DBS Report: Asian family office succession preparations need to be strengthened

DBS Bank. (Photo by reporter Wu Xintian)

[Reporter Wu Xintian/Taipei Report] DBS Group's latest research report "DBS Asia Family Office Report 2026: Assessing the Risk Preparedness Gap" points out that although family offices are committed to achieving cross-generational wealth inheritance, many families have not yet established the talent allocation, planning and operational management mechanisms required to achieve this goal. The three priority issues that families attach most importance to include wealth inheritance, comprehensive risk management, and AI and technology applications. The research results also show that families’ preparedness in these three areas still needs to be strengthened.

Although families are generally aware of the need to take action, the study found that the founder's desire to retain control is still a major obstacle to family wealth inheritance. One-third of the respondents listed this as the main reason for delaying wealth transfer; in terms of risk management, more than half of the respondents pointed out that the internal team lacks Lack of professional knowledge is a major challenge; more than 85% of the respondents have not yet formulated a formal operation continuity plan, relying only on informal contingency arrangements, or are unsure whether a relevant plan exists. These lack of preparations also raise doubts about whether the family can effectively respond to emergencies and the risk of operational interruption.

In response to the research results, Li Wenxiu, Group Head of Wealth Planning Family Office Insurance Solutions at DBS Bank, said that Asia is experiencing one of the largest waves of inter-generational wealth transfer in history. DBS’s exchanges with clients have found that for many families, it is often challenging to put intentional inheritance into practice, and such hesitation is understandable. The inheritance of family wealth involves not only the investment portfolio, but also the physical enterprises that accumulate wealth for the family, which often involves highly personal and major decisions such as asset ownership, leadership and control.

Li Wenxiu further pointed out that with the rapid development of technology and intensified market volatility, families face more challenges in business operations and wealth management, making these decisions increasingly urgent. Family offices should not only focus on current responsibilities and needs, but should also identify potential weaknesses in inheritance arrangements, risk supervision, and technology application early to avoid high costs in the future. Those who are most capable of guarding and continuing the growth of family wealth in the future are not necessarily the families with the strongest assets, but the families that can face the relevant challenges early and take active actions while there is still plenty of time and choices.

The "DBS Asia Family Office Report 2026: Assessing the Risk Preparedness Gap" published by DBS Group combines two surveys conducted between January and May 2026, visiting more than 200 family offices in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and conducting in-depth interviews with founders, core family members, next-generation leaders and other key decision-makers.