Asset Protection
Updated: Sep 28
True story . . .
Four years ago, a 17-year-old was street racing at over 100 mph when he struck a car, killing two parents, while their seven-year-old twin girls survived. Last month, a jury handed the family a judgment in the amount of $33 million. Not only did the jury find the teenage driver liable, but his parents as well “because they knew he had sped in the past” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
I doubt this was modeled in their financial plan.
It’s a sobering thought. Even if you meticulously diversify your portfolio and properties, you may still be exposed to “Black Swan” risks nobody has modeled.
Most people design financial plans around what they expect to happen. But life rarely unfolds precisely as modeled.
Our role as advisers is not to predict the next crisis. It is to help you prepare for the unpredictable -- to avoid the risk of ruin. As author Nassim Taleb advocates, goal #1 is to be robust through adverse events and, ideally, emerge stronger from them ("antifragile").
Our team at Fielder has designed a Stress Test to help clients assess their exposure to Black Swan risks. It examines vulnerabilities across four dimensions:
Liquidity
Liability Exposures
Ownership Structure
Portfolio Risk
Our Stress Test identifies the highest-impact changes required to mitigate the risks. We then help clients get these changes executed. To learn more, you can watch this 90-second video…
If you’d like to discuss how we might help Stress Test your family’s risks, please let us know.
Yours in the Field,
Frank Byrd, CFA
DISCLAIMERS:
The views expressed herein are as of September 22, 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Fielder Capital Group LLC (Fielder) is under no obligation to update this document. References to specific investment strategies, including hedging approaches, are for illustrative and educational purposes and are not guarantees of future results. There can be no assurance that the investments or strategies discussed in this document will prove profitable. Any strategy may lose money. Investing involves the risk of loss that clients must be prepared to bear. This presentation, including any commentary, charts, tables and graphs therein, is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or any form of recommendation, and should not be construed as such. Certain information contained herein has been obtained from third-party sources believed to be reliable, but Fielder makes no express warranty as to its completeness or accuracy. This presentation does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell any instrument or to engage in any trading or investment activity or strategy. This presentation does not provide advice concerning the suitability or value of any investment or investment strategy for a particular investor, and certain investments referenced in this presentation may be unsuitable for certain investors. For individualized investment advice, consult with your adviser. Fielder or its employees may have an economic interest in securities mentioned herein. Fielder does not provide accounting or legal advice, nor will we prepare any accounting or legal documents. Always consult with your own attorney, CPA, or insurance agent for final recommendations and before changing or implementing any of Fielder’s tax, estate planning, or financial recommendations. Any projections, market outlooks or estimates in this document are forward-looking statements concerning our beliefs and opinions in respect of the future. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fielder is a registered investment adviser, yet registration does not imply government endorsement or that the adviser has attained a certain level of skill or training. Fielder may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for a corresponding exemption from such requirements. For additional information about Fielder, please consult the Firm’s Form ADV disclosure documents, the most recent versions of which are available at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. This document is intended solely for the recipient and should not be redistributed without Fielder's consent.
