Taylor Wessing Launches Trophy Assets Guide 2024:  The Guide to Trophy Assets for UHNW Clients and Their Advisors

Taylor Wessing released the Trophy Assets Guide 2024, a much anticipated new resource designed for ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals and their advisors. This comprehensive guide arrived nearly a decade after its predecessor, offering fresh insights into the evolving market for high-value passion investments.

As the UHNW population continues to grow rapidly, The Knight Frank Wealth Report 2024 projects a 28.1% increase in UHNW individuals over the next five years, following a 4.2% growth in the past year. This expansion is driving heightened interest in trophy assets, making the latest edition of our guide particularly timely for financial intermediaries, estate planners, and real estate professionals seeking to advise their UHNW clients effectively.

Key Highlights from the Trophy Assets Guide 2024:

• Evolving Asset Preferences: The guide reveals a significant shift in trophy asset interests, driven by the transfer of wealth from older generations to Millennials and Gen Z. Younger investors are increasingly drawn to emerging asset classes, such as luxury handbags, sports clubs and rare watches.

  
  

• Art Market Resilience: Despite recent economic fluctuations, the art market remains robust. The Guide highlights the notable rise in value and recognition of works by women artists.

  
  

• Classic Cars as Investment Assets: Classic cars have seen an impressive 82% increase in value over the past decade. The guide discusses how recent high-profile auctions have set new records, emphasizing the significant financial potential of these assets. This trend presents an attractive option for our clients seeking alternative investments with strong appreciation potential.

  
  

• Boom in Luxury Hospitality: The luxury hospitality sector is thriving, with prestigious new hotel openings such as The Peninsula and Raffles London. This growth, driven by increased global wealth, highlights the expanding opportunities in luxury accommodations and travel, making it a key area of interest for UHNW investors looking for premium experiences.

  
  

• Optimistic Real Estate Outlook: Despite a 46% drop in real estate investment volumes last year, London remains a top destination for cross-border investments. The guide forecasts a positive shift in the market, driven by decreasing interest rates and inflation, positioning London as a favourable environment for strategic real estate investments.

Ronald Graham,  Managing Partner of our Dubai office and co-head of Private Wealth, commented: