HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026: 908 HNWIs with $9.9 Billion Wealth & $10.9 Million Average Wealth, Top 3 Source of Wealth – Financial Market Investing, Business Owner, Senior Executive Career, Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Joint Ownership of Assets, Family Trusts, Gifting During Lifetime, Establishing Family Office, Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund, Top 5 Countries Using Life Insurance Policies for Legacy Planning – India, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Top 4 International Hubs Used for Cross-Border Financial Planning – Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, HNWIs with Legacy Plan – Yes 41%, Top 5 HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India
7th May 2026 | Hong Kong
HSBC has released the HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026, providing key insights of 908 HNW individuals with $9.9 billion total net wealth & $10.9 million average net wealth in 9 countries (Hong Kong, Singapore, Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand & United Arab Emirates). Total HNWIs – 908 respondents. Total Net Wealth – $9.9 billion. Average Net Wealth – $10.9 million. Top 3 Source of Wealth – Financial Market Investing, Business Owner, Senior Executive Career. Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Joint Ownership of Assets, Family Trusts, Gifting During Lifetime, Establishing Family Office, Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund. Top 4 Most Used Legacy Planning Tools for HNWs – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Gifting During Lifetime, Family Trusts. Top 5 Countries using Life Insurance Policies as primary tool for legacy planning tool – India, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore. Top 4 International Hubs used for cross-border financial planning – Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States. Top Reasons for using Life Insurance Policies – Guaranteed protection 53%, Wealth accumulation 47%. Top 3 Needs from Life Insurance Policies – Proactive updates, Health or lifestyle services, Annual review. Top 3 Sources of information for HNWIs – Spouses & Partners, Relationship Managers at Primary Bank, Independent Financial Advisors. HNWIs with Legacy Plan – Yes 41%, Not yet / No – 59%. Total Net Wealth in Survey – $9.9 billion. Total Wealth with Legacy Plan – $4.1 billion. Total Wealth with No Legacy Plan – $5.8 billion. Top 5 HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India. HNWIs with Legacy Plan with $2 m – $5 million wealth – 39%. HNWIs with Legacy Plan with > $5 million wealth – 48%. Top 2 Primary Trigger for Legacy Planning – Concerns about future economic or market volatility, Advice from a financial advisor, banker or lawyer. Top 3 Risks to Legacy Plan – Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth, Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth, Potential for disputes among family members. Top 3 External Risks to Legacy Plan – Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth, Future changes in tax laws eroding the value of inheritance, Complexity and cost of administering the transfer plan. Top 3 Internal Risks to Legacy Plan – Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth, Potential for disputes among family members, Heirs being unprepared or incapable of managing wealth. See below for key findings & summary | View report here
“ HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026: 908 HNWIs with $9.9 Billion Wealth & $10.9 Million Average Wealth, Top 3 Source of Wealth – Financial Market Investing, Business Owner, Senior Executive Career, Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Joint Ownership of Assets, Family Trusts, Gifting During Lifetime, Establishing Family Office, Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund, Top 5 Countries Using Life Insurance Policies for Legacy Planning – India, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Top 4 International Hubs Used for Cross-Border Financial Planning – Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, HNWIs with Legacy Plan – Yes 41%, Top 5 HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India “
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HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026: 908 HNWIs with $9.9 Billion Wealth & $10.9 Million Average Wealth, Top 3 Source of Wealth – Financial Market Investing, Business Owner, Senior Executive Career, Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Joint Ownership of Assets, Family Trusts, Gifting During Lifetime, Establishing Family Office, Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund, Top 5 Countries Using Life Insurance Policies for Legacy Planning – India, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Top 4 International Hubs Used for Cross-Border Financial Planning – Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States, HNWIs with Legacy Plan – Yes 41%, Top 5 HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India
HSBC has released the HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026, providing key insights of 908 HNW individuals with $9.9 billion total net wealth & $10.9 million average net wealth in 9 countries (Hong Kong, Singapore, Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand & United Arab Emirates). See below for key findings & summary | View report here
HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026
Summary
- Total HNWIs – 908 HNWIs
- Total Net Wealth – $9.9 billion
- Average Net Wealth – $10.9 million
- Top 3 Source of Wealth – Financial Market Investing, Business Owner, Senior Executive Career
- Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Joint Ownership of Assets, Family Trusts, Gifting During Lifetime, Establishing Family Office, Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund
- Top 4 Most Used Legacy Planning Tools for HNWs – Life Insurance Policies, Will, Gifting During Lifetime, Family Trusts
- Top 5 Countries using Life Insurance Policies as primary tool for legacy planning tool – India, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore
- Top 4 International Hubs used for cross-border financial planning – Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, United States
- Top Reasons for using Life Insurance Policies – Guaranteed protection 53%, Wealth accumulation 47%
- Top 3 Needs from Life Insurance Policies – Proactive updates, Health or lifestyle services, Annual review
- Top 3 Sources of information for HNWIs – Spouses & Partners, Relationship Managers at Primary Bank, Independent Financial Advisors
- HNWIs with Legacy Plan – Yes 41%, Not yet / No – 59%
- Total Net Wealth in Survey – $9.9 billion
- Total Wealth with Legacy Plan – $4.1 billion
- Total Wealth with No Legacy Plan – $5.8 billion
- Top 5 HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India
- HNWIs with Legacy Plan with $2 m – $5 million wealth – 39%
- HNWIs with Legacy Plan with > $5 million wealth – 48%
- Top 2 Primary Trigger for Legacy Planning – Concerns about future economic or market volatility, Advice from a financial advisor, banker or lawyer
- Top 3 Risks to Legacy Plan – Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth, Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth, Potential for disputes among family members
- Top 3 External Risks to Legacy Plan – Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth, Future changes in tax laws eroding the value of inheritance, Complexity and cost of administering the transfer plan
- Top 3 Internal Risks to Legacy Plan – Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth, Potential for disputes among family members, Heirs being unprepared or incapable of managing wealth
HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026
1) Profile
HNWIs:
- Total HNWIs – 908 respondents
- Criteria – More than $2 million investible assets
- Total Net Wealth – $9.9 billion
- Average Net Wealth – $10.9 million
Age Group:
- Age 30 to 39 – 5%
- Age 40 to 49 – 40%
- Age 50 to 59 – 39%
- Age 60 & more – 17%
Investable Assets:
- $2 m – $5 million – 74%
- $5 m to $10 million – 19%
- $10 m & more – 7%
Source of Wealth:
- Financial Market Investing – 35%
- Business Owner – 20%
- Senior Executive Career – 19%
- Professional Practice / Consultancy – 12%
- Property Investment / Development – 12%
2) Legacy Planning Tools
Legacy planning helps to articulate, create and implement a plan to efficiently transition wealth.
Top 7 Primary Tools for Legacy Planning:
- Life Insurance Policies – 25%
- Will – 20%
- Joint Ownership of Assets – 16%
- Family Trusts – 15%
- Gifting During Lifetime – 8%
- Establishing Family Office – 8%
- Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund – 6%
Top 7 Most Used Legacy Planning Tools for HNWs:
- Life Insurance Policies – 56%
- Will – 40%
- Gifting During Lifetime – 32%
- Family Trusts – 32%
- Joint Ownership of Assets – 30%
- Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund – 29%
- Establishing Family Office – 27%
HNWs currently using / planning to use for legacy planning tool:
- Life Insurance Policies – 87%
- Will – 82%
- Joint Ownership of Assets – 77%
- Gifting During Lifetime – 77%
- Family Trusts – 76%
- Charitable Foundation / Donor-Advised Fund – 69%
- Establishing Family Office – 67%
Countries using Life Insurance Policies as primary tool for legacy planning tool:
- India – 35%
- Thailand – 32%
- Indonesia – 29%
- Hong Kong – 26%
- Singapore – 25%
- China – 20%
- Malaysia – 17%
- UAE – 17%
Top 8 International Hubs used for cross-border financial planning:
- Bermuda – 40%
- Singapore – 33%
- Hong Kong – 27%
- United States – 27%
- UAE – 22%
- UK – 21%
- Switzerland – 20%
- Jersey – 10%
3) Legacy Planning Insights
Top Reasons for using Life Insurance Policies:
- Guaranteed protection – 53%
- Wealth accumulation – 47%
Top 6 Needs from Life Insurance Policies:
- Proactive updates about how policies meet their family’s needs – 51%
- Health or lifestyle services – 49%
- Annual review that clearly indicates growth policy’s guaranteed value – 48%
- Advanced policy features – 43%
- Simplified underwriting – 42%
- Legal & tax advisory – 41%
Top 3 Sources of information for HNWIs:
- Spouses & Partners – 45%
- Relationship Managers at Primary Bank – 41%
- Independent Financial Advisors – 40%
4) HNWs Legacy Plan
HNWIs with Legacy Plan:
- Yes – 41%
- Not yet / No – 59%
Legacy planning helps to articulate, create and implement a plan to efficiently transition wealth.
HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Wealth:
- Total Wealth with Legacy Plan – $4.1 billion
- Total Wealth with No Legacy Plan – $5.8 billion
HNWIs with Legacy Plan by Country:
- Thailand – 57%
- Malaysia – 52%
- Indonesia – 51%
- Singapore – 45%
- India – 43%
- Mainland China – 36%
- UAE – 36%
- Hong Kong – 26%
- Taiwan – 24%
HNWIs with Legacy Plan by wealth:
- $2 m – $5 million – 39%
- $5 m to $10 million – 48%
- $10 m & more – 48%
Top 5 Primary Trigger for Legacy Planning:
- Concerns about future economic or market volatility – 45%
- Advice from a financial advisor, banker or lawyer – 36%
- Children reaching adulthood or getting married – 24%
- Birth of children or grandchildren – 15%
- Marriage or divorce – 10%
5) Legacy Planning Risks
Top 10 Risks to Legacy Plan:
- Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth – 38%
- Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth – 37%
- Potential for disputes among family members – 36%
- Heirs being unprepared or incapable of managing wealth – 32%
- Future changes in tax laws eroding the value of inheritance – 31%
- Complexity and cost of administering the transfer plan – 29%
- Wealth having a negative impact on my heirs’ work ethic or values – 28%
- Lack of privacy and confidentiality during the process – 26%
- Wealth being diluted or lost in future divorce settlements for one of my heirs – 23%
- Choosing the wrong advisor or institution – 21%
Top 5 External Risks to Legacy Plan:
- Global economic or market volatility eroding wealth – 38%
- Future changes in tax laws eroding the value of inheritance – 31%
- Complexity and cost of administering the transfer plan – 29%
- Lack of privacy and confidentiality during the process – 26%
- Choosing the wrong advisor or institution – 21%
Top 5 Internal Risks to Legacy Plan:
- Next generation mismanaging or squandering wealth – 37%
- Potential for disputes among family members – 36%
- Heirs being unprepared or incapable of managing wealth – 32%
- Wealth having a negative impact on my heirs’ work ethic or values – 28%
- Wealth being diluted or lost in future divorce settlements for one of my heirs – 23%
HSBC Life HNW Legacy Planning Report 2026
The Survey – 908 HNW individuals in their peak planning years across nine APAC markets were surveyed on their legacy planning behaviour, objectives and attitudes. HNW individuals are defined as those with investable assets of $2 million or more, have invested in financial products themselves and are financial decision makers for themselves. UHNW individuals are defined as those with investable assets of $10 million or more. Survey data collected from 22 Sept – 18 Oct 2025 via online access panels.
HSBC Life – HSBC Life is the brand of the insurance business of HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations serving customers from offices in 57 countries and territories for 160 years. Leveraging the HSBC Group’s expertise and international reach, we are committed to helping our customers embrace their future with confidence. At HSBC Life, we offer a comprehensive range of products and solutions to help you to meet your protection, education, retirement, wealth growth and legacy planning needs at every stage of your life journey. For generations, we have been putting our customers first, crafting solutions and services that are not only inspired by your unique needs but also focused on meeting them.
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