The largest wealth transfer in history has already begun
Millions of families will transfer wealth to the next generations over the coming decades. But are we prepared to manage and preserve it over time?
The UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 estimates a global wealth transfer of over $83 trillion over the next 20–25 years. This is a projection, not an amount already transferred.
Over the coming years, millions of families worldwide will transfer wealth to the next generations. Real estate, savings, investments, family businesses, and projects built over decades will change hands.
Is the next generation prepared to manage the wealth they are set to receive?
Throughout our experience, we have observed that many families dedicate substantial time to building wealth, yet few devote equal effort to planning how it will be managed in the future.
When discussing wealth, we typically think of tangible assets: real estate, investments, business holdings, or bank accounts. However, a family's true wealth extends far beyond the assets listed on a balance sheet.
It also encompasses the experience accumulated over years, the criteria that have guided decision-making, the values upon which the family project was built, and the vision that has enabled that wealth to be preserved and grown over time.
For this reason, preserving wealth often entails passing on knowledge, as we must not forget that wealth is far more than a sum of assets, and that preserving it requires imparting judgment, values, and a long-term vision.
The risk many families overlook
Many families work for decades to build a business, acquire real estate, generate savings, or develop a robust investment strategy. However, they may devote less attention to preparing those who will one day bear the responsibility of managing everything they have built.
Paradoxically, one of the greatest wealth risks is not typically related to markets, the economy, or taxation. It is usually tied to a lack of preparation.
History offers numerous examples of wealth that took generations to build and mere years to erode, because the knowledge, criteria, or discipline that enabled its creation were lost.
The importance of planning before it becomes necessary
Wealth planning is often associated with specific events: an inheritance, business succession, or a family restructuring. However, the most critical decisions are typically made well in advance.
Preparing for succession entails discussing objectives, responsibilities, and expectations. It involves educating the next generations, sharing information, and establishing a framework that facilitates the continuity of the family wealth.
It is essential to prepare the individuals who will be required to make decisions regarding these assets, rather than merely deciding who will receive them.
Building a legacy that endures
Every family that has succeeded in building wealth aspires, to a greater or lesser degree, to see that effort continue over time. Continuity does not depend solely on investment returns or market performance; it also relies on the ability of future generations to understand the wealth they inherit and manage it responsibly.
Wealth planning begins when the foundations are laid to ensure that wealth continues to serve its purpose generation after generation, well before an inheritance takes place. Because the challenge lies not in creating wealth, but in ensuring it endures.
Sources and Further Reading
Informational content provided by SR Nexus. This does not replace official product documentation or an individual assessment of personal circumstances. Editorial update: November 10, 2026.
