Asia-Pacific Heirs Lead Succession Planning Shift in $83 Trillion Wealth Transfer, UBS Finds
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 12
Asia-Pacific Heirs Lead Succession Planning Shift in $83 Trillion Wealth Transfer, UBS Finds
6 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 12
72% of Asia-Pacific heirs set to inherit assets seek wealth managers or family offices first for succession advice, far above 42% in North America and 19% in Europe, UBS said.
More than 40% of Asia-Pacific families are already transferring wealth or actively planning to do so, as the region adopts a more structured approach to intergenerational handovers.
$83 trillion in private wealth is expected to change hands globally over the next two to three decades, putting the next generation in bigger roles managing family fortunes and businesses.
175 responses informed UBS's inaugural Global Next Generation Report, with surveys run from May 2025 to January 2026; nearly a third of families worldwide said wealth transfers are already underway.
With 80% of heirs firing their parents' advisors, is the wealth industry facing its own succession crisis?
Why are Asia's heirs, from traditionally private cultures, now leading the world in openly planning their succession?
How will the next generation’s ESG focus reshape global markets as they inherit a staggering $83 trillion?
Starting in 2026, a historic global wealth transfer will begin, with the Asia-Pacific region playing a central role. Many APAC families are now considering succession plans as they prepare for the transfer of significant assets. However, cultural taboos around discussing death often delay open conversations about financial matters, leading many families to rely on informal or incomplete arrangements. This reluctance to address succession planning directly makes it difficult for families to prepare properly, which could create challenges as this unprecedented shift in wealth reshapes economies and societies across the region.