Legacy In Motion

Asia stands on the cusp of the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. Julius Baer Singapore's experts—Christos Anagnostopoulos, head of family office solutions/ advisory Asia, and Xin Yee Tay, head of wealth advisory Singapore—outline how intentional planning, clear governance, and aligned values can safeguard a legacy for generations to come.

- As told to: Alvin Wong

A GENERATIONAL HANDOVER is underway. By 2030, over US$5.8 trillion is expected to pass from one generation to the next across Asia, according to McKinsey & Company. At the heart of this shift lies the family office: an increasingly vital hub for managing not just capital, but continuity. Yet too often, the focus remains on legal and financial infrastructure, while the deeper challenges of alignment, governance, and vision are left unaddressed.

The result? Fragmentation. Despite wealth transfer becoming the top family-related concern in Asia—surpassing even wealth preservation—many families defer succession planning. The Julius Baer Family Barometer 2024 reveals that 37 per cent of succession discussions happen informally, and nearly half of the families surveyed delay formal planning for fear of triggering conflict.

But delaying critical conversations does not protect families from tension; it sets the stage for it. Unspoken expectations become future disputes, and vague plans give rise to contested legacies. As such, what's needed is a shift in mindset; moving from reactive conversations during moments of crisis to proactive, structured planning while family ties remain strong and communication is open.

Clarity First