The $90 trillion Great Wealth Transfer is set to rebalance the generational income gap as the Silent Generation and baby boomers hand their fortunes over to their millennial and Gen Z offspring. Getting them ready for it, though, is another matter.
That question of readiness comes into much sharper focus, though, when the inheritance in question is millions of dollars in assets or a multinational business.
HSBC Global Private Banking’s Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report surveyed nearly 1,000 high-net-worth entrepreneurs to assess their plans for wealth transfer to their families.
More than a third of entrepreneurs said they were planning to exit their company in the next five years. More than half of them would prefer to keep the business in the family, which is an even more popular option for people with more than $10 million in assets.
However, as is usually the case, succession is a challenge.
Entrepreneurs have serious concerns that their kids might not be up to the task of taking on their business or responsibly managing their wealth.
A third of those surveyed highlighted their offspring’s work ethic. Close behind were fears over a lack of interest in the family business, a lack of knowledge, and a lack of skills to run it effectively.
There is also a sizable share that think their kids might want to go and forge their own path in the business world, away from the perceived ties of a family unit.
“We see families more interested in those modern businesses and modern economy, rather than some of the more traditional stuff. And I know that’s a worry,” Russell Prior, head of family governance, family office advisory, and philanthropy for HSBC Global Private Banking, told Fortune.
Seven out of 10 entrepreneurs say next-generation readiness is a crucial factor in deciding when to step away from their company.
Underlying these concerns, though, Prior says, is a fear of letting go.
Just over a fifth of people with investible assets above $10 million haven’t made any plans to transfer their wealth.
The quirks depend on the level of family wealth, Prior says, as well as the age of those holding the assets.
The latter might have something to do with the habits of one cohort in particular: the Silent Generation.
“A big, big part of the Silent Generation was they don’t talk about stuff. And I think there’s still a large cohort of people who don’t talk about it.”
Family day out
To help that preparation, HSBC Private Banking runs bespoke events for its wealthy clients in a seemingly extravagant version of light family therapy.
Father-son and mother-daughter combos and everything in between (and even kids alone) go to special events curated by HSBC designed to prepare them for inheritance and succession plans. The majority are attended by next-generation heirs.
“I think the dynamics at play are really interesting,” Prior said.
“It’s great to mix these events up to give that range of opportunity for conversations.”
The gatherings offer families the opportunity to understand what their wealth transfers could look like, beginning conversations with their children about their expectations for inheritance and whether they are prepared to take over the family business.
Children are also taught the technical aspects of wealth, receiving an introduction to the world of investing and getting insight into entrepreneurial and philanthropic opportunities.
“So you’re in a sense giving a rounded exposure to all of the issues that are at play,” Prior said.
The conferences offer Gen Z heirs the chance to network with peers in a similar situation to their own, unsure of how to navigate the heady task of inheriting their parents’ fortunes.
It’s unclear just how effective events like those offered by HSBC could be against obstacles like denial, next-generation work ethic, and uninterest.
What is clear, though, is that the head-in-the-sand approach used by many current founders isn’t a lasting solution.
“The wealth transfer, it’s inevitable, sadly, when people pass,” Prior says. “The extent to which you get prepared for it isn’t inevitable. It’s a choice.”
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared on Fortune.com on September 30, 2024.
