Masterplan: The Right Order for Asset Protection

The Critical Mistake in Asset Protection: Acting Piece by Piece

Most entrepreneurs and families approach asset protection with a tactical, fragmented mindset. They open a holding company based on a single piece of advice, create a trust without a clear succession plan, or move assets internationally without considering the full tax implications.

This "piece by piece" approach inevitably creates legal, tax, and governance conflicts down the road.

A true patrimonial strategy is not about individual actions; it is about sequence. A Masterplan provides that sequence.

Step 1: Governance First (The Why and Who)

Before any legal structure is created, you must define the rules of the game. Governance is the brain of your asset system and answers the most critical questions:

Control: Who has the final say in key decisions?
Decision-Making: What is the formal process for approving investments, distributions, or sales?
Conflict Resolution: How are disagreements between family members or business partners managed?
Succession: What happens in the event of death, disability, or exit?

Defining governance first prevents creating structures that are legally sound but practically unmanageable.

Step 2: Structures Second (The How)

Only after the governance rules are clear should you select the legal instruments. Whether it's a holding company, a trust, or a series of offshore entities, the structure is merely a tool to implement the governance rules, not the other way around.

Your choice of structure should be a direct consequence of your governance needs. For example:

Need for asset segregation? A trust or a dedicated SPV might be appropriate.
Need for centralized control? A holding company structure is likely necessary.
Need for international tax efficiency? The jurisdiction of the entities becomes a key factor.

Choosing a structure without defined governance is like building a house without a blueprint.

Step 3: Execution Last (The What)

Execution is the final, technical step. It involves the legal and fiscal acts performed by notaries, lawyers, and accountants. When a Masterplan is in place, execution becomes a straightforward, predictable process because all strategic decisions have already been made.

Without a Masterplan, execution is often chaotic, reactive, and driven by fragmented, conflicting advice from different professionals who only see a small part of the whole picture.

What a Masterplan Delivers

A well-structured Masterplan is not a theoretical document; it is an operational roadmap. Concretely, you get:

A Systemic Map:
A Decision Order: A clear, logical sequence of actions to take, ensuring that each step reinforces the others.
An Execution Roadmap: A practical plan that your legal and tax advisors can follow, eliminating ambiguity, improvisation, and costly mistakes.

In summary, a Masterplan forces you to decide before you act. In the world of complex assets, that discipline is the ultimate form of protection.

*Ready to establish the right order for your assets?