Gold, Global Citizens, and Fine Arts: Securing Value Beyond Borders
On 18 June 2025, a full house of investors, bankers, and family-office advisers gathered at Art Works Fine Art Gallery in Singapore for a fast-moving briefing on how to preserve wealth in an increasingly unpredictable world. If you missed it, here are the insights you need and one simple next step to protect your own portfolio.
Uncertainty is the New Normal
Jeanette Ng, Citi Wealth Investment Counselor
Jeanette Ng opened the session with a clear message: trying to time the market is riskier than staying invested. Using real-world data, she demonstrated how missing just a few rebound days can dramatically cut long-term returns. Her advice – rooted in discipline and backed by results, spoke to the power of consistency over emotional reaction.
Jeanette also outlined Citi’s current positioning: a strong preference for large-cap equities in the U.S., Europe (ex-UK), and China, and reduced exposure to small- and mid-cap stocks, which are more vulnerable to rising interest rates and debt costs.
Looking ahead, she spotlighted alternative investments as a fast-growing and now essential asset class. With $19 trillion in AUM and counting, these are no longer on the fringe – they’re at the core of sophisticated portfolios, with institutional investors and family offices leading the charge.
Gold is the Anchor When Currencies Drift
Joshua Rotbart, Founder, J. Rotbart & Co.
Joshua Rotbart took us global, spotlighting gold’s rising importance in an era of geopolitical tension, de-dollarization, and economic fragmentation. As central banks quietly reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, gold is emerging once again as a strategic, borderless store of value.
He reminded us that gold historically performs during crises whether 2008 or COVID and it’s doing so again. As of mid-2025, gold is up 27% YTD and 45% YoY, outperforming major indices and even U.S. Treasuries.
He distinguished between physical and paper gold: the former offers total ownership, zero counterparty risk, and long-term privacy ideal in a volatile world. With 14 global storage locations, including Bangkok, Zurich, and Dubai, J. Rotbart & Co. has already handled more than $2.5 billion in physical metal transactions.
Looking forward, he sees more upside: gold heading to $3,560, silver to $39, and political cycles like a possible Trump return adding tailwinds.
“In an unstable world, the surest way to keep options open is to own an asset that no one else can print.” Joshua Rotbart
Plan B Passports and the Great Wealth Migration
Rory McDaid of Henley & Partners
Rory McDaid of Henley & Partners reframed residency and citizenship as wealth strategies, not just lifestyle choices. Today’s HNWIs are managing more than money, they’re managing jurisdictions.
With 60+ offices and $15 billion in FDI raised, Henley is a global leader in alternative citizenship and residency planning. One headline grabbing topic: Trump’s proposed “Gold Card”, a speculative U.S. residency option linked to a $5 million donation though potentially in conflict with the EB-5 visa, valid through 2027.
Henley’s Private Wealth Migration Report showed clear movement: HNWIs are flowing into destinations offering climate resilience, political neutrality, and mobility. Among the options, Nauru’s citizenship program stood out with a $130,000 contribution granting access to over 80 visa-free destinations, especially appealing to those seeking climate-adaptive, low-profile jurisdictions.
Henley also explored education-linked migration routes to countries like Canada, Australia, the U.S., and New Zealand, breaking down how top-tier schooling can be bundled with residency or citizenship for entire families.
Most inquiries today come from U.S. and Indian nationals, with families increasingly viewing citizenship diversification not as a luxury, but a necessity – a strategy backed by social proof and future-focused planning.
Art as an Asymmetric “Passion Asset”
Samuel Hardwick, Art Works Director
From financial planning to emotional equity. At Art Works Advisory, art is not only for appreciation, but for portfolio diversification, legacy-building, and strategic returns.
The firm offers a complete, end-to-end advisory: sourcing investment-grade pieces, handling valuations, logistics, insurance, and storage, and providing structured exit strategies when it’s time to take profit.
He spoke to the intersection of aesthetics and analytics. Art satisfies the soul, but with the right approach, it can also stabilize wealth especially during market volatility.
In a world where tangible, portable, uncorrelated assets are rising in demand, fine art is no longer niche – it’s smart.
What This Means for You
- Hold a real asset that resists both inflation and currency risk.
- Build jurisdictional flexibility before new regulations tighten doors.
- Add uncorrelated stores of value from gold bars to gallery walls – to smooth returns.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Move
Whether you need to buy, store, or finance physical gold or explore how it dovetails with residency planning and alternative assets, our team is ready to help. Contact us for a confidential consultation with J. Rotbart & Co. It costs nothing to talk to us, yet could save you far more than money.
