Donovan Urges Wealth Managers to Prioritize Jurisdictional Resilience as 3,000 Trade Curbs Reshape Finance
Updated
Updated · Wealth Briefing · May 28
Donovan Urges Wealth Managers to Prioritize Jurisdictional Resilience as 3,000 Trade Curbs Reshape Finance
1 articles · Updated · Wealth Briefing · May 28
Summary
Elise Donovan said geopolitical risk now reaches deep into global finance, making jurisdictional structuring a core wealth-management decision rather than a peripheral planning issue.
Nearly 3,000 trade-restricting measures were imposed in 2023—almost triple 2019 levels, she wrote, while sanctions, capital controls, tax shifts and payment-system disruption are increasing policy and access risks.
UBS’s 2025 Global Family Office Report ranked a global trade war as the top 12-month concern, with major geopolitical conflict rising higher over a five-year horizon.
More than a quarter of high-net-worth individuals now rank geopolitical volatility as their fourth-biggest concern, up from sixth, according to Capgemini and Saltus data cited in the article.
Donovan argued international financial centres such as the BVI can provide common-law frameworks, legal certainty and cross-border continuity as wealth strategies shift from pure returns toward resilience, governance and lawful asset protection.
As geopolitical blocs harden, can offshore financial centers truly remain neutral havens, or will they eventually be forced to choose sides?
With Russia and China building rival payment systems, is the world heading toward a 'financial iron curtain' that divides global economies?
Wealth Preservation in a Fractured World: Key Metrics and Strategies for 2026 Amid Geopolitical and Regulatory Shifts
Overview
The global financial landscape is experiencing dramatic shifts, driven by geopolitical fragmentation and a surge in trade restrictions. Major powers are deliberately moving away from interconnectedness, seeking greater self-sufficiency and security in a volatile world. This shift is marked by weakening momentum among key trading partners like the United States, China, and Europe, which is dampening global demand and tightening financial conditions. As a result, global growth is projected to remain subdued, with developing economies also slowing. These changes are fundamentally altering traditional trade routes and investment patterns, forcing businesses and investors to rethink their strategies for resilience and wealth preservation.