Brian Adams, President of Mack International

Host Todd S. Rich and Brian Adams, President of Mack International and Host of the Mack Podcast, explore the evolving landscape of family offices and the professionals who serve them in this crossover episode of declarations. and the Mack Podcast. Todd and Brian discuss the transition from wealth creation to stewardship, the flexibility of patient capital, and the growing emphasis on investment access, allocation, and alignment. They also explore changing compensation models, career paths for expert generalists, and the value of trusted peer communities before closing with reflections on family and the pursuit of happiness.

They discuss:
-Why technical ability is only the starting point and why understanding a family’s values and expectations is important.
-Clarity about whom the office serves and why it exists can align decisions across the organization.
-How priorities can broaden from a founder’s interests to capital preservation, purchasing power, and mission-driven investing.
-Patient capital creates room for flexible partnerships including alignment and collaboration among families
-Why professional managers in family offices need both technical expertise and a service-oriented mindset
-The growing trend of family-to-family capital formation and direct investing

Topics:
(00:00:00) – Intro
(00:02:27) – What is your declaration?
(00:06:33) – Growing up and getting into family offices
(00:09:48) – From real estate to executive search
(00:10:12) – Joining Linda Mack and Mack International
(00:13:42) – The Mack search methodology
(00:17:30) – What makes family office roles compelling
(00:19:27) – Private capital and patient capital advantages
(00:28:24) – First generation wealth creators to stewards
(00:36:42) – The changing family office landscape
(00:42:42) – Compensation structures and co-investment
(00:46:45) – Career advice for family office professionals
(00:51:48) – Building community through events and podcasting
(00:57:21) – The pursuit of happiness