and a renewed focus on the British royal family, have ballooned the concept.
The idea is not a new one—Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed years ago he wears the same plain shirt every day—but does offer new lessons for the public, finance experts have said.
Why keep your wealth quiet?
High-net-worth individuals keep their wealth hidden for a range of reasons, the experts revealed, whether protecting their privacy and security or being mindful of their financial position when compared to others’.
David Sadkin, president of Los Angeles–based Bel Air Investment Advisors, told Fortune many clients choose to “fly under the radar” because it also avoids awkward expectations from friends and acquaintances.
“I think this lesson applies for everyone with money,” said Sadkin. “Theodore Roosevelt said: ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick.’ The ultra-high-net-worth corollary to this would be ‘Don’t be flashy, and keep your wealth out of view.’”
Sadkin was echoed by Carrie Galloway, global head of Advice Lab for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, who said “discretion is an expression of tact” for many clients.
“They avoid flaunting their wealth in consideration of others who don’t have a similar level of financial freedom,” she explained. “In addition, we see the focus on security, particularly when clients are traveling. They are inclined to limit information such as location and itinerary to limit the risk of becoming a prime target for a hacker.
“Some avoid social media altogether while traveling since cybercriminals can use posts to discover when potential victims are out of town and less focused on cybersecurity.”
Cash custodians
Another reason for not spending on flashy cars, clothes, and jewelry is because the individuals don’t see their fortune as theirs personally—they see themselves as custodians of it.
Eliana Sydes is the head of financial life strategy at London-based investment portfolio site Y TREE, which has £7 billion worth of assets on the platform, and said many of her clients see their wealth as their “role.”
During a video interview with Fortune, she said her clients are grateful for their fortunes and so “their role is not to run around saying to everybody: ‘Hey, I’m cleverer or luckier than you,’ it is very much: ‘I have a role in society. I think consciously about my role and my presence.'”
Galloway added to Fortune that self-made individuals in particular spend to reflect their values as there is often a “wariness around wealth negatively changing people.”
Accordingly, there is a level of pride that comes with being “grounded and modest,” she said, adding: “There is also suspicion that if their net worth is known, people might treat them differently, or take advantage of them. They want to be role models for their children and grandchildren and impart their values to successive generations. For example, a family that values health and wellness may spend more money on experiences and services that reflect these values and less on conspicuous tangible items such as fine jewelry or real estate.”
Establishing a relationship between money and values is a key conversation for every family—irrespective of worth—Sydes continued.
“Something I talk about a lot with our clients is trying to build a family ethos around what is important in life before dealing with it as money,” she explained.
“Ask children: ‘What’s important to you, as a 7-year-old or 10-year-old or 15-year-old? And now as a family, we’re going to decide, is this something we maybe should fund together?’ So instead of the money just going to personal things, it goes to something that is mentally and emotionally important to the child. Not an item that gives them a momentary pleasure, but something that helps others. So in this way, you’re building this social awareness of money and not just thinking about it in value to them.”
Conversations with the next generation
The custodians of massive fortunes often find their thoughts inevitably turning to the next generation, the experts said, and transparent conversations about earning money need to be had as early as possible.
Pocket money is an easy way to introduce the concept, Sydes said, and consistency is the key to the lesson landing.
“If your view is ‘We’re going to only pay for chores,’ randomly giving [children] money for no chore will undermine that message,” she explained. “If your view is ‘No, I’m not going to teach [children] to always associate money with an action,’ then turning around and saying to them one day, ‘If you don’t do this, I won’t give you your pocket money’ muddies the water again.”
She added that having open conversations about wealth—whether it’s million-dollar fortunes or a standard 401(k)—are imperative for every family.
“We should be bringing up our children to understand money is a complex thing; funding your life is a complex thing,” Sydes said. “And there are a number of areas that you will need to add to their knowledge as they grow older because we don’t teach it in school. You have people coming out of education with very little knowledge of what it costs to actually fund your own lifestyle, and really unrealistic expectations.
“That, from my point of view, is a very disabling thing to do to your family—if you’ve not prepared them for real adult life. It does depend on your child, and how confident you feel yourself about those things, but I was talking about pensions with my children when they were about 8 or 9.
“Now, that might seem quite young, but if I put it in context, there were quite a lot of strikes going on around pensions at the time, so there was a reason to have the conversations at that moment.”
The experts added that often it is not the second generation of wealthy families that struggle with the concept of value, but the one following.
“Wealth is hard to create but easy to destroy,” warned Sadkin. “While our clients and their families should enjoy their wealth, they should also consider building their wealth through investment.”