Life is short, art is long : maximizing estate planning strategies for collectors of art, antiques, and collectibles

I truly believe that this book is a must-read for anyone interested in art. The book is divided into two sections, the first for collectors and the second for financial advisors. In the first section, Mendelsohn (named one of the top 100 collectors by Art + Antiques Magazine) tells the reader about his own journey collecting art. He provides incredibly valuable tips for other aspiring collectors--such as why you need to get to the auction house early, how to be the first one a dealer calls when a new piece comes on the market, and how to strategically plan a collection's growth. These insider tips make any art lover feel confident about stepping foot into a gallery or auction house to build a world-class collection. The second section is devoted to planning for the future of a collection. While almost all of us have financial planners, insurance agents, and lawyers to help us plan for our lives, our investments, and our estates, few have someone helping them plan for their art and antique assets. Mendelsohn points out that failing to plan for these pieces can result in losses of over 70%! Therefore, this second half of the book is devoted to helping collectors and their financial advisors plan for their art more effectively. It's a great resource and I highly recommend it to anyone with a substantial amount of time and money invested in art and antiques.