We saw a growing demand for advice and expertise arising from direct investments,” said Michael Maslinski, Partner at Stonehage Fleming. “This was compounded by increasingly complex regulations, a more litigious society and the risks of an unstable global economy.” Commenting on long-term wealth preservation, Maslinski says: “For most families, the biggest risks they face are in the management of succession and intergenerational transfer. The practicalities of handover frequently impact both on the decision-making process and the decisions themselves, particularly where specialist assets are involved.”