Art, Antiques & Assets: Preserve Wealth and Heritage by Safeguarding Your Collections 藝術品、古董與資產：藏品保障財富安穩延續

Written by Fête Chinoise Editorial team | 撰文：Fête Chinoise 編輯團隊
Sponsored by TD Insurance | 贊助：道明保險

The Rise of Alternative Forms of Wealth Accumulation

The joy of collecting is universal. In recent years, the trend of amassing art, antiques, handbags, and other valuable assets has grown significantly, especially in the Asian community. Interest in wine is also strong, with Asia leading the wine auction market with a 42% share, as reflected in Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits Market Report 2023. In 2023, art emerged as the best-performing luxury asset class globally, with prices increasing by 11%, according to the Asian Business Review. In Hong Kong, art and watches have become the most popular investments of passion, deviating from more traditional options like jewellery and gold. This represents an increase or diversification of categories of collected assets that will ultimately be passed on to the next generation.

Whether it's an inherited piece of jewellery, a treasured painting, or a newly acquired antique, each collection speaks to an experience, a story, and a connection to our heritage, culture, and personal histories. The monetary value that you pay to collect your collections is only a part of the intrinsic personal value that these collections hold. With the accumulation of such treasures and assets, have you considered the role of insurance in protecting your assets? While insurance is a familiar concept, its importance in safeguarding high-value items and ensuring their legacy can continue, is often overlooked.

We sat down with Iona Cheng, Senior TD Insurance Private Client Advice Advisor, about her insights into developing creative solutions to protect and insure unique assets of clients.

新興財富增值方法

收藏之樂，無分國界。近年來，收藏藝術品、古董、手袋和其他珍品的風氣日趨盛行，以亞洲社群更為顯著。當中以葡萄酒收藏最為熾熱，《2023蘇富比葡萄酒與烈酒市場報告》反映亞洲地區競投於全球葡萄酒拍賣中佔42%；2023年《亞洲商業評論》指出，藝術品成為全球表現最佳的奢侈品資產類別，整體價格上升11%。在香港，藝術品和手錶已成為珠寶和黃金等傳統投資項目以外最受歡迎的選擇。種種例子證明，用作傳承後代的資產類別將變得更多元化。

無論是家傳的珠寶首飾、彌足珍貴的名畫，還是最新搜羅的古董珍品，每件藏品都承載着一段經歷、一個故事，以及有關傳統、文化和個人歷史的聯繫。收購藏品時所支付的金額，只屬藏品價值的一部分。隨資產累積，您可有考慮過為保護這些資產而購買保險？雖然保險於現今社會並不陌生，但大眾往往忽視保險於保護貴重物品及確保其傳承得以延續的重要性。

我們特別訪問了道明保險高級私人客戶顧問Iona Cheng，了解她為客戶獨特資產制定保險方案的見解。

Recognizing Your Wealth

Launched in 2021, TD Insurance Private Client Advice offers tailored insurance services specifically for high-net-worth individuals in Canada. It also offers TD Insurance Advisors who can provide services in Cantonese and Mandarin, and have worked with Chinese communities in Canada. These Advisors understand that the idea of family legacy and inheritance is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, profoundly affecting how the Chinese perceive wealth. Historically, Chinese clans have viewed passing on wealth to the next generation as an extension of their family history and heritage, emphasising the preservation of ancestral legacy.

“Chinese communities tend to be very family-oriented and place greater value on the family than its individuals. They treasure their family legacy and parents strive to preserve and pass on their wealth to the next generation.” Iona shared.

With this cultural perspective, Chinese families tend to focus a lot on savings and are risk-averse investors. They prefer tangible assets like real estate, gold, antiques, and luxury collectibles for their longstanding value, which underscores the importance of protecting their wealth for future generations. Insurance is one of the most vital tools for safeguarding these assets.

Protecting your wealth begins with understanding and assessing it thoroughly. Whether you've recently inherited a diverse collection of assets or are deeply invested in acquiring them, the initial challenge lies in accessing qualified appraisers or industry professionals to organise and appraise their total value. TD Insurance Private Client Advice helps to determine if a tailored appraisal is necessary to document and understand the full scope of your portfolio's features and insurance needs. For clients with existing insurance policies, the team conducts a detailed review and side-by-side assessment to identify any potential gaps or opportunities for optimization. 

Regular appraisals are strongly encouraged for those already embedded in their collecting fields, helping to preserve the collection's value over time and ensuring a seamless claims process.

認識您的財富

道明保險私人客戶諮詢服務於 2021 年推出，為加拿大高淨值人士提供度身訂製的保險服務。除提供粵語和普通話服務外，道明保險私人客戶諮詢團隊長期服務加拿大華人社群，深明家族傳承的觀念在中國文化中根深蒂固。傳統而言，華人將財富傳承給下一代，視為家族歷史和傳統的延續，同時着重保護祖先遺留下來的珍貴資產。

「華人社區以家庭為中心，對家庭的重視遠高於個人。因為對家族傳承的重視，為人父母者會致力保存並將財富傳給後代。」Iona分享道。

在這種文化背景下，華人家庭傾向重視儲蓄，在投資時傾向盡量避免任何風險。他們偏好持有具長遠價值的實質資產，如房地產、黃金、古董和奢侈藏品，以保留其財富傳給後代。而保險便是保護這些資產的最重要工具之一。

要保護財富，首先要徹底了解和進行估價。無論是新近繼承或是巨額投資項目，首要處理的是尋找合資格的評估師或專業人士來整理和評估其總價值。 道明保險私人客戶諮詢團隊可助您記錄和了解您投資組合的全貌及其保險需求，提供準確建議釐定是否需要度身訂製評估。團隊會為現正持有保險政策的客戶進行詳細考查和比較評估，以識別任何可能存在的差額或優化空間。

對收藏愛好者而言，定期評估有助財富保值，並確保理賠體驗得以無縫銜接。

Extensive Coverage Protects from All Angles

“Insurance is not just about protecting homes and cars, but also the exceptional lifestyle our clients have worked so hard to build.” — Iona Cheng, TD Insurance Private Client Advice Senior Private Client Advisor.

You may discover through an appraisal that your unique collection and assets often hold more value than just the objects themselves. They could be rare vases and crystals passed down through generations, paintings purchased by parents, and artifacts acquired for their cultural and historical significance. The duration of time that an object or collection has existed within the family lineage holds intangible value as well, which cannot be merely measured by the market value. There are accessories and home designs aimed at enhancing "feng shui" to bring collectors good luck, fortune, and prosperity. Unique home designs and structures, such as courtyard gardens, wooden lattice windows, and decorative motifs inspired by classical Chinese architecture, all hold cultural value. These features contribute to the sense of cultural authenticity and historical continuity, and should be recognised as crucial components of a home's value.

And the value of these collections can increase over time. TD Insurance Private Client Advice advisors provide floaters to unique items, closely monitor market trends, and collaborate with industry experts, dealers, and analysts to craft tailored plans that reflect current conditions and future projections. From home-building and renovation, and collection display, to protection measures like climate control, security, and specialised storage solutions - all aspects are considered in the coverage. The advisors also provide risk management guidance, covering security measures, conservation techniques, and appraisal services for the home, to mitigate potential risks effectively.

全面保障，面面俱全

「保險不僅是為了保護房屋和汽車，更包括我們客戶辛苦建立的獨特生活方式。」Iona指出。

通過評估，您可能會發現所擁有的藏品和資產通常比物品本身具有更高價值。它們可能是代代相傳的稀珍花瓶和水晶擺設、父母購得的名畫，以及文化和歷史價值連城的古物。藏品的非物質價值亦會根據在家族中保存的時間而增長，不能單靠市場價值來衡量。有些擺設和家居設計主要用作改善風水，為藏家帶來財富和好運。獨特的家居設計和結構，如庭院花園、窗欞和受中國古建築啟發的裝飾圖案，都具有文化價值。這些細節均有助於增強文化真實性和歷史傳承，理應被視作家居總值的關鍵部分。

藏品的價值還可能隨時間增長。道明保險私人客戶諮詢保險顧問提供訂製保險計劃，密切關注市場趨勢，並與行業專家、經銷商和分析師合作，制定反映當前條件和未來預測的訂製計劃。從房屋建造及翻新工程、收藏品展示，溫度控制、安保和專業存儲等保護措施——各方面均包含在保險範圍之內。顧問還會提供風險管理指導，涵蓋安全措施、保護技術，以及房屋評估服務，以降低潛在風險。

TD Insurance's direct-to-customer approach simplifies the complexities of diverse portfolios, ensuring clarity in understanding multiple insurance products. This empowers clients to make informed decisions and avoid underinsurance. Collaborating with TD Insurance Private Client Advice Advisors, clients have the flexibility to schedule each item individually or opt for blanket coverage of their entire collection, each with customisable per-item limits - a tailored approach offering creative solutions to protect their valuables.

When it comes to claims, TD Insurance Private Client Advice offers comprehensive support, ensuring an end-to-end claims experience. In addition to clients having the option to select their own contractors, the TD Insurance network of preferred contractors provides flexibility, allowing clients to choose the right solution for their needs under different circumstances.

道明保險直接面向客戶，簡化了多元投資組合的複雜性，確保客戶清楚理解不同保險產品，作出明智的決策，避免保險不足。通過與道明保險私人客戶諮詢保險顧問合作，客戶可靈活地為每件物品單獨投保，或選擇對整個收藏系列進行總括保險，並自訂每件物品的最高賠付額——這種度身訂製的方法打造個人化保險方案，滿足客戶需求。

在理賠方面，道明保險私人客戶諮詢保險顧問將全面支援，確保端到端無縫銜接的理賠體驗。客戶除了可以選擇自己偏好的承包商，由道明保險精心挑選和審批的承包商網絡亦提供足夠彈性，讓客戶根據不同情況選擇最合適的解決方案。

“We believe achieving the dream home is a collaborative journey, and we are committed to delivering exceptional service and value at every stage of the process.” Iona shared, “We always find creative solutions to insure unique items and offer flexibility to customise how our policies will respond in the event of a loss.”

Taking a fresh perspective on insurance, it goes beyond asset protection or object coverage. It's about preserving heritage, ensuring continuity, and fortifying the foundation of your family's legacy. With bespoke insurance policies and premier one-on-one services from TD Insurance Private Client Advice, securing wealth becomes an empowering experience. 

「我們相信，實現理想家園是一個協作過程，我們致力在每個階段提供卓越的服務。」Iona說：「我們總會找到創新的方法來承保獨特的物品，在意外發生時亦能夠靈活應對。」

當我們從一個全新角度思考保險，便會發現它不僅僅是資產保障，更關乎遺產保護、確保傳承和延續，並能進一步鞏固家族資產。通過道明保險私人客戶諮詢保險顧問提供的度身訂製的保險政策和一對一的私人諮詢服務，財富保護成為一種自主的體驗。

The information provided herein is for informational purposes only. Coverage described herein may be subject to additional eligibility criteria, limitations and exclusions. In the event of a conflict between the content of this page and your insurance contract, the latter shall prevail. TD Insurance's personal lines residential and automobile insurance policies are underwritten by TD General Insurance Company, Primmum Insurance Company, TD Home and Auto Insurance and Security National Insurance Company. They are distributed by TD Direct Insurance Agency Inc. and Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services Inc. 本頁面的內容僅作一般參考，不構成法律建議。本文所述的承保可能需要遵守額外的資格條件、限制與例外情況。如果本頁面的內容與您保單中的措辭存在衝突，應以您保單中的措辭為準。道明保險的個人住宅和汽車保單由道明普通保險公司、Primmum 保險公司、道明家居與汽車保險公司和 Security National 保險公司承保。它們由 TD Direct 保險代理公司和 Meloche Monnex 保險和金融服務公司分銷。

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References 參考資料

McKinsey & Company. June 4, 2019. Navigating Asia’s booming art market: An interview with Rebecca Wei, chairman of Christie’s Asia. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/china/navigating-asias-booming-art-market-an-interview-with-rebecca-wei-chairman-of-christies-asia

Sotheby’s. April 9, 2024. Wine & Spirits Market report 2023. Sotheby’s. https://wine.sothebys.com/blogs/news/the-sotheby-s-annual-wine-and-spirits-market-report-for-2023

Asian Business Review. March 25, 2024. Art Tops Luxury Investment Index in 2023: Knight Frank. Asian Business Review. https://asianbusinessreview.com/news/art-tops-luxury-investment-index-in-2023-knight-frank 

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