In this episode of Trust Talk, hosts Mark Bennett and Adam Hofri talk with Dr. Sara Adami-Johnson, Vice President of High Net Worth Planning Services at RBC Wealth Management, to discuss the intricacies of international estate planning, family psychology, and the complexities of managing art as an asset class.

Drawing on her background in law, finance, and positive psychology, Dr. Adami-Johnson explains how she acts like a detective to uncover the unspoken rules, emotional dynamics, and unique governance structures that exist within wealthy families.

The conversation then takes a deep dive into the highly subjective world of art valuation, exploring how provenance, authenticity, condition, and shifting cultural perspectives impact a collection's worth. Dr. Adami-Johnson highlights the common pitfalls of passing down art without a proper will or tax plan, the strategic use of trusts and foundations for dynastic collections, and the evolving debates around preservation and restoration.

Follow Dr. Sara Adami-Johnson on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/smjohnsoncdn/

We discussed Te Motunui Epa, a Māori carving that had an amazing story, which has been told by Dr Rachel Buchanan (Taranaki, Te Ātiawa), in her book Te Motunui Epa (Bridget Williams Books, 2022). See this story for more details: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/labourday/audio/2018817736/the-tale-of-the-motunui-epa