SINGAPORE, May 12 – Ultra-wealthy families across the Asia-Pacific region are seeking professional guidance for inheritance planning at significantly higher rates than wealthy families in Western countries, according to new research from Swiss banking giant UBS.
The study reveals that approximately 72% of Asia-Pacific heirs planning to receive family wealth are consulting with professional wealth managers and family officers for guidance. This stands in sharp contrast to just 42% in North America and only 19% in Europe who seek similar professional advice.
More than 40% of Asia-Pacific families are currently either in the midst of wealth transfers or actively developing plans to pass assets to younger generations, the bank’s research shows.
Young Jin Yee, who serves as co-head of UBS Global Wealth Management APAC, explained the trend: “We see APAC families adopting a more structured, deliberate approach to intergenerational transition.”
Yee also noted what the younger generation values most in these relationships: “The next generation is also telling us that access to a strong global network is what truly differentiates a wealth manager.”
The findings come as part of a massive global wealth transition expected to unfold over the coming 20 to 30 years, with an estimated $83 trillion in private assets set to move between generations worldwide, UBS reported.
The bank’s first-ever Global Next Generation Report drew from two separate surveys conducted between May 2025 and January 2026, gathering 175 responses from around the world. Asia-Pacific participants made up roughly 11% of the total responses.
Across all regions surveyed, nearly one-third of respondents indicated their families have already begun the wealth transfer process. In most cases, parents and senior family members are taking the initiative to begin discussions about succession planning, the study found.
