The Cook Islands financial services industry recently featured at the prestigious America Outbound Investment Summit, held on May 7 in Los Angeles and May 9 in San Francisco.

Cook Islands played a prominent role at the invitation-only event, which connected wealthy individuals and advisors of high-net-worth American families with international providers of investment migration, real estate, tax planning, and wealth planning services.

Attendees included independent financial advisors, certified financial planners, private client lawyers, tax planners, wealth managers, estate planners, and other professionals assisting Americans with cross-border tax and wealth planning issues.

In a statement, Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority (operating as Cook Islands Finance) said it secured invaluable speaking slots, allowing Cook Islands trust company executives to feature as both guest speakers and panellists.

Tine Ponia, managing director of Asiaciti Trust, and Matthew Smith, general manager of Southpac Group, represented the Cook Islands on stage, sharing their extensive knowledge and insight on the country’s trusts, wealth management and estate planning.

Tony Fe’ao, chief executive at Cook Islands Finance, said: “Tine and Matthew brought considerable value to conference delegates, discussing the advantages of the Cook Islands trust products and jurisdiction.”

“There was significant interest in the Cook Islands’ asset protection and wealth management solutions following their presentations, with delegates at both Summit locations seeking more information about how our world-class trust laws could benefit their clients.”
Smith, who continued on from the Summit to visit Southpac’s business partners in Orlando, Miami and Denver, said: “It was a privilege to represent and speak on behalf of Cook Islands Finance at the Outbound Investment Summits.”

“These events offered a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic benefits the Cook Islands has to offer as a jurisdiction to a quality and interested audience – and one which had very little awareness of the Cook Islands beforehand.

“I believe Cook Islands Finance’s attendance at the summits will increase both business in and awareness of the jurisdiction.”

Ponia, who also continued on in the USA for strategic business and networking meetings, offered comments as both a trust company and a former director on the Cook Islands Finance Board.

“The American Outbound summit was a worthwhile event to attend both from a company and jurisdiction’s perspective,” she said.

“We had plenty of exposure from being on the panel discussions and presenting about the Cook Islands as a mature financial services jurisdiction.

“A lot of interest on the Cook Islands financial services products was generated. I’m thankful for government’s support through Cook Islands Finance’s sponsorship and booth at the event.”   

With the convergence of wealth from Latin America and high-net-worth individuals moving to the state of Florida, Cook Islands Finance will be promoting the country’s financial services industry at the 13^th Annual STEP Miami Summit in October.