News Digest: APAC Heirs Lead Global Shift Toward Professional Wealth Advice
May 13, 2026
A seismic shift in global wealth is underway, with an estimated $83 trillion in assets expected to change hands over the next two to three decades. According to the inaugural UBS Global Next Generation Report, heirs in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are taking a significantly more structured approach to this transition compared to their Western counterparts.
The report highlights a stark contrast in how the next generation of ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeks support. While family successions were historically handled internally, 72% of APAC heirs prioritize advice from wealth managers and family offices. In contrast, only 42% in North America and a mere 19% in Europe turn to professionals first.
UBS attributes this trend to a desire for a more “deliberate and structured” transition. Young Jin Yee, co-head of UBS Global Wealth Management APAC, noted that these heirs view access to a global network as the primary differentiator when selecting a wealth manager.
The scale of this transition is unprecedented. Currently, over 40% of APAC families are either actively transferring wealth or in the final stages of planning. The report, which surveyed 175 global respondents between May 2025 and January 2026, found that while parents and senior wealth owners typically initiate the conversation, the younger generation is increasingly driving the demand for professional oversight.
As these heirs prepare to manage vast family fortunes and business empires, their reliance on professional frameworks suggests a move away from traditional, informal succession models toward a more modernized, globalized strategy for preserving legacy.
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