ONES TO WATCH: MONEY TALKS – CHARLES GARCIA, TIGER 21

We all want friends in high places. But what do you do when you are constantly “that friend”? TIGER 21, the country’s leading peer learning group for high net-worth individuals, is solving that problem. “We offer a personal board of directors, compromised of 15 self-made, highly intelligent, successful businessmen and women,” explains Charles Garcia, the chair for South Florida’s group groups, which include two in Miami, one in Palm Beach and the possibility of a third in Broward or Boca Raton. “We meet monthly to help our members leverage their wealth by making smart business investments and philanthropic decisions, and we also focus on the importance of raising socially responsible children.”

The average net worth of South Florida’s members is $100 million, but just because they are self-made millionaires doesn’t mean they are financially literate. “Our average member has three asset managers, so they outsource many of their financial decisions,” notes garcia. “But here they have to stand in front of their peers and defend their portfolio, explain their spending habits and their philanthropic endeavors. We’re asking them to be the CEO of their own assets, which forces them to take accountability. We offer advice in a care-frontational manner and it’s amazing how quickly we can resolve any issue brought to the table.”