The TIGER 21 investment network for wealthy individuals has added to its teams in the US West Coast.

TIGER 21, an acronym for The Investment Group for Enhanced Results in the 21st Century, has brought in Melissa Shilliday as its West Coast director of membership, responsible for member recruitment of its three existing groups in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, as well as for a expansion into Orange County, California.

Shilliday was most recently vice president at Alliance Bernstein, where she advised high net worth individuals, families and foundations. Before that, she was chief executive of several Bay Area start-ups.

“Having worked with many high net worth families and individuals, including entrepreneurs and senior executives, I know that there are many in California that can benefit from an organization like TIGER 21,” said Shilliday, who has over 30 years of experience in sales and operational management.

Indeed, the concept of establishing forums for like-minded investors has gained ground in recent time, as wealthy individuals of all stripes recognise the advantages of sharing ideas on a range of topics. TIGER 21 says it creates a “highly confidential and safe environment for members to explore critical issues affecting their lives,” for example.

The organisation was created in 1999 and established a California presence in 2006, forming groups in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Overall it has a presence in 18 cities across North America, with over 300 members who personally invest over $30 billion in total assets.

It has certainly been busy already in 2015, having this month alone brought in Laird Cagan as chair of its San Francisco, CA, group; launched a new group in Boston, MA; and made three administrative promotions at its New York headquarters.

Network members are primarily entrepreneurs, but among them are also corporate executives, as well as Wall Street professionals, long-time private investors and senior members of high-profile real estate firms and funds across the US. The groups meet monthly to share investment ideas and experiences on a range of wealth-related issues.

Charles Garcia, chair of the Florida group, previously told Family Wealth Report that 50 per cent of the meetings are focused on investments and the other half are focused on business, personal or family issues. Members also have access to investment opportunities including private equity, real estate and hedge funds.