FPA Houston Chapter Meeting -11.12.24

Event Details:

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM:  Doors open - check in + networking - come early to network with your FPA colleagues

11:00 AM - 11:10 AM:  Welcome! Join us for the latest FPA updates & announcements

11:10 AM - 12:00 PM:  Asset Allocation for Family Offices (1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA) 

This session will provide insight into the nuances of family offices - particularly portfolio construction. Family offices tend to be reclusive and rarely discussed by the broader investor community, but certain aspects of their sophistication are relatively easy to replicate and worth studying. Provided below is a summary:

1. The risk tolerance for family offices is inherently higher than most investors, thus allowing for greater allocations to illiquid and growth-oriented assets - thus resulting in higher returns and often less volatility.

2. The quality of deal flow tends to be significantly higher for family offices given the ability to write bigger checks, and more importantly – the insulated nature of family office communities. While many choose to work in isolation, we prefer to collaborate with other family offices - not only resulting in higher quality deal flow, but also greater diversification for all parties involved given the two-way sharing of investment opportunities.

3. Co-investments are critical to realizing the true illiquidity premium. They can be hard to come by relative to traditional private investments (especially those that are family-sponsored), but the result is almost always lower fees and higher return potential.

4. Deal structure is critically important to family offices, and you will often see terms negotiated when large checks and/or multiple families are involved. Simply put, high-quality counsel is key.

5. We will conclude with some of our own currently underwritten case studies that summarize each of the above.

Dean Rogers

Chief Investment Officer

Pinnacle Private Ventures

As Chief Investment Officer at Pinnacle Private Ventures, Dean oversees the research and due diligence of all private investment opportunities for the family office – as well as implementation of the firm's investment philosophy and subsequent portfolio construction for all funds and shared investment strategies. Pinnacle Private Ventures, which serves as a single-family office based out of Southwest Missouri, has traditionally invested across often overlooked regions within the central U.S. – striving to capitalize on economic, political, and societal tailwinds benefitting what we like to call the ‘Heartland’. Originally from Southwest Missouri, Dean graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with degrees in accounting and finance and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder.

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM: Lunch & Networking

12:30 PM - 1:20 PM: Introduction to Collaborative Divorce Process Panel Discussion (1 CE: CFP, CPA, CIMA) 

Introduce the practice of Collaborative Divorce, Family Code, process, who is involved, what is the role of each practitioner, joint meetings with the divorcing couple, between meetings.

Manjula Shaw

AVP

Tanglewood Legacy Advisors, LLC

Manjula has over 20 years of experience helping families navigate the intersection of their lives and complex financial planning issues. She is a problem solver and a thinking partner to the families she works with.

Manjula is a financial advocate to those facing late-life divorce, guiding them, in cooperation with their legal counsel, in analyzing the complexities of the division of significant assets and the related tax consequences. That may include the long-term financial implications of dividing liquid and non-liquid assets, spousal and child support, the present valuation of pensions, division of employer benefits, and claiming Social Security benefits. Manjula is trained by Collaborative Divorce Texas, whose members are committed to helping couples and families develop options and solutions that best fit the competing and shared needs and interests of the parties and children without court intervention.

Manjula graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration Finance degree from the University of Houston. She then served as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, advising executive and business owner families. Subsequently, she transitioned to the Merrill Lynch Trust Company as a Trust Officer, working with high-net-worth clients. Manjula then earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. In 2014, she received an MSc in Finance and Investment Management with Distinction from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Manjula earned her US Certified Divorce Financial Planning Analyst® designation from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.

Craig Haston

Attorney

Haston Law Firm, P.C.

Craig is a board certified family law specialist. He enjoys reaching resolutions for clients in the most efficient manner for their particular case, whether by negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, or trial - whichever is best for the client. He's a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and South Texas College of Law.



Elizabeth Strelow

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Strelow Counseling

Elizabeth Strelow is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate with an MS in Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University. With a focus on systemic therapy, Elizabeth works with families, couples, and individuals to process difficult emotions, explore strengths, and create new relational patterns.

Focusing on the client's specific needs, Elizabeth uses a variety of therapeutic tools, such as CBT, DBT, the Gottman technique, mindfulness, and somatic techniques.

Elizabeth specializes in couples counseling, discernment counseling, and divorce care. Elizabeth is a member of Collaborative Divorce Texas and works as a neutral mental health in the collaborative divorce process.