Originally published: IFA Magazine, 29 April 2026
Our ‘In Focus’ campaign this month explores how younger generations are reshaping the advice landscape, from where they turn for financial guidance to the expectations, priorities and behaviours advisers need to understand.
Family office investment strategies are shifting as younger generations take a bigger role, new research* from Ocorian, the specialist global provider of services to high-net-worth individuals and family offices, financial institutions, asset managers and corporates, shows.
The global study among family members and senior executives working for family offices with total wealth of $119.37 billion found 79% say that younger generations are becoming more involved in developing and reviewing investment strategies with 97% saying their priorities differ from the founders.
The study in 16 countries or territories including UK, US, UAE, Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius and Bahrain highlights concerns about succession planning.
Around one in eight (12%) say they are not seeing a natural succession in wealth and leadership at their family offices, while almost all (98%) agree more needs to be done on succession planning.
Major areas of contention between founders and the next generation identified by the study include attitudes to private markets and digital assets. More than half (51%) say younger generations have a greater focus on private markets and 42% say investing in digital assets is an area of disagreement.
Ginny Goh, Director, Private Clients at Ocorian said: “Succession planning is crucial in family offices as they grow and mature and it is to some extent inevitable that younger generations will have different views and approaches on investment from the founders.”
“As the family’s wealth expands and its priorities diversify, the need for a structured, forward-looking succession framework becomes even more essential.”
*In February 2026 Ocorian commissioned independent research company Pureprofile to interview 200 people in the family office sector including family members and full-time employees of family offices. The total value of wealth managed or owned by the families was $119.37 billion and respondents were based in the UK, Switzerland, Mauritius, South Africa, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, US, Jersey, Guernsey, Bermuda and Cayman.
