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Among High Net Worth clients making gifts in 2025, 25% plan to give more compared to last year.
WESTLAKE, Texas, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Despite a backdrop of market volatility and economic uncertainty during the first half of 2025, High Net Worth (HNW) retail investors are continuing to gift their assets, according to the latest Schwab HNW Client Pulse Survey.
Half (51%) of HNW Schwab retail clients, defined as those with at least $1 million in assets at Schwab, plan to gift some amount of their wealth this year. Among those gifting, 25% plan to increase the amount of their gifts this year as compared to last year, and only 7% plan to give less.
This continued momentum in wealth transfer reflects the confidence among HNW clients that their financial plans are resilient amid market volatility and uncertainty. While a majority (59%) of HNW clients surveyed describe their market outlook as bearish, over half of those with bearish sentiment feel confident they have a plan in place to withstand any potential market correction. In fact, 67% of HNW clients overall remain confident in their decision-making.
Looking forward, 57% of HNW Schwab clients surveyed plan to gift some of their assets in the next five years, and three-quarters (74%) plan to do so over the course of their lifetime.
"HNW investors may be cautious about the markets, but they’re still acting with intention and making decisions that align with their long-term goals, whether that means giving now or planning to transfer wealth over time," said Susan Hirshman, Director of Wealth Management for Schwab Wealth Advisory and Schwab Center for Financial Research. "Confidence doesn’t always mean optimism about the market, but it does mean having clarity in your strategy and financial plan, and the discipline to follow it."
The Who, How and Why of Gifting
Among HNW investors surveyed who are making gifts in 2025, most are focused on supporting their immediate families. The vast majority (84%) say they plan to give assets to their children, with 91% of those gifts intended for children over the age of 18. Half (50%) say they’ve already had—or plan to have—conversations with their children about the gifts.
While cash remains the most common form of giving, nearly one in four HNW clients plan to transfer investments, highlighting the use of appreciated assets as part of tax and estate planning to reduce capital gains and estate taxes.
Even with tax efficiency in mind, gifting is driven by more than financial optimization. The top motivations cited by HNW clients include general financial support for family (66%), estate and tax planning (34%), and funding for education (30%). Additionally, 21% aim to help with significant life milestones, such as a wedding, home purchase, or starting a business.