As intergenerational wealth transfer tops the agenda for ultra-high-net-worth families, Julius Baer’s Wealth Planning team shares how they integrate legacy conversations into long-term structuring, empower next-gen stewardship, and guide clients toward purpose-driven giving.
According to the Julius Baer Family Barometer 2024, 37% of wealth transfer discussions still take place informally, without structured planning or documentation.
Yet the same study reveals a growing awareness, with ‘intergenerational wealth transfer and succession planning’ ranking as the number one concern across all global regions, surpassing even wealth preservation.
The evolving needs of wealthy families reflect wider shifts in global wealth demographics and the increasing complexity of multi-jurisdictional financial lives.
For the Wealth Planning team at Julius Baer, integrating wealth transfer into broader wealth structuring has become a core part of its offering.
“As family businesses often play a significant role in regional economies, the emphasis on succession planning reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding their future,” they explain. “The increasing amount of wealth to be transferred and the international nature of today’s affluent families calls for a coherent plan across different jurisdictions.”
What sets Julius Baer apart in this landscape is its deeply human, values-led approach to succession planning, built on early dialogue, mutual understanding, and bespoke family governance frameworks.
“Succession planning is not about transferring control, it is about creating understanding,” the team says. “It’s a process, and families who succeed are not those who wait until decisions are urgent, but the ones who create space early for listening, alignment and structure.”
Central to this is the creation of family charters or strategic roadmaps. These documents serve as living frameworks for shared goals, roles, and values. Rather than eliminating differences, they give families “A common language and a path forward.”
“The results of the Julius Baer Family Barometer 2024 make clear: the necessity for a family strategic roadmap that outlines how family members operate together and interact as a cohesive unit has never been more pressing. Families must not wait until tensions arise, threatening to undermine the relationships amongst family members. They should act decisively and while familial ties are strong, to foster an environment of cooperation, trust, and mutual understanding.”
With vast sums of global wealth set to change hands over the coming decades, preparing the next generation to be responsible stewards is vital. Julius Baer’s approach to this is equally proactive, with education embedded in its long-term strategy.
The bank’s standout programme, ‘Young Partners’, has grown into a global community of future leaders. “It’s an exclusive, growing global community of future leaders committed to learning together, as well as collaborating and exchanging ideas in an environment of trust and friendship,” the team says.
“Members come from 50+ countries and represent the next generation of entrepreneurs, investors, and social change makers, bringing together a diverse background of cultures, perspectives, ideas, and expertise.”
The curriculum reflects this diversity, addressing topics from sustainability and governance to philanthropy and investing.
Moreover, for younger clients, particularly in the UK, the Wealth Management Summer Programme offers a tailored introduction. Designed for clients’ children aged 16-17, it gives them early exposure to the industry and to the values that underpin responsible wealth management.
This approach is clearly resonating Julius Baer was named Best for Next-Gen in the UK in both 2024 and 2025, and Western Europe’s Best for Next-Gen in 2024.
Crucially, Julius Baer also recognises the nuances between newly created and inherited wealth. In founder-led scenarios, the focus is typically more on structuring and protecting wealth rather than immediate succession.
“For newly created wealth, it is less of an intergenerational conversation as we are dealing with the wealth creators,” the team explains. “In these cases, the conversations turn more around wealth structuring, and less about succession.”
However, when wealth is inherited, the family context becomes much more complex. “We typically deal with multigenerational family situations, where we support families in passing on family values and continue the family legacy by facilitating a value-based workshop.”
These value-based workshops are a cornerstone of Julius Baer’s personalised planning process. Using a unique toolkit of “55 ways to discuss what matters to you,” the workshops help families articulate their values, vision, and mission, laying the foundation for governance structures and long-term legacy plans.
One area where value-based planning comes to life is philanthropy. According to the Wealth Planning team, many clients, whether they have children or not, find a cause close to their hearts and are keen to engage meaningfully during their lifetimes.
“Legacy creation and passing on of family values is an intrinsic motivation to find a way of giving back to society,” they say. “It’s also a way to involve the next generation in the planning process at an early stage.”
Through their workshops, Julius Baer helps identify philanthropic goals, ensuring giving is strategic and impactful. The team collaborates closely with the Julius Baer Foundation, offering clients access to a global network of philanthropic experts, partners, and opportunities for learning and engagement.
“Based on the outcome of our value-based workshop we can also identify if there is a need or an interest for a strategic approach on philanthropic engagements,” they explain. “We can support clients in finding their focus in this specific area and to generate the highest possible impact.”
In an era of rising complexity, cross-border family structures, and deepening intergenerational responsibility, Julius Baer’s integrated, values-driven approach offers UHNW families a way to navigate the future with clarity, unity, and purpose.
Whether building frameworks for legacy, preparing the next generation, or shaping philanthropic vision, the message is clear: start early, talk often, and build from shared values.
"Passing wealth: Julius Baer’s modern approach" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
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