The wealth spiral

How do you go from landscaping to UHNW estate management? New York based estate manager Nick Washburn shares how he worked his way up to managing a complex and diverse portfolio — and what he's learned along the way.

How do you know when to bring up conversations around healthcare, and how to minimize risk as you navigate health-related situations with your principals? In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Wellworth Founder & CEO John Samuels shares his advice for family offices and private service professionals.

Want to grow in your career? Here are 4 ways to take your household management skills to the next level.

How do you recognize a great family office? Mack International Partner Brian Adams knows the signs, and in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, he shares his tips for estate managers looking for a long-term fit.

Melissa Winstead spent 15 years as a private chef before moving into an estate management role, and in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, she's sharing how her experience in the kitchen serves her in her role today.

How do you find the right private chef for your household staff? Marc Sorensen Leandro shares his tips for hiring managers based on his experience as a private chef turned recruiter in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

What's trending in luxury travel, and how can you help create a unique experience for your principals? Luxurious Getaways Co-Founder Ryan Rudolph shares his tips and insights in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

In today's high tech estates, it's critical that both principals and household staff know where to turn when something goes wrong. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Modern Life Technical Solutions Founder & CEO Juliet Prater shares her tips for building a technical estate manual.

Hiring a team of private service professionals for your principal? Brittany Dolin shares her tips for hiring managers in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How can an endowment help preserve a family's legacy? Winged Keel Principal Mark Richards shares his take in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Can a car also be an office, a gathering place, a space to relax? Becker Automotive Design CEO Howard Becker says yes — and he's sharing how in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How do you keep a complex development project running smoothly and bring a principal's vision to life? Peak Projects Founder & CEO Grant Bowen shares his take in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How do you find great contractors and work with them effectively to get projects done the right way? David Deray shares the contractor's perspective in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

What's trending in home automation, and what's on its way out? Global Wave Integration Founder & President Kyle Steele shares his take in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Laurie Reese has found a unique calling within private service, supporting principals who are aging in place. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, she shares the challenges and the beauty in this heartfelt work.

Want to foster a high performing team of household staff? Hear why DEPN Consulting Founder Dwight Nero believes the right training is key in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How has protecting the world's most prominent families and individuals changed over the last 50 years — and what's stayed the same? Gavin de Becker & Associates Senior Vice President of Threat Assessment and Management Bryan Niederhelm digs into what's new and what remains core to executive protection in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Curious about the role of an owner's rep and how they can help streamline a luxury construction project? Leo Crane shares his take in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How do you maximize value across an organization? Family office specialist Alison Marckstadt shares her tips on the Easemakers Podcast!

What are principals really thinking? Tapestry Associates CEO Anne Lyons and President Judy Boerner-Rule share an insider's perspective in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

What does it mean to create a 5 star hotel experience in a home or estate — and how can you make it happen? Hannah Loudin, Director of Residences at The Tampa EDITION, shares her tips in a special bonus episode of the Easemakers Podcast, recorded live from the Estate Management Conference!

Getting organized — let alone staying organized — across multiple properties can be a huge undertaking. Get tips from the experts in this Easemakers Podcast episode with NEAT Method Co-Founders Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer.

As an increasing number of people start to explore the possibilities of alternative citizenship, what do private service professionals need to know? Henley & Partners Managing Director Private Clients Judi Galst shares her tips and insights in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

What are the keys to providing excellent lifestyle management services to 25 different clients? Jennifer Quent shares what it's like to work for a family office practice within a public accounting firm in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How do you ensure principals and the private service professionals who support them are all on the same page? Jen Laurence shares her tips for improving communications in this episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Private service professionals often feel like there aren't enough hours in a day — but are you falling victim to the 8 deadly time thieves? In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, professional organizer and bestselling author Andrew Mellen shares his tips for time management.

How do you ensure your team has the resources they need, and how do you ask for more support? Rebecca Maguire shares her tips for setting family offices and teams of household staff up for success.

The options for private air travel are extensive. What are the advantages of buying a private plane, working with an air charter service, or owning a fraction of a private jet? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, private aviation expert and Corporate Aviation CEO Ryan Hall breaks down the options for flying privately.

Do you know how to create a home inventory list? Why is inventory so important — to family members, to your insurance company and to your household staff? And, what needs to be included on your home inventory checklist? Inventory expert Carol Kaufman shares her tips in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Tara Ulrich is a virtual personal assistant and executive assistant who supports clients across the country. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, she shares her tips for providing administrative support remotely and building a virtual assistant business in private service.

Your principals come to you and say they want to buy a ranch or some kind of agricultural property, and they’d like to set it up as a business to qualify for an agricultural property tax exemption. Now what? Director of Properties and Agricultural Manager Stephanie Galetzki shares everything you need to know in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Major projects present an exciting opportunity for estate managers to shine in their roles. See what goes into mastering projects — and how you can level up your skills.

Private service is a unique career path — which means negotiating your salary as an estate manager comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Get advice from the experts on navigating salary conversations, asking for a raise, and creating a compensation package with outside the box benefits.

What are the trends in household staffing salaries and compensation? How much does compensation affect tenure and turnover? Which employees are you most at risk of losing? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, the Botoff Consulting team shares takeaways from the 2022 Estate and Household Staff Compensation Report.

Every estate manager wants to find a role where they can thrive. So, what questions should you ask during the interview process to help you recognize great principals, uncover growth opportunities, and land a role that’s a long-term fit? Get tips from the experts.

What do you need to know about today’s insurance market, and how do you decide when to submit a claim and when not to? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Atténuer Risk Managing Principal Kate Norris shares her tips.

Are you ready for the fall changeover? Here are the questions you should be thinking about to prepare for winter and preserve a property and everything within it.

How do you manage an extensive wardrobe — especially when you’re working across multiple properties? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, personal stylist Natalie Decleve shares her tips for private service professionals tasked with managing their principals’ wardrobes.

How do you manage expectations and build strong relationships with principals? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Sarah Korpela shares her tips for navigating difficult conversations and communicating effectively with high net worth clients.

How do you scale household operations after a wealth event? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Director of Properties Jeffrey Konen shares his tips for working with hyper-growth family offices.

Phoebe Maddrell has honed her estate management skillset across superyachts, guest homes, and estates. Now, she’s sharing what she’s learned about building effective systems of communication for staff members and creating what she calls a “legacy of knowledge” in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

This month marks the beginning of hurricane season. How do you make sure a property — and all of the fine art, antiques, and other valuable assets within it — are safe from risk? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Fortress Chief Operating Officer Tom Burns shares best practices for art storage and preservation and tips for preparing for hurricane season.

What steps can you take to reduce your cybersecurity risk and protect your household against cyberattacks? Annapurna Cybersecurity Founder & CEO shares what he’s learned about mitigating risk for families, family offices and household staff.

Is it possible for a move to be stress-free? No move is easy, but this week on the Easemakers Podcast, move concierge and relocation services expert Eve Ward shares her tips for helping the entire moving process go smoothly.

Whether you’re handling priceless works of art or couture masterpieces, supporting a private collector comes with a lot of extra responsibility. In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Naomi Sosnovsky shares how she combines her passions for private collections and private service — along with her advice for other PSPs.

What is executive protection? When should you consider executive protection services, and how do you go about finding the right executive protection agent? Here’s a guide to figuring out the right private security setup for a high net worth household.

Curious about yachting? In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Rose Jolis shares her path from yacht chef to private yacht charter broker, and what she's learned along the way.

Want to ensure your household is prepared for anything? In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, we talk with Scott Sanders, an estate manager with a specialty in executive protection, about life safety and the importance of being prepared.

How do you negotiate for the salary you deserve? In a new Easemakers Podcast episode, Career Coach Donna Shannon shares how to talk about money with confidence and land a 20%+ increase.

Building mutual respect amongst household staff and vendors takes time. Here's one thing you can do right now to accelerate the process.

What do principals really want? Rey Flemings and his team at Myria have an interesting hypothesis: experiences you can’t Google. Hear his take in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast!

Let's talk about a hot topic: hybrid roles in household staffing. In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, PSP-turned-recruiter Jenni Vaughan shares the other side of the story.

Finding the right housekeeper for a high net worth household can be challenging, and today, the market is more competitive than ever. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know, from job descriptions, salaries and benefits, to the questions the experts always ask in the interview process.

What's it like to work in private service alongside your spouse? Find out in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast with Easemakers community member Catherine Smith!

What's the role of household staff in the memorial planning and funeral process? Expert Jeff Lambert shares his take in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Check out the list of private service industry resources every estate manager should know, and let us know what’s missing.

In our final episode of 2022, members of the Easemakers community share what they've learned this year, what they're grateful for, and what they're looking forward to in the New Year.

You want your household staff to work together seamlessly — but sometimes, different communication styles get in the way. See how Tejai Singh helps team members understand each other in a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

A younger generation of principals is starting to hire household staff — so what does that mean for private service professionals? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Philippa Smith shares what she's learned about this new generation.

Every estate manager has learned some lessons the hard way. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Bobbie Halminiak shares what she's learned about working with vendors.

John Christensen is a 25-year private service veteran, who grew up with a service mindset. In the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast, he shares what he's learned about standing out, while maintaining your balance.

Estate managers need keen attention to detail, great organization skills, and the ability to stay calm in the midst of chaos. Jean Weiss learned all of these things before her private service career — as a costumer on shows like Parks and Recreation. Tune in to the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast to hear her story, and what she's learned along the way.

Don't know where to start when it comes to managing properties? Expert estate manager Shelby Boudreau learned everything she knows on the job — and now, she's sharing her tried and true household operations tips to help others feel less overwhelmed.

Are you in a nanny or family assistant role, aspiring to be an estate manager? In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, an estate manager shares how she grew from nanny to household manager as her principals' needs changed.

Managing homes and estates isn't easy. But if you take these 3 simple steps, you can cut down on the chaos, save time, and be more prepared for anything that comes your way.

This week, people around the world are paying homage to Queen Elizabeth II. On this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Chris Ely shares what it was like to be a footman at Buckingham Palace.

One week, three holiday dinners, no notice. When Holy Week turned into 'hell week,' Latricia Friend made the impossible possible for her principals — and now, she's sharing how she did it in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Estate managers and interior designers both want to make their principals happy — so why is it such a challenge to work together? We asked two friends to debate some common scenarios, and to share how they've built a positive working relationship.

How do you create a healthy work environment for household staff, get ahead of challenges, and keep tough situations from escalating? In a new episode of the Easemakers Podcast, TEAM CEO Rachel Green shares tips and best practices for minimizing risk in household employment.

Are we seeing an unprecedented moment in private service? Brian Daniel thinks so — and he's sharing his insights in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

How do you care for a luxury wardrobe and manage the closet of a couture collector? Garde Robe's Doug Greenberg shares secrets from the pros.

Enlisted aides have a keen sense of attention to detail, managing everything from the medals on a general's uniform to the menu for dinner with an ambassador. Get an inside look at this unique private service role in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

A second home should feel like a sanctuary, but maintaining a seasonal property can be a lot of work. How do you manage vendors from afar? How do you keep the home safe year round? Kelly Cooper has built a business around managing seasonal properties, and she's sharing her secrets in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Why is burnout such a problem in private service? How do we stop it from happening? In the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast, Bonnie Low-Kramen shares her thoughts on why private service professionals need better backup — and how we can make it happen.

Estate managers balance a huge range of tasks every day — so how do you add a construction project to the mix? Veteran Estate Manager and owner's rep Tammy Goforth shares her secrets for striking the right balance in our latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Curious about the pros and cons of balancing multiple principals and multiple properties? In the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast, fractional estate management veteran Christopher Milu shares his experience — and his tips for other PSPs.

Dream of working with a celebrity? Trying to figure out if working for someone in the spotlight is right for you? Estate manager J Paulin worked for one of the biggest names in show business — and weighs in on the pros and cons in our latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Every estate manager has a story, and the Easemakers Podcast is where you get to hear them. Tune in to hear guests share their tips for becoming a better leader, landing the right job for you, building an effective house manual, and more.

Curious about taking on an organizing project? Don’t miss these home organization tips from professional organizer and life coach Faith Roberson.

Many households are becoming more eco-conscious, but don't realize how much of what they buy is toxic. Sophia Ruan Gushée wants to change that — and now, she's sharing her secrets with the Easemakers community.

Want to work with vendors who would drop everything to help you? Get tips from Estate Manager Shelby Boudreau in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Getting organized helps your household run smoothly — but where do you start, and how do you find the time? Bring your questions to our ask me anything (AMA) conversation with Faith Roberson!

Does your household have a manual that sets expectations and helps everyone on your staff succeed? Housekeeping and estate management expert Marta Perrone shares her secrets in the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast.

Your vendors can only live up to your household’s standards if they know what they are. Here’s how to write house rules that set expectations from the beginning.

Your household couldn’t run smoothly without the help of experts who specialize in A/V, irrigation, construction, and more. Here are 9 ways to build stronger relationships with your vendors.

How do you find the right match in private service? Whether you're looking for an agency to work with, a principal to work for, or a private service professional to hire, this episode of the Easemakers Podcast has you covered.

Estate managers are responsible for making important decisions on the fly. Are you doing everything you can to protect yourself and your household when you're under pressure?

Estate managers face tough conversations every day. In this episode of the Easemakers Podcast, we asked Director of Residences Fiona Spence-McNeil to share her strategies for navigating any conversation.

You're responsible for managing risk when it comes to your vendors, household staff, and more. Are you doing everything you can to protect your principals and yourself?

What questions should candidates ask in interviews to get a clear understanding of the principal? Why does ghosting happen? In the latest episode of the Easemakers Podcast, we asked Peter Van Ryder to share what he's learned as a private service professional turned educator and recruiter.

As the owner of the NYC-based boutique catering and events company KG Fare, Joshua Griffiths knows how to create a fantastic guest experience. Now, he's sharing his secrets with the Easemakers community.

What is an estate manager? Why is this role so hard to define, and who sets the standard? Veteran estate manager Kimberly Varney wants to help answer these questions. Listen to our new episode of the Easemakers Podcast to hear how she plans to do it.

We're kicking off the Easemakers Podcast with an expert in managing teams and fostering employees: Director of Residences Jared Miles. Listen now to get Jared's tips for his fellow people leaders.

Tune in to hear private service industry experts talk about everything from pivoting at a moment's notice to bringing out the best in everyone on your team.

Want to turn your principal's grand ideas into a concrete plan? Bring your questions to our ask me anything (AMA) conversation with Joshua Griffiths!

Happy Thanksgiving, Easemakers!

Nationwide resignations are up 60% over last year, and demand for household employees is booming. How are you working to retain your best private service professionals?

As an estate manager, you're responsible for hiring household staff members who share your high standards for trust and quality of service. How do you get a clear sense of a candidate’s behavior, character and work ethic?

Director of Residences and professionally trained Chef JP Cole thinks about Thanksgiving dinner all year round. “The preparation is utmost,” says JP.

When Fiona Spence-McNeil joins a new household as Director of Residences, she interviews every member of the team. But she doesn’t want to hear about your resume.

Anyone in the private service industry will tell you, no day is the same. So, how do you prepare for a career full of surprises?

The best private service professionals in the world too often feel alone. We believe Easemakers is the solution.