Over 80 percent of high-net-worth individuals in the Philippines prioritize wealth preservation above all else when planning family estate transfers, representing the highest proportion recorded across the Asia-Pacific region and significantly outpacing the regional average of 64.2 percent, according to a recent study by UnionBank Private and Lombard Odier. While maintaining family unity and shared values stood out as the second most important goal for wealthy Filipino families, the survey of more than 390 regional HNWIs revealed significant vulnerabilities regarding execution and intergenerational readiness.

A major driver of these concerns stems from a lack of confidence and formal preparation within wealthy households. Only 14.3 percent of Filipino respondents expressed strong faith in the younger generation’s capacity to manage family assets, while a mere 16.7 percent reported having a comprehensive succession plan in place. Furthermore, just 10 percent indicated complete family alignment regarding estate matters, with half of all surveyed individuals citing intergenerational conflicts caused by conflicting visions for the future or friction over changing traditional practices. Addressing these gaps, UnionBank wealth management head Gauraw Srivastava noted that affluent families increasingly require specialized advisory support that goes beyond standard portfolio management to focus on structured family governance and conflict resolution.

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