Los Angeles, CA – Jordi Pujol, CFA, Managing Director within Objective’s Valuation Group, was recently consulted by the LA Times Studios team in their latest Wealth Management & Estate Planning Roundtable, featured on the Business Advisory & Insights page.
In this roundtable interview, Jordi Pujol, CFA joined other industry leaders to share his expert perspective on the latest trends, best practices and concerns across the wealth management landscape. Here are some of Jordi’s key insights:
- How would you describe the current investment environment in 2025 and what do you consider to be the best investment approach in general terms?
It’s more clear we’ve transitioned to a post-speculation cycle. With capital no longer as cheap, investors can no longer rely on rising multiples to justify weak underwriting. In 2025, the most resilient portfolios are focused, yield-conscious and grounded in fundamental cash flow. They are not driven purely by momentum or narrative, but rather by defensible moats and process-oriented scalability. Cash yield, margin of safety and strategic defensibility have replaced passive diversification as the cornerstones of disciplined investing. Private markets have notably shifted from “growth at any price” to “performance at the right price.” Investors are paying less for vision and more for repeatability of outcomes. Growth stories need to be backed up by real traction, recurring processes and sustainable/scalable growth. This environment demands real-time valuation discipline and quarterly stress testing of private holdings. Think forward when modeling but underwrite like the exit is tomorrow. Backward-looking assumptions and forward-looking hype no longer suffice. - What are the most critical strategies high-net-worth individuals should prioritize in today’s economic environment?
In today’s environment, high-net-worth individuals should prioritize three things: ownership in assets they understand, tax-efficient structures informed by valuation foresight, and optionality through enhanced liquidity. Long-term capital growth is not about chasing trends or the cliched shiny objects but about staying positioned for the right opportunities. We’re seeing a move away from over-diversified portfolios toward intentional ownership, where control, structure and timing drive outcomes. This means more alternatives, a mix of private and public holdings, and tax-minimizing structures. Ownership in assets you’d fight to keep, that’s the new diversification. I also like the “cockroach” approach, which is building portfolios that survive the panoply of circumstances the world is throwing at us by selecting traditional and non-traditional asset classes, making sure that correlation is low. I also think cash yields make liquidity an asset and not a drag on returns; it’s strategic capital with a clear purpose of optionality. When opportunities arise, those with dry powder and a defined investment playbook are positioned to act quickly and decisively. The most successful families today follow a clear investment policy that outlines the investment discipline before emotions take over. In this environment, structure and readiness matter more than broad diversification. - How do you advise clients to balance risk and reward when pursuing long-term growth?
Don’t chase high risk, high reward; engineer low risk, high conviction through long-term thinking. At Objective, we believe true risk isn’t just about market volatility, it’s often about overpaying for uncertain outcomes or fads. Long-term growth starts with disciplined entry and should correlate with what you want to own five years down the line. Valuation at entry isn’t just for compliance, it’s the defense and roadmap for future position adjustments. We often guide clients to model three – cases, low, base and high – because if you only plan for the base case, you’ve handicapped your understanding of potential outcomes. The best investors price in imperfection, protect capital on the downside and let time handle the compounding on positive trends. In private markets, we also help clients structure investments with asymmetric outcomes, where a 1× downside supports a 3× upside. That can include preference stacks, convertibility on notes and milestone upside through derivatives like warrants. We always model worst-case cash burn first; if it still makes sense at the bottom, everything else is upside. Valuation is your testing ground. Use it to see clearly and act with conviction. - What estate planning tools are most effective for minimizing tax burdens across generations?
Standard structuring tools still work, but their true power lies in how and when they’re used. For example, gifting pre-appreciated assets during downturns or before liquidity events allows wealth to grow outside the estate at a compressed tax cost. Planning with discount studies for minority positioning can allow you to apply discounts for lack of marketability and control, reducing the taxable value of gifted interests while preserving real economic value. Certain traditional trust structures, including those based on annuity techniques, remain effective planning tools. Their impact can be significantly enhanced by aligning transfers with existing tax benefits, such as Qualified Small Business Stock treatment. When minority interests are gifted at trough valuations and supported by appropriate discounts for lack of marketability and/or control, substantial equity can be shifted into tax-efficient vehicles at reduced reported values. Capture step-ups early may save IRS bills later. This clearly shows compliance valuation is not just part of the plan, it’s a real economic multiplier. With early planning, millions in future value can be transferred before massive tax consequences. - What unique considerations should business owners factor into their estate and succession plans?
Succession isn’t a single event, it’s a system that needs to be built, maintained and regularly tested. Business owners and family heads should structure continuity plans with updated valuations, clearly defined buy-sell mechanisms, and governance that depends less on future intentions or personalities and more on thoughtful planning. Uncertainty is one of the biggest threats to enterprise value. If business plans aren’t baked into legal documents, the business is exposed to potential family disputes, tax inefficiencies and legal ambiguity. Transfers are also easier when numbers have been agreed to in advance. Plan as if you’ll leave tomorrow and revisit that plan at least once a year. More families are treating succession planning like an annual checkup. During year-end valuation work, they run liquidation or “liquidity fire-drill” scenarios to spot issues and test their transition plans. Some are also using structures to manage control and distributions effectively across family members more dynamically. Like outdated software, if a succession plan isn’t reviewed and updated regularly, it’s more likely to break when you need it most. - How do you see AI and automation impacting wealth management in the next 5-10 years?
AI is beginning to reshape wealth management, but it’s not a replacement for advisors, it’s another tool in the toolbox. Used well, it can accelerate diligence, surface outliers, stress test assumptions and generate models in seconds. But the truth is clients don’t need more spreadsheets; they need clarity, context and judgment. All this comes from the human touch and experience. The advisors who will lead in the next decade are those who treat AI like an enhancement of their own skills, not like a replacement. At Objective, we use AI to flag inconsistencies, improve our communication and stress test our thinking. Then we bring in the human element to synthesize, challenge and advise. AI can compute outcomes, but it’s useless without an experienced human interpreter. In the end, it’s not about replacing insight, it’s about removing noise so advisors can focus on the decisions that actually matter. AI enhances great advisors, but it will never make poor ones great. - How can advisors better engage younger generations in the wealth transfer conversation to avoid conflict and ensure legacy continuity?
If you want heirs to act like stewards instead of recipients, don’t just write a will, start a conversation. The earlier families involve younger generations, the more likely wealth becomes a tool for continuity. We’ve seen families use business valuations, portfolio reviews and cash flow summaries to bring clarity to the “why” behind the wealth and to tell the full story to their heirs. These tools take emotion out of the equation and turn complex financial decisions into documented, teachable moments. A detailed valuation can start the conversation a trust document cannot. One strategy that works well is forming a Family Investment Committee before the age of 18. You can even give heirs mock capital, or even small portfolios, and let them pitch investments quarterly, benchmarking their results against the real portfolio. Valuation reports and shared KPIs can turn wealth into something they understand and feel responsible for. The more context you provide while living, the fewer misunderstandings arise after you’re gone.
The LA Times article also features perspectives from Gal Ben-Naim of IDB Bank, Joshua Driskell of Lagerloff, LLP, and Mike Watson of Axos Securities, LLC who weighed in on the discussion and shared insights on the state of wealth management in 2025.
Read the full article here.
Stay tuned for more updates and expert insights from Jordi Pujol and our team, as we continue to provide thought leadership in the valuation and investment banking space. To discuss insights from this piece or have a confidential conversation about your valuation or sell-side investment banking needs, contact us today.
Disclosures
The above testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other customers and is not a guarantee of future performance or success.
This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to buy, sell, subscribe for or issue any securities. While the information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, Objective Capital Partners and BA Securities, LLC make no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. All information contained herein is preliminary, limited and subject to completion, correction or amendment. It should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice and may not be reproduced or distributed to any person. Securities and investment banking services are offered through BA Securities, LLC Member FINRA, SIPC. Principals of Objective Capital are Registered Representatives of BA Securities. Objective Capital Partners and BA Securities are separate and unaffiliated entities.
