Ongoing Training - USPAP

I spent this Saturday doing a 7-hour USPAP update class.  What’s USPAP you ask?  USPAP is the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice.   USPAP was defined and put into place when the Appraisal Foundation Board was formed in the wake of the mid-1980s Savings and Loan debacle.   USPAP defines standards of ethics and professional behavior for real estate appraisers as well as personal property appraisers.   

Instructor Cathy Peters, ISA CAPP, leads us through the required 2018-2019 7-hour update for personal property appraisers.

All well-trained, independent appraisers should get regular USPAP training and agree to abide by the standards of conduct.   Of course as a certified member of The International Society of Appraisers, I abide by both USPAP standards and ISA standards.   USPAP updates are required every other year and are just a small part of the ongoing training done to keep up with the latest changes in law and depth of property knowledge.  Our clients expect a very high level of professionalism.  

Brenda

Heckerling Institute

I spent the last several days in Florida at the Heckerling Institute for Estate Planning Professionals.   This conference has been a yearly event for over 50 years and draws most of the heavy hitters in the field.  The speakers are the best in the field and are lined up back to back. 

The vendor room was overflowing with auction houses, charities and service providers for estate planning attorneys.   Bank Trust Officers and Estate Attorneys are important clients for us.  So, much of the time was spent networking.  But there were also a few good information-packed lunch-and-learn sessions hosted by Chubb Insurance.   Laura Doyle (Chubb VP in Personal Risk Services) spoke on the state of the art market, the influx of new types of buyers, and how best to protect collectors’ art.  This involves looking at every aspect of the collection’s needs… proper display, security, appropriate pre-insurance valuation, collection management, transportation and storage, as well as appropriate levels of insurance.  

Laura Doyle with Chubb, presenting on collector's art needs

Kathryn Norris (Chubb VP –Family Practice Leader) spoke about the unique needs of family offices for high net worth families.   Both presentations were well attended and chock full of timely information.   With incredible January weather and the heady mix of attendees, this conference was a winner. 

Brenda

CADD Happy Hour

Last Thursday I attended the third-Thursday CADD Happy Hour.  CADD is the association of Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas, a group that includes some of the best galleries in town.  CADD hosts regular free and low-cost events to introduce current art to new collectors.  I highly recommend getting involved.  Last Thursday’s happy hour was jointly hosted by Cris Worley Fine Art and Holly Johnson Fine Art. 

My favorite artist from this show is Ruben Nieto.   Ruben adored comic books as a kid and has begun to incorporate some of that imagery into his paintings.   The paintings are a fusion of intensely colorful, swirled backgrounds with abstractions of such characters as Popeye, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, etc.   Nieto gave a short artist’s talk about his working process and how Lichtenstein had been an influence on his work.   Don’t get your mind set on broadly outlined cartoons with benday dot patterns, though.  Nieto’s approach is fresh and his work much less graphic than Lichtenstein.  

The shows are open now.  Take some time and go see them.   Levee street and the nearby neighborhood have become a gathering spot for good contemporary galleries.  Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon…

Brenda