As global wealth continues to grow and evolve, one of the most consequential shifts of the decade isn’t just about how much wealth exists, it’s about who will steward it next. The UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 highlights a historic acceleration in intergenerational wealth transfer that is reshaping family legacies, investment choices, and the way we think about financial education for younger generations.
A Historic Wealth Shift
According to UBS, more than USD 83 trillion in wealth is expected to pass from one generation to the next over the coming 20 to 25 years, with the vast majority (roughly USD 74 trillion) flowing vertically across generations. This “Great Wealth Transfer” dwarfs anything previous generations have experienced, eclipsing the magnitude of past inheritance waves.
This transformation has several implications:
- Multi-generational families are seeing record increases in wealth inheritance. In the UBS billionaire segment alone, a record number of heirs became billionaires through inheritance in 2025.
- Younger cohorts, including Millennials and Gen Z, are poised to hold substantially more wealth than today, even as they navigate economic uncertainties, changing markets, and different personal values.
In the UK, this transfer is occurring against a backdrop of rising asset values, complex inheritance tax rules, and an ageing population. As a result, many families are recognising that succession planning is no longer something to be deferred, it is a strategic priority.
This generational transition brings opportunity, but also risk. Without preparation, inherited wealth can be mismanaged, diluted, or become a source of family tension. With the right education and support, however, it can become a powerful tool for long-term stability and positive impact.
What This Means for Next-Generation Education
Wealth succession isn’t just a legal or tax matter, it’s also a learning and development challenge. Large transfers of assets without adequate preparation can erode value, dilute family purpose, or create conflict.
That’s why forward-looking families and advisors increasingly emphasise:
1. Financial Literacy as a Core Life Skill
Traditionally, financial education was reserved for professionals or business heirs. But with trillions set to move between generations, understanding fundamentals like cash flow, investment principles, and risk management is now essential for a broader cohort. This includes:
- Budgeting and savings habits
- Diversity in investment (e.g., equities, property, alternatives)
- Understanding debt, leverage, and tax implications
Such knowledge equips successors to not only inherit assets but to grow and protect them sustainably.
2. Purposeful Conversations About Money and Values
Wealth succession isn’t purely about numbers, it’s about values and intentions. Families that integrate discussions about purpose, philanthropy, and ethical investing help the next generation see wealth as a tool, not just a safety net.
UBS’s wider analysis also points to a shift in mindset among inheritors: many next-generation wealth holders prioritise independence, entrepreneurship, and societal impact over merely preserving ancestral wealth.
3. Professional Guidance and Mentorship
As wealth structures become more complex, influenced by globalisation, tax environments, and cross-border estates, expert support becomes a foundation of effective succession planning. From family offices to financial advisors, professional guidance helps bridge the gap between inherited wealth and empowered wealth management.
The Role of Wealth Managers and Institutions
Institutions like UBS are adapting their approach in response to this generational shift. Rather than focusing exclusively on preservation, wealth managers are now placing greater emphasis on:
- empowering the next generation to succeed responsibly,
- facilitating cross-border wealth planning, and
- integrating philanthropic goals into long-term strategies.
These shifts reflect a broader understanding that wealth continuity isn’t guaranteed by law alone, it requires deliberate education, alignment of values, and multi-generational engagement.
Looking Ahead: Building Confidence and Competence
For families and individuals preparing for succession, here are key takeaways:
- Start early: Financial education that begins well before a transfer happens reduces uncertainty and builds confidence.
- Make it practical: Real-world experiences, budgeting, investing, and entrepreneurial ventures reinforce theoretical knowledge.
- Connect values and assets: Linking wealth to purpose fosters stewardship grounded in impact.
In a world shaped by unprecedented wealth transfer, inheritance without preparation is a lost opportunity. But with thoughtful education, shared values, and intentional planning, the next generation can not only inherit wealth – they can elevate it.