DBS's 2026 Asian Family Office Almanac, based on surveys of more than 200 family offices, finds that 79% want to pass wealth to at least two generations, yet 43% have not involved the next generation in wealth planning.

TL;DR

  • The report, titled Assessing the Risk Readiness Gap, was released on 30 October 2026 and covers wealth transfer, risk management and AI.
  • About a third said the senior generation's wish to stay in charge was the main reason transfer talks were delayed, and 54% hold key assets in their own names.
  • 85% have no formal business continuity plan, rely on informal arrangements, or are unsure whether one exists. The figures are survey aggregates, not Singapore-only data.

What did the DBS almanac survey, and who answered?

DBS Private Bank (the private banking arm of Singapore's DBS Group) published the DBS Asian Family Office Almanac 2026: Assessing the Risk Readiness Gap on 30 October 2026. The Star, citing the report, says it draws on two surveys of more than 200 family offices across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, plus in-depth interviews with seven family leaders, conducted between January and May 2026. Hubbis, relaying DBS's release, describes the respondents as hundreds of principals, family members, beneficiaries and next-generation leaders, so the exact base differs by outlet. DBS's own page lists three themes: wealth transfer, risk management, and AI and technology.

What does it say about succession and control?

Of the families surveyed, 79% want to pass wealth to two or more generations, but 43% have not involved the next generation in wealth planning, and Hubbis reports only 1% said heirs led plan design and implementation. Roughly 33% said the senior generation's desire to remain in charge was the main reason for delaying wealth-transfer talks. On ownership, 54% hold family assets in their own names and 52% use a personal investment company, per The Star. Hubbis adds that 20% use a professionally administered trust. A DBS executive named Lee told The Star that owning assets personally gives control but creates uncertainty and risk.

What does it say about continuity, risk and AI?

The Star reports that 23% have not addressed key-person risk and 23% have not planned for family conflict, while 85% lack a formal business continuity plan, rely on informal arrangements or are unsure whether one exists. Hubbis reports that 60% named learning to adopt AI effectively as their top interest, and 47% had not yet deployed digital tools or AI analytics in daily operations.

Why does it matter for Asian families?

The findings echo other recent surveys we have covered, including https://asiafamilyofficehub.com/sun-life-asia-research-78-of-family-firms-say-heirs-are-willing-but-only-26-have-a-full-succession-plan/ and https://asiafamilyofficehub.com/only-2-3-of-business-owning-families-are-fully-prepared-to-sell-what-julius-baers-2026-family-barometer-says-about-asia/ . Holding assets in personal names ties into the trust questions raised in https://asiafamilyofficehub.com/singapore-high-court-voids-a-trust-protector-clause-what-family-offices-should-check-in-their-trust-deeds/ . A practical reading for families: ask whether heirs are in the planning conversation, who can act if a key person is unavailable, and whether the continuity plan is written down. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

What is not confirmed?

We could not open the full report, only DBS's landing page, so figures come from The Star and Hubbis. The sources give no Singapore-only or Asia-only breakdown, no exact respondent count, and no percentage for the finding that most offices lack a formal contingency plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DBS Asian Family Office Almanac 2026?

A DBS Private Bank study titled Assessing the Risk Readiness Gap, released on 30 October 2026, on wealth transfer, risk management and AI among family offices.

How many family offices have involved the next generation in planning?

43% have not. Hubbis reports only 1% said the next generation led plan design and implementation.

How many have a business continuity plan?

85% have no formal plan, rely on informal arrangements, or are unsure whether one exists, according to The Star and Hubbis.

Sources and Method

Originator: DBS Private Bank, DBS Asian Family Office Almanac 2026 landing page (themes only). Independent reports: The Star (Asia News Network), Chor Khieng Yuit, 30 October 2026, and Hubbis, 4 November 2026, relaying DBS's 30 October release. Figures are as reported by those outlets and have not been checked against the full report.