IS THERE ART IN YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO?
ART X, West
Africa’s premier international art fair, as always, pulled a huge crowd; a mix
of art lovers, collectors, investors, artists, curators, students and the
curious. With
major art fairs taking place across the globe from London, Brussels and Lagos,
art enthusiasts, collectors and sophisticated investors are increasingly
including works of fine art in their investment portfolios. Here are some
thoughts about including art in yours.
Capital appreciation
The “right” art usually appreciates steadily
with time; If you have carefully chosen a piece and sought professional advice,
and are prepared to wait, sometime in the future, your art is likely to be
worth considerably more than what you paid for it. However, there are no guarantees.
Art is subjective
The
price of a painting or other piece of art is highly subjective and is worth
just as much as a willing buyer is willing to pay for it. Several issues
determine an artwork’s value including the artist, market trends, its
condition, the subject and great PR.
It
is difficult to calculate the rate of return on investments in art. Art is a
collectable; as it gets older or rarer, art pieces tend to increase or at least
hold their value.
Market fluctuation
A huge advantage of art as an investment
class is that the inevitable volatility that you find in the financial markets
is less so when it comes to art. Art investors thus avoid some of the sleepless
nights that market volatility causes investors in bear markets.
Limited information
When you invest in
the financial markets, there is available information and analysis with which you
can make informed decisions. Experts would have researched a company and its
fundamentals, and looked at past performance which, even though isn’t a
guarantee of future performance, gives some important signals.
Think long-term
Don't try to “get rich quick” with art. Art is not the most liquid of asset classes and it can be difficult to sell quickly. Mutual funds and blue-chip stocks can generally be bought and sold fairly easily, sometimes almost instantaneously with a ready established market. It is as simple as a telephone call to your stockbroker or just a click away if you trade for yourself.
Selling art can be long, drawn out and involved;
from valuers, dealers, insurance agents, lawyers and of course the tax
authorities will be interested in capital gains. If you want to get the best
price possible, selling
art, can take time, effort, as well as planning and knowledge.
Care for your art
For many investors, the fact that you control
your physical asset and it is in your care is important. Whilst the main advantage of having art is
the fact that it is there for you to enjoy, the responsibility for caring for
it, displaying, maintaining and storing it can be a challenge and lies with you;
it is thus important that it is preserved and insured in case of fire, flood or
other disaster in order for it to retain its value.
Is your art insured?
Depending on your collection’s value, you will probably require an additional rider or on your home insurance policy that covers special pieces. Some insurers may require that you keep very valuable pieces in a vault and not display them at home. Conditions vary from insurer to insurer; some do not have the expertise inhouse to place an appropriate value. Be sure to check with your agent, what they will and will not cover.
Diversification
Asset
diversification can reduce the overall risk of an investment portfolio. By spreading savings around
different asset classes, investors can minimise volatility across their overall
portfolio. Basically, it’s about not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Artwork tends to hold its value and is generally not affected by market
factors.
A hedge against inflation
Inflation can eat the value of the monetary based assets like certificates of deposits and other money market instruments. Art can act as a hedge against inflation, because of it being a store of value and wealth preservation. It is real and tangible.
Include your artwork in your Estate Plan.
Active about determining the future of your artwork. How do you pass on your collection to the next generation? Your children may love the same painting? Perhaps they are not interested and resent paying any capital gains tax on art they have no interest in. Some paintings are far more valuable than others. Who gets what? These are all issues to consider as you would with other assets including stocks and property.
Many serious collectors donate ownership; either fractional or outright, of their artwork to institutions. A professional art consultant can identify appropriate homes for your collection. Particularly when art collectors decide to donate the art pieces as charity there are tax advantages.
Watch emerging artists
If you are a novice investor with a small budget,
art fairs and galleries are good places to start. There you will find emerging
artists that have distinct pieces that are affordable. If something you like is
more expensive, you will be surprised that some artists might agree to an
instalment payment plan. Just ask.
Just as with stocks and other investments, resist the noise. Hype and excess
demand just inflates the price of any asset. Even if you don't intend to
sell your artwork, it is exciting to observe a star emerge, whose early pieces
you acquired several years before.
Do your homework
In spite of the compelling reasons to
invest in art, it is not an asset class you should venture into for investment
purposes without careful consideration. Remember,
every investment comes with a degree of risk and art is no different. Expertise in this asset
class comes from careful research, being very involved in the sector and takes
several years to cultivate.
Buy art because you like it
Ideally you should buy art because you love what you see and not necessarily because it might make you rich; an important reason for being a collector is to be able to display such beauty and derive immense pleasure from it in your everyday life.
Your collection should be a reflection of your taste and a part of your everyday life. Seek professional advice but also trust your own instincts. Even if it doesn't appreciate significantly in value, you would have derived so much pleasure from it; this is priceless when it comes to quality of life.
Nimi Akinkugbe has extensive experience in private wealth
management. She seeks to empower people regarding their finances and offers
frank, practical insights to create a greater awareness and understanding of
personal finance.