Lombard Odier Finds 64.2% of Asia-Pacific Wealthy Prioritize Preservation as Only 26.9% Have Succession Plans
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 29
Lombard Odier Finds 64.2% of Asia-Pacific Wealthy Prioritize Preservation as Only 26.9% Have Succession Plans
9 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 29
More than 390 Asia-Pacific high-net-worth individuals surveyed by Lombard Odier showed a sharp gap between intent and action: 64.2% ranked preserving family wealth across generations as their top transfer priority, but just 26.9% had a full succession plan.
39.4% said they had no succession planning at all, a shortfall the bank linked to cultural sensitivities, delayed urgency and weak family communication around inheritance and governance.
Nearly 29% identified lack of open communication as a key governance challenge, while more than a quarter of Baby Boomers said their families had not discussed a clear common purpose for wealth.
Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong stood out as particularly underprepared, with about half of respondents there saying they had no succession plan or saw no need for one.
The warning comes as Asia faces a major intergenerational wealth transfer, especially among first-generation entrepreneurs, raising the risk that fortunes and family businesses could be diluted without stronger planning frameworks.
Why do Asia's wealthy excel at making fortunes but fail at passing them on, creating a massive 'implementation gap'?
As 90% of family wealth vanishes by generation three, can AI fix the human emotions that sabotage legacy planning?
Asia-Pacific’s $481 Trillion Wealth Transfer: Bridging the Succession Planning Gap for HNW Families in 2026
Overview
Asia-Pacific's wealthy families are facing a widening gap between their strong desire to preserve wealth across generations and their actual readiness for succession. This wealth preservation gap is driven by a widespread lack of robust succession planning, especially in markets like Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, where about half of families have no plan in place. Limited involvement of younger generations and a lack of meaningful dialogue between Baby Boomers and their successors further weaken preparedness. Without proactive planning and open communication, these families risk losing both their assets and their legacy over time.