UBS Wealth Management Roundtable Brings Advice from President Clinton, Stephen Schwarzman and Distinguished Panel to More Than 4,500 Private Clients

Significant investment opportunities in emerging markets, innovative industries and American small business are still available for the savvy investor, despite turbulent markets, an uncertain US regulatory and political environment and fears about employment, housing and healthcare. This was the message more than 4,500 private clients, Financial Advisors and guests learned at last night’s UBS Wealth Management Roundtable, hosted by Robert McCann, CEO of UBS Wealth Management Americas (WMA).

UBS WMA brought together a panel of some of the industry’s best investment professionals and political pundits to provide market insight and thoughtful commentary in advance of next week’s midterm elections to more than 400 clients and advisors in person and more than 4,100 via live Webcast.

"Now, more than ever, our clients need intelligent, reasonable and concise advice that cuts through the noise and distraction,” said McCann. "The UBS Wealth Management Roundtable lets us bring the best intellectual capital in the market today directly to our clients and their advisors, to help them make the most educated decisions to fulfill their financial goals.”

The evening began with a conversation about the economy and investment opportunities between Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone, and Margaret Brennan, Anchor, Bloomberg News, who also moderated the panel discussion. A lively debate among the panel was followed by a conversation between McCann and President Bill Clinton, which focused on philanthropy, leadership and the role of individuals and their government.

After discussing the work of the Clinton Global Initiative and other corporate and non-governmental philanthropic initiatives, President Clinton told the audience that, despite a political landscape that seems to be polarizing more and more every day: "Do not bet against America. People have been betting against this country for a long time, and so far people have lost money. I’m not prepared to bet against this country, even in difficult times.”

That hopefulness was evident in the panel discussion that preceded President Clinton’s remarks, win which Paul Begala, Co-Founder of Carville & Begala, and Phil Gramm, Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank and former Texas Senator, engaged in spirited debate about housing, healthcare, retirement, free trade, Social Security, job creation and economic stimulus.

Those topics were also debated and tactical investment advice given by other panelists: UBS Global Asset Management CEO John Fraser; UBS Wealth Management Research Head Mike Ryan; President of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson; and Morgan Creek Capital Management CEO Mark Yusko.

Ryan recommended that clients look at emerging companies and industries that have potential to be leaders in the healthcare space. Fraser recommended not only the developing world economies, but also Western Europe.

Both Ryan and Fraser recommended investing in small business and entrepreneurship, with Ryan urging a more transparent tax and regulatory environment to support them. Ryan said: "When you talk to small business owners, the issue that they're contending with is the uncertainties on the policy front. And as I tell people, look, if you give a business owner the rulebook, he'll figure out how to win. But if you keep tearing sheets out of the rulebook and putting in new sheets, he's not gonna know how to win."

Hobson said that uncertainty about the economy, currency fluctuations or the makeup of Congress were unlikely to dissipate soon, but for an investor with "courage and cash in this market, I have to tell you, it’s Fat City.”

The UBS Wealth Management Roundtable will be broadcast on Bloomberg News and at www.ubs.com/roundtable.

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