UBS finds next-gen wealth inheritors turn to peers over managers for succession advice
Updated
Updated · Spear's WMS · Apr 28
UBS finds next-gen wealth inheritors turn to peers over managers for succession advice
5 articles · Updated · Spear's WMS · Apr 28
The 2026 UBS Global Next Generation Report shows 27% of inheritors prioritize peer advice, compared to 21% for wealth managers and private banks, with tax advisers, lawyers, and family officers trailing further behind.
Younger adults aged 22-25 rely most on peers (57%), while those over 45 prefer lawyers (67%). Networking opportunities and strong personal connections are now valued above traditional services, with 78% citing networking as the top differentiator.
UBS notes a shift from single-adviser authority to a broader ecosystem, as wealth managers coordinate wider advisory networks. This decentralization brings flexibility but complicates consistency, reflecting changing expectations in the largest intergenerational wealth transfer.
When inheritors trust friends over financiers, is the traditional wealth manager obsolete?
Can a family's legacy survive if succession advice comes from social circles?
How is the 'Great Wealth Transfer' creating a new financial class system within Gen Z?
Could peer advisory networks for the ultra-rich create dangerous financial echo chambers?
As trillions transfer, how will AI reshape the very definition of financial advice?