Baby Boomers Set to Pass Down $83.5 Trillion as Heirs Shift Toward Crypto and Private Assets
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 24
Baby Boomers Set to Pass Down $83.5 Trillion as Heirs Shift Toward Crypto and Private Assets
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 24
Summary
$83.5 trillion is expected to move from baby boomers and older entrepreneurs to children and grandchildren over the next two decades, with billionaire families alone transferring about $6.9 trillion by 2040, UBS said.
That money is likely to be invested differently: younger heirs are moving beyond family businesses, local stocks and property toward more global, diversified portfolios.
Natixis found 53% of millennials want private-asset exposure, 62% discuss crypto with advisers and 44% plan to start or increase crypto investments within a year.
The shift also extends to risk and values, with 78% of Asia-Pacific millennials seeking market-beating opportunities and nearly half of next-generation investors interested in impact or sustainable investing.
Advisers say the biggest threat to preserving those fortunes is often family conflict rather than market losses, as heirs press for transparency and governance while founders resist giving up control.
With $84 trillion shifting generations, will this capital deepen global inequality or actually fund a more sustainable future?
As heirs embrace risky private assets, is this historic wealth transfer setting the stage for an equally historic collapse?
Heirs demand transparency, but can family offices truly fix the communication issues that have historically destroyed most family fortunes?
Trillions on the Move: The Generational Wealth Transfer and Its Impact on Markets, Inequality, and Innovation
Overview
The Great Wealth Transfer is rapidly accelerating, with trillions of dollars moving from older generations like the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers to younger groups such as Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. This massive shift is fundamentally reshaping the financial landscape, as financial power and influence change hands. Millennials, who have struggled with barriers like high interest rates and limited housing supply, are expected to benefit from this transfer, making homeownership more accessible. As a result, financial professionals must adapt their strategies to meet the evolving needs and preferences of these new wealth holders.