It was a pleasure to contribute to Final Word 2025, Asian Private Banker’s widely read annual review bringing together perspectives from private banking and wealth management leaders across Asia. The series reflected on the defining developments of 2025 while also offering informed expectations for 2026
I was able to highlight the fact that that net new assets across Asia have in fact remained positive against a backdrop of shifting rate expectations and persistent geopolitical uncertainty. This has been underpinned by continued wealth creation in the region and the increasingly institutionalised operating models of family offices. Alongside a sharper focus on liquidity management, high-quality fixed income has reasserted itself as a core portfolio allocation complemented by selective exposure to private markets particularly private credit and infrastructure.
A central theme of my contribution focused on the accelerating role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the industry. AI has moved decisively beyond experimentation and is now becoming embedded across advisory, investment and risk functions. Its impact is already visible in stronger scenario analysis and more consistent decision-making. Crucially, these advances will allow advisers to spend more time on high-value client engagement and to deliver both deeper insight and more tailored solutions.
My thanks to Asian Private Banker for the opportunity to reflect on these themes. As private banking enters a more technologically defined era, the real differentiator will be how effectively firms integrate AI with robust governance and seasoned human judgement. The question for the industry is no longer whether this transformation will occur but who will lead it and who will struggle to keep pace.
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