HNW Life Insurance – Trends and Opportunities

Roger Chi is a Partner of 1291 Group Asia and oversees the development of the Singapore office. Roger has extensive experience working with family offices across Asia and the Middle East advising on cross border investments, succession planning, taxation, family governance, and private equity. Prior to 1291, Roger was a partner at Candareen Capital where he led their family Office advisory activities and was appointed a senior advisor to Sheikh Syed al Maktoun. Roger started his career as a venture capitalist at Brainrush Ventures - a San Francisco Bay Area venture capital firm, before joining a Monitor Company and a leading strategic consulting firm. Roger holds a MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the UC Berkeley.

Joining Credit Suisse in 1998 as an analyst, Philipp Piaz commenced his comprehensive career in private banking and wealth management. During his time at Credit Suisse, Philipp held a number of senior roles, relocating from Zürich to Singapore in 2001 to undertake Thailand Private Client Business Development in his role as Vice President. In 2004, Philipp joined the senior management of Deutsche Bank AG, with whom he was affiliated for 5 years. In his role as Director, Philipp was responsible for the development of Deutsche Bank’s Thai Private Client Business. In 2009, he became Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Finaport, overseeing the expansion of the firm's Asian operations. Philipp is a founding member of the Association of Independent Asset Managers (AIAM) in Singapore, and was appointed President of the AIAM in 2018. Philipp undertook Elementary Studies of Economics and Law at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Reach our to Mark: [email protected]

Lee Sleight is Head of Business Development, Asia, and is responsible for designing tailored private wealth and succession planning solutions, working closely with Asia-focussed distribution partners, for UHNW clients and their families that protect, preserve and pass on their legacy to future generations. Lee has over 20 years’ experience in the wealth assurance industry across Europe, Asia and Latin America. Joining Lombard International Group in 2004, Lee successfully led the European Complex Case Structuring Team, where he built a unique track record, working in partnership with advisers to global UHNW families to offer Private Placement Life Insurance based solutions catering for their increasingly complex wealth and succession planning needs. Lee is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Born in the UK, Lee has lived in Germany since 2005 and worked in Luxembourg since 2001. A father of 3, Lee is also an avid trail runner and triathlete.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Reach our to Mark: [email protected]

Roger Chi is a Partner of 1291 Group Asia and oversees the development of the Singapore office. Roger has extensive experience working with family offices across Asia and the Middle East advising on cross border investments, succession planning, taxation, family governance, and private equity. Prior to 1291, Roger was a partner at Candareen Capital where he led their family Office advisory activities and was appointed a senior advisor to Sheikh Syed al Maktoun. Roger started his career as a venture capitalist at Brainrush Ventures - a San Francisco Bay Area venture capital firm, before joining a Monitor Company and a leading strategic consulting firm. Roger holds a MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the UC Berkeley.

Joining Credit Suisse in 1998 as an analyst, Philipp Piaz commenced his comprehensive career in private banking and wealth management. During his time at Credit Suisse, Philipp held a number of senior roles, relocating from Zürich to Singapore in 2001 to undertake Thailand Private Client Business Development in his role as Vice President. In 2004, Philipp joined the senior management of Deutsche Bank AG, with whom he was affiliated for 5 years. In his role as Director, Philipp was responsible for the development of Deutsche Bank’s Thai Private Client Business. In 2009, he became Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Finaport, overseeing the expansion of the firm's Asian operations. Philipp is a founding member of the Association of Independent Asset Managers (AIAM) in Singapore, and was appointed President of the AIAM in 2018. Philipp undertook Elementary Studies of Economics and Law at University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events. During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing.

His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.