Structured Financing Solutions

Successful succession is about more than transferring wealth: families need to prepare the next generation, establish effective governance and agree a shared purpose well before leadership changes hands, writes Salman Mahdi, Global Vice Chairman.

A significant transfer of private wealth is under way. For ultra-high-net-worth families and family offices, the central question is whether the next generation is ready for succession, governance, ownership and long-term stewardship.

As ultra-high-net-worth families plan for succession and generational wealth transfer, philanthropy can provide a practical way to connect purpose, governance and long-term wealth planning.

Building a family legacy requires more than vision; it also benefits from clear structure. Family offices can translate values into governance frameworks, constitutions and systems that help preserve intent while enabling disciplined execution.

Geopolitical change, regulatory demands and new technologies are reshaping how families steward wealth. Long term continuity may be supported by clarity of purpose, appropriate diversification and the ability to make coherent decisions amid complexity.

Amid what could be the largest wealth transfer in history, family offices face a critical task: preparing younger family members for the responsibilities – and legacy – they will inherit.

As start-ups scale, founders often face a complex journey navigating the shift from concentrated, illiquid wealth to more structured financial planning – balancing growth, liquidity and long-term goals.

Family offices are redefining legacy beyond financial capital considerations, embedding shared values, purpose and long-term intent into governance frameworks, investment decisions and intergenerational stewardship.

Italian luxury real estate combines resilient pricing with lifestyle appeal across prime locations shaped by history and understated glamour. We examine why this continues to attract ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

Family offices have historically been well-placed to remain patient and ride out short-term volatility, but even they are contending with the complexity of an increasingly fragmented world.

When it comes to achieving multi-generational goals, the ability of family offices to deploy patient capital and take a truly long-term view is critical.

Our partnership has conducted eDNA testing in seven Ocean locations. In this report we explain the use of eDNA and summarise our findings so far.

Spain sits at an intersection of global mobility, resilient real assets, long-term capital preservation and security – a combination that continues to draw sophisticated international wealth to its luxury property market.

Monterey Bay, in northern California, is beautiful both above and below the waterline. It supports remarkable marine biodiversity. So we expected our most recent round of eDNA testing there to show some exciting results – and it did.

Saydam Salaheddin, Global Head of Real Estate Lending at Deutsche Bank Private Bank, shares five themes shaping the global real estate landscape for family offices in 2026.

Following eDNA testing at multiple locations around the world with our partners the SailGP Germany team and NatureMetrics, we returned to New York one year on to discover what our 2025 eDNA survey reveals about the city's underwater inhabitants.

Family governance centres on agreed processes for how a family office makes decisions, how changes are implemented, and the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the family and the business.

Learn more about the sustainable transformation in our jargon busting piece, and how business, practices and the economy are being reshaped.