Managing estate sales comes with a unique set of challenges, from complicated family dynamics to maintaining an empty property. In this conversation, co-founders of the Christie's International Real Estate Group Trusts & Estates Division Leslie Hirsch and Howard Morrel share their tips for estate managers tasked with seeing a property through an estate sale. Tune in to hear what you need to know about insurance and maintenance as a home sits through this process, documents and information...
Are you taking all the right steps to prevent medical emergencies, and to ensure you're prepared in the worst case scenario? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Emergency Black Bag Founder & Medical Director Christopher Sidford shares what every private service professional should know about medical emergencies, from what to have on-hand at every property to how to prepare your principals for a trip overseas. Tune in to hear his tips for basic preparedness, how to improve med...
A strong network of tradespeople and vendors serves as the key to Rachel McGrath's fractional estate management company, RK Estate Management. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Rachel shares her tips for any private service professional looking to source, vet and work with high quality vendors. Tune in to hear her tips for finding new vendors, building strong relationships, and balancing 100+ vendors across multiple properties. Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from m...
Wealth brings complexity to all aspects of life, and health insurance is no exception. Emry Concierge's Lindsay Loomis has spent her career in the insurance industry, and in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, she shares her tips for helping families navigate health insurance and care. Tune in to hear considerations for families who spend time across multiple properties, states and countries, what to know about concierge doctors and healthcare advocates, and tips for finding the rig...
Dr. Virginia Schwager combines a psychology background and years of experience in private service to help families improve their childcare operations. In her time working in private households, she's learned that childcare teams shouldn't operate in siloes, but rather, should be integrated seamlessly with estate management teams. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Ginny shares her tips for estate managers on overseeing nannies and childcare professionals, her take on how to impr...
In every family office, turnover is inevitable. So how do you plan for the future and ensure information doesn't get lost over time? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Josh Kanter shares how his own family's story shaped his approach to helping family offices navigate transitions and preserve their legacies. Tune in to hear why his own experience led him to build leafplanner, his take on why it's critical to document the knowledge of everyone involved in the family ecosyst...
What should you consider when booking private jet travel, and how do you ensure everything goes smoothly? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Apollo Jets Aviation Advisor Michael Palagonia shares the common mistakes to avoid around luggage capacity, departure times, catering and more. Tune in to hear why it's critical to know your terms around cancelation, wifi, pets and more, how to plan for holiday, peak season, and major event travel, and which small mistakes can turn into big...
What is the definition of luxury in 2025? Joe Pellegrino says we all have our own definition — and it's his team's job to deliver on each client's unique vision. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, the Managing Director of the Pantheon Group shares his take on what he calls "anticipatory excellence," and how he sees estate management evolving. Tune in to hear about the keys to onboarding new clients, how to get ahead of expectations, tips for finding great vendors, and more...
Andrew Lowrey has a lifelong love of service, and his years working in hospitality and private homes shape his philosophy on domestic staffing. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, the Precise Home Management Founder and President shares why he believes you should never force a role in private service, as well as his keys to a long-term placement. Tune in to hear how his upbringing fuels his journey in private service, his tips for candidates and his advice for finding a long-term...
Curious about turning a second home into a vacation rental? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, we talk with Kim Lalande about what to know before putting a luxury property on the short-term rental market, how to appeal to a particular type of traveler, and how to create a high-end guest experience. Kim is the Founder & CEO of Key.co, a hospitality marketplace where clients can book vetted, top-tier vacation homes, curated experiences, and in-home services, all in one p...
The cybersecurity landscape is changing rapidly with the increasing prevalence of AI-driven cybercrime. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, we talk about what private service professionals can do to minimize risk with Dr. Chris Pierson, CEO and Founder of the concierge cybersecurity and privacy platform BlackCloak. Tune in to learn about the link between digital security and physical security, how digital scams are evolving in the age of AI, and what you can do to take acti...
Every private service professional has a unique path into the industry. For Steve Davis, a wide range of experiences — including a lifelong love of music — prepared him for a career in estate management. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Steve shares how being an "expert generalist" has helped him succeed in private service. Tune in to hear stories of how a diverse background helps him in his role as an estate manager and consultant, his advice for working closely with specialists, a...
What are the most common losses facing high net worth homeowners, and what are they overlooking when it comes to prevention? In this conversation, PURE Insurance Chief Growth Officer Mark Galante and Head of Risk Management Jason Metzger dig into the data from 2024, uncovering the trends in homeowners’ claims and sharing practical tips for reducing risk. Tune in to hear tips for getting ahead of losses and preventative measures every estate manager should take in 2025. Note that this co...
How do you navigate the changes that come with transferring wealth from one generation to another? What are the challenges and opportunities families have as G2+ starts to share properties and assets? In this conversation, Parere Advisory Founder and Managing Partner Janet Arzt and Managing Director Skye Young share the trends they see across family offices, as well as their advice for creating structure and systems to ease the transition. Tune in to hear what everyone should know about...
LA-based Easemaker Heather Swain has carved out a niche helping clients stay organized through any transition. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Heather shares what she's learned from helping clients move, consolidate properties, and navigate moments of transformation. Tune in to hear her tips for helping principals stay organized in the midst of chaos. Subscribe to the Easemakers Podcast to hear from more experts in the private service industry, and join the Easemakers communi...
We've all heard stories of surprising art discoveries — jewelry found in desk drawers, vintage cars uncovered in barns — so what can we learn from these stories? How do you protect and preserve valuable assets and collections, and what should everyone in private service know about navigating the art market? Ronald Varney is a Fine Art Advisor with 25 years of experience in the international art market. In this conversation, he shares lessons learned from art and collectibles lost and found in...
At first glance, you might not expect Kate Bright to be a part of a security detail — which, she says, is exactly why she's right for the job. In this conversation, we talk with Kate about invisible protection, and how she made the move from personal assistant to secure lifestyle expert and Founder and CEO of Umbra International, a full-service security business that delivers recruitment, advisory and project management to private clients and family offices around the world. Tune in to hear...
When emotions are running high, how do you turn things around, solve the problem, and provide the best possible service? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Steven Ferry, Chairman of the Institute of Modern Butlers, shares how working on soft skills and emotional intelligence can help you better navigate tough situations with principals, staff, vendors, and anyone else you come across in your daily life. Steven became a butler in 1989, and since then, his career has evolved into hos...
Today, security is top of mind for high profile individuals and the people who support them. In the aftermath of the shooting that killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Wayne DeCoste and his team at Rescor Group have had an influx of calls from people scrambling to improve their executive protection programs. Now, in a special episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Wayne shares his advice for anyone who’s concerned about safety and protective services – for both the short term and the lo...
How do you bring a big creative vision to life, whether it's a logo and brand for an estate, a once-in-a-lifetime party, or an upgrade of simple service touches like napkins and platters? Jack Grayson started out as a photographer, then, quite by accident, found himself managing creative projects in high end estates. Now, he's sharing his secrets for getting creative in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast. Tune in to hear how Jack turns a seemingly impossible vision into a reality, his...