What are the current trends reshaping the estate planning sector? Based on my experience, the wealthmanagement industry in the Asia Pacific has been continuing to grow rapidly, and I believe that as the population of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) increases, so will their assets. For example, HSBC estimated that Chinese households will have RMB 300tn (USD 46.3tn) of investable assets by 2025, an amount equivalent to the entire US bond market. Over the years, we have seen the emergence of a new affluent group with a more diversified lifestyle. However, the transfer of wealth is still a challenge for many of them. I recommend HNWIs to seek sound advice on navigating international borders, devising the right wealth structures and continually refining them. This will ensure a solid legacy and that their wealth smoothly reaches their intended beneficiaries in an internationally compliant manner. I personally believe that the lack of comprehensive financial and structural knowledge regarding wealth solutions and succession planning hinders them from finding the right arrangements to fit their families’ needs. Asian HNWIs are typically more familiar with the use of wills and trusts since these instruments have been around for centuries. Many reports suggest an increasing number of Asia families hold various kinds of assets, and these assets are moved across various countries. For example, according to CNBC, inquiries about setting up a family office in Singapore from China have doubled over the last 12 months. It is crucial Finance Monthly. Bank i ng & F i nanc i a l Se r v i ce s 29
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