Linda Mack of Mack International a Featured Moderator and Panelist at National Family Office Forum, Jan. 30-31 in Beverly Hills

The National Family Office Forum, held Jan.30-31 at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, featured experts’ discussion of innovative strategies and contemporary practices to build successful investments and operational effectiveness for single and multi-family offices.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 05, 2012 —

Linda Mack, founder and president of Mack International, a premier retained executive search and strategic family office/human capital management consulting firm, was a moderator and featured panelist at the recent National Family Office Forum, held January 30-31 in Beverly Hills, California.

Produced by World Research Group, the Forum focused on discussion of topics surrounding how both single-and multi-family offices should best structure their investment strategies and operations for greatest effectiveness and a prosperous investment portfolio.

“Forum sessions explored a variety of topics such as the comparative benefits of using a single- or multi-family office structure, building the most optimal governance structure and succession plan to meet a family office’s needs, enhancement tools and best practices for operating and preparing estates, and innovative strategies for enhancing and building portfolios,” said Linda Mack.

Linda Mack moderated and participated in a panel on multi-family evolution and transitioning from a single-family to a multi-family office. Other panelists included Steve Braverman, Co-founder and Managing Director of Pathstone Family Office, John Febert, Founder and President of Febert & Associates, LLC, and Jon Crow, Partner and Senior Client Advisor for Meristem.

The panel discussion focused on identifying and mitigating potential risks for transitioning into a multi-family office or a private trust, and the importance of establishing an action plan for evolving into a new business model, understanding the process and determining the essential steps for a successful transition.

“Before embarking on any significant change, it is vital to approach any evolution of either family office model as a business decision that requires extensive thought and planning,” Mack said. The second critical factor is ensuring a solid cultural fit, which surfaced as being absolutely key for any level of success.”

Linda Mack also was a panelist for a discussion on succession planning and governance best practices, along with Lisa Gray, Managing Member & Founder of Graymatter Strategies, LLC, and Gary Shunk, CEO of Family Wealth Dynamics. The panel discussed the critical importance of effective governance and succession planning in sustaining the family and its legacy into future generations.

“Sustainability and succession planning are core issues for family offices, for they directly affect the longevity of the family office as well as the family’s overall wealth,” added Mack. “Our panel presented a Succession Planning Best PRactices “Top 10″ List that sparked an interactive dialogue with participants, many who shared perspectives and experiences about the best practices they considered most important and challenging.”

Mack continued, “The session also explored the question of how to start the succession planning conversation in a situation where perhaps there is a reluctant patriarch, for example. We reviewed how important it is for family members to reach out continuously through education and dialogue. It’s not unlike skiing down a difficult run – you may fall a number of times, but eventually, you’re moving smoothly and with great velocity. The key is to keep at it. Families are encouraged to take a variety of approaches and maintain open and continued communication to achieve success.”

Forum attendees learned innovative strategies for enhancing their investment portfolios, as well as how to: assess and study the forecasts for global market conditions and secular investments; ensure effective collaboration with advisors; identify and implement best practices for running an estate; establish a strategy to comply with SEC regulations and tax initiatives; assess the benefits of different family office structures; plan for succession; and build an optimal governance structure.

About Mack International

Mack International, LLC, headquartered in Chicago, is a global retained executive search and consulting firm serving clients in the family office/wealth management industry on a national and international basis. For more information, visit http://www.mackinternational.com or call 800.976.0015.