Linda Mack of Mack International Leads Panel at European Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum June 15-17

Linda Mack of Chicago-based Mack International was chosen to lead a panel discussion at the June 15-17 European Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum produced by Opal Financial Group. The forum, held in Geneva, Switzerland, attracted high-net-worth individuals and family offices, private investors and asset managers from around the world.

CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) July 07, 2011 – Linda Mack, founder and president of Mack International, a premier retained executive search and strategic family office/human capital management consulting firm, led a global investment panel discussion at the June 15-17 European Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum. More than 150 executives attended the event, held at the Intercontinental Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland.

The forum, part of Opal Financial Group’s Private Wealth Series, is the premier event for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Private investors and asset managers from around the globe gathered for three days of discussions on the latest family office and investment trends.

Linda Mack moderated a panel discussion titled Investing Abroad—identifying and securing investment opportunities outside the European Market. Panelists included: Humphrey Nokes, founder, Cygna Negra, London, England; Mike Chacos, chief executive officer, WyeTree Asset Management Limited, London, England; Javier Corominas, head of fundamental economic research, Record Currency Management, Berkshire, England; and Andrew Johns, head of institutional plantation sales, TFS Corporation Ltd., Nedlands, Western Australia.

“The panelists discussed using emerging market currencies as a way to protect the purchasing power of assets at a time when traditional fiat currencies such as the Euro and the U.S. dollar are increasingly called into question,” Linda Mack explains.

Other discussion topics included currency as an asset class, the increasing volatility of equities and bonds, as well as opportunities in structured credit products and the U.S. mortgage market.

“Andrew Johns spoke on sustainable plantation forestry with exposure to emerging markets—a high-return, low-correlation strategy,” says Linda Mack.

“The panelists discussed the top global investment opportunities for 2011 and 2012, as well as the most attractive offshore jurisdictions for European family clients,” she explains. “They also offered recommendations for constructing a diversified global investment portfolio, as well as advice on tax, currency, regulatory and risk-management considerations.”

“Because each panelist was an expert in a different field, they brought a broad spectrum of perspectives to the discussion,” Ms. Mack adds.

Humphrey Nokes has considerable experience in investing in companies with both equity and debt in over 14 different jurisdictions. Mike Chacos is an expert in managing consumer finance-related assets. Javier Corominas is a leading independent currency manager, and Andrew Johns specializes in property development, having negotiated multi-million dollar investment deals with some of the largest fund managers in Europe and the U.S.

“The panel discussed the relative merits of direct investments, fund managers and funds of funds, real asset investment opportunities and how family clients can hedge their portfolios,” Ms. Mack adds. “Each panelist shared lessons learned from the 2008-2009 economic cycle.”

The Opal Wealth Management Forum also featured sessions on international private wealth, investment styles and strategies, how family offices can improve their operational effectiveness, the manager selection process and hedge fund strategies.

There were discussions on global credit markets, investing in energy technology, philanthropy, managed accounts, asset allocation strategies and direct equity investing through private markets.

Other sessions focused on the merits of a bull or bear strategy for fixed-income markets, combining financial investment with philanthropy in frontier markets such as Bangladesh and undertakings for the collective investment of transferable securities. Panels discussed dynamic tax and estate planning, real estate opportunities, commodity markets and succession planning.

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