With two months remaining in 2025 and a new tax bill recently passed with provisions that will affect charitable giving strategies, now is a great
Beyond Wealth: The Top 7 Priorities of Ultra-High-Net-Worth Families
Published Date : October 30, 2025
Why Lasting Legacies Require More Than Just Financial Success
Ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families—those with $30 million or more in investable assets—carry both extraordinary opportunities and unique responsibilities. Managing wealth at this level is not solely about returns; it involves safeguarding family harmony, shaping legacy, and aligning resources with values. In my experience, the following seven priorities consistently guide the decisions of UHNW families as they navigate their financial and personal futures.
1. Preserving Wealth Across Generations – Wealth preservation is the cornerstone of UHNW planning. Families often focus on disciplined investment strategies, multi-asset diversification, and tax-efficient structures designed to endure for generations. The objective is not short-term growth alone, but stewardship that ensures future family members benefit from today’s hard work.
2. Succession and Estate Planning – For many, the most pressing concern is how wealth will transition to the next generation. Thoughtful estate planning—through trusts, partnerships, and other structures—helps mitigate taxes, avoid disputes, and create clarity. Families also prioritize succession planning for businesses, ensuring continuity of leadership and protection of the enterprise that often serves as the foundation of their wealth.
3. Family Governance and Communication – Wealth can be a source of unity or discord. To protect relationships, families often create governance frameworks—such as family councils, constitutions, and regular meetings—that set expectations and define decision-making processes. Open communication fosters transparency, strengthens trust, and reduces the likelihood of conflict.
4. Educating and Preparing Heirs – Financial capital is only as strong as the human capital behind it. UHNW families devote significant attention to preparing younger generations for the responsibilities of wealth. This includes financial education, philanthropic involvement, and instilling the values of stewardship and purpose. By doing so, families help ensure heirs inherit not just assets, but also the skills and perspective to manage them responsibly.
5. Philanthropy and Impact – Aligning wealth with values is a key theme. Many UHNW families establish private foundations, utilize donor-advised funds, or engage in impact investing to create positive change. Beyond tax efficiency, philanthropy provides a way to engage younger family members, strengthen bonds, and reinforce a shared sense of mission.
6. Privacy and Security – With significant wealth comes heightened exposure. Families place great emphasis on protecting privacy and security—safeguarding sensitive data, mitigating cyber risks, and ensuring personal safety. These measures protect not only financial assets but also the well-being of loved ones.
7. Balancing Lifestyle and Legacy – The final priority lies in striking the right balance between enjoying wealth today and preserving it for tomorrow. This includes supporting lifestyles, travel, and experiences, while avoiding entitlement and dependency. Many families seek to instill purpose and resilience in future generations, ensuring wealth is a tool for opportunity rather than a burden.
In Closing – For UHNW families, wealth management is as much about values as it is about numbers. By focusing on preservation, succession, governance, education, philanthropy, security, and balance, families can ensure their wealth continues to provide opportunity, meaning, and legacy for generations to come.
Articles and Commentary
Information provided in written articles are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. There is a risk of loss from investments in securities, including the risk of loss of principal. The information contained herein reflects Sand Hill Global Advisors' (“SHGA”) views as of the date of publication. Such views are subject to change at any time without notice due to changes in market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. SHGA does not provide tax or legal advice. To the extent that any material herein concerns tax or legal matters, such information is not intended to be solely relied upon nor used for the purpose of making tax and/or legal decisions without first seeking independent advice from a tax and/or legal professional. SHGA has obtained the information provided herein from various third party sources believed to be reliable but such information is not guaranteed. Certain links in this site connect to other websites maintained by third parties over whom SHGA has no control. SHGA makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other Web Sites. Any forward looking statements or forecasts are based on assumptions and actual results are expected to vary from any such statements or forecasts. No reliance should be placed on any such statements or forecasts when making any investment decision. SHGA is not responsible for the consequences of any decisions or actions taken as a result of information provided in this presentation and does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information. No part of this material may be (i) copied, photocopied, or duplicated in any form, by any means, or (ii) redistributed without the prior written consent of SHGA.
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- – The Flexibility of the California Uniform Directed Trust Act
- – The Advantages of Exit Planning: Secure Your Legacy and Maximize Your Wealth
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