Ultra-wealthy families' poor communication threatens $83 trillion wealth transfer
Updated
Updated · Fortune · May 1
Ultra-wealthy families' poor communication threatens $83 trillion wealth transfer
11 articles · Updated · Fortune · May 1
UBS's 2026 Global Next Generation Report, based on more than 170 heirs, found 33% cited communication breakdowns as the main source of family conflict.
Nearly half said the previous generation had no structured transfer plan, and fewer than one in four families have formal governance such as constitutions, defined roles or communication protocols.
UBS said families with strong communication governance are 74% more likely to be actively planning transfers, while heirs are increasingly pushing to shape succession earlier and more directly.
Could breaking the 'money taboo' through early family dialogue be the true key to preserving multi-generational wealth amid the $83 trillion transfer?
With women set to control most U.S. wealth by 2030, how might shifting gender roles transform legacy planning and family dynamics?