Who is the "luxury consumer"? That and the list of key industries is answered at the website of the Luxury Institute.

From my perspective, I believe there is a strong link between best practices and the quality of management of these companies. It's not just a matter of being in the market of luxury goods; the higher margins of the most successful brands must be continually earned. Loyalty can be fleeting if very high standards are not sustained.

There is an overlap between the companies most frequently rated highest from the perspective of consumer and those which are held in highest regard by traders. But traders are looking for strong financial structure and operating performance over the long-term, i.e., five years or more.

The Lexus division of Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) is a perennial favorite of HNW consumers. Toyota is in the Cara Global Best 100 Companies because they have the best management in the auto industry.

Ford and General Motors, on the other hand, have been sliding downhill for many years. The current talk of bankruptcy is not unexpected.

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GICS 25 Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) (TM) Financial DataFinancial Data

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My parents instilled in me the drive to achieve high standards. Sadly, today is the first anniversary of the passing of my mother. She passed quietly at the dinner table. The following morning I brought my dad in to say our final words to her, and the next day he too passed away. On July 20, my father-in-law passed away. Those were the toughest three weeks of my life. I miss them all.

Best practices? I'd say.