Inside The Great Wealth Transfer 

Chris Crowe goes beyond the headlines in his new Substack to explore what the Great Wealth Transfer really means for families.

Over the next two decades, an estimated $80 trillion will pass to the next generation in what is being termed the great wealth transfer. But behind the money is a deeply human story: people trying to pass on a lifetime’s worth of wealth to those they love. The issue is that many simply assume the transition will be smooth, but without proper planning, it rarely is.

In my work, I speak to hundreds of clients and often when it comes to estate planning, a lot of people just haven’t thought about it and if they have, they’re not talking about it openly. In fact, according to UOB’s Asia Generational Wealth Report 2025, nearly a third (28%) of founders were keeping wills undisclosed.  

It’s understandable, it’s an uncomfortable topic, and yet, without open communication and proper planning, wealth will be lost along the way. Hard earned assets will be diminished due to a lack of tax planning, probate delays, familial disputes, or simply because an heir isn’t aware of an asset.

Money that’s already been lost

It’s not just a hypothetical risk, either. In the US alone, unclaimed brokerage accounts, lapsed insurance policies and forgotten pensions add up to close to $5 billion returned by states every year, according to the DGLegacy Report 2025. The money was never really lost, just never claimed by families who didn’t know it existed.  

Given this, the central question now is: how do we ensure the great wealth transfer does not become the great wealth erosion? And answering it as the heart of my new Substack series.

What the series will explore

Over the course of the series, I’ll focus on the great wealth transfer and its many guises, going beyond the headlines to unpack what’s actually happening and what families can be doing now. Each article will tackle a different dimension, blending technical insight with practical, human realities.

As someone who specialises in international wealth management, I’ll examine the inheritance challenges facing global families. I’ll also explore how the great wealth transfer is unfolding differently here in Asia, where cultural dynamics and rapid economic growth have created first-generation wealth on a significant scale.

I’ll also look at practical steps families can take; from wealth restructuring to the rise of the family office. And because no discussion of wealth transfer is complete without tax, I’ll explore tax planning strategies alongside a tax expert.

In addition, I’ll focus on the future stewards of wealth; how more women are set to inherit than ever before and the implications this may have. As well as examining how younger inheritors think differently about money, impact, and responsibility. This naturally leads into emerging challenges like inheriting crypto, where digital assets introduce entirely new questions around custody, security, and even basic accessibility.

Finally, I'll ask what all of this means for the professionals supporting families and, given complexity of demands, whether this warrants the advent of a new kind of adviser.  

At its core, this Substack is not just about wealth. It’s about continuity of purpose, of values, and of opportunity. Because wealth only truly transfers successfully when the next generation is prepared not just to receive it, but to carry it forward.

I invite you to join me as we explore what it really takes to make intergenerational wealth work.

Subscribe to my Substack and read the first article here.

This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice, nor is it a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any product. Please note that this is not financial advice and should not be construed as such.

‍

‍