Note From the Editor: September 2019

Towards the end of each year, we conduct a survey of our readers, which includes a section on demographics. One of the most surprising results for me is the response we get to the question asking whether the reader is male or female. Almost every year, the split is approximately 70% male and 30% female. I wonder if that statistic actually reflects the proportion of women in the estate-planning field or if there’s some other reason for this result. Are women simply too busy to respond to the survey? Whatever the reason for this lackluster showing, from what I’ve seen, women play important roles both as advisors and as clients.   

As noted in the article “Women and Wealth,” p. 37, by Elizabeth Forspan, Rebecca A. Provder, Lara M. Sass and Jonathan I. Shenkman, the continued growth of financially successful women presents practitioners with an opportunity to address a unique set of planning circumstances. Their article details the recurring themes that arise for these women, including longevity risk, financial transitions, investor psychology and delegation of financial decisions. If you’re in the New York City area and would like to learn more about this topic, The Shenkman Private Client Group will be hosting a panel discussion on Sept. 19 in New York City from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The authors of the above article will be the panelists, and their topic is “Women & Wealth: Planning Challenges and Strategies for Female Clients.” I’ll be moderating. To register for this event, email me at [email protected]. 

Our issue this month also includes a Committee Report that focuses on investments. It includes articles on including alternative risks in portfolios, strategies to prepare for a lower return in the future and the failure of diversification to protect portfolios in times of crisis.