Singapore’s rise as a wealth hub mirrors Asia’s changing fortunes: Julius Baer Asia head

Singapore’s cross-border wealth is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 9% between 2025 and 2030, from about US$2.1 trillion (S$2.7 trillion) to US$3.3 trillion.

Published Nov 04, 2026, 06:00 AM

Updated Nov 04, 2026, 06:00 AM

Singapore has become Julius Baer’s second-largest global hub after Switzerland. Its workforce grew from 34 in 2006 to more than 1,350 this year.

Asian wealth is changing from preservation to diversification, succession planning and family governance. Younger heirs and tech founders want global equities, alternatives and discretionary portfolio management.

Julius Baer says Singapore is a leading safe haven because of neutrality and strong governance. Cross-border wealth there may rise 9% a year to US$3.3 trillion by 2030.

SINGAPORE – More affluent families from around the region and globe are turning to Singapore to manage their wealth as their focus shifts from preserving fortunes to diversifying investments, succession planning and transferring wealth to the next generation, Julius Baer’s Asia head Jimmy Lee told The Straits Times.

The Swiss private bank serves clients across more than 25 markets from Singapore, where its workforce has grown from 34 employees in 2006 to a multinational workforce of more than 1,350 in 2026.

Since it set up shop here 20 years ago, Singapore has grown to become Julius Baer’s second-largest global hub after Switzerland.

“Singapore’s rise as a global wealth management centre has mirrored the evolution of wealth across Asia,” said Lee, a veteran private banker w ho b ecame the bank’s head of Asia-Pacific in 2016.

Two decades ago, wealth management in Singapore was primarily focused on wealth preservation, he said.

Many clients were first-generation entrepreneurs who had built their businesses through challenging economic conditions and were focused on protecting capital. Portfolios were often concentrated in familiar regional markets, with equity trading playing a central role.

Alternative investments, sustainability and philanthropy were less prominent considerations. Digital assets had yet to emerge as an investable asset class, he said.

Meanwhile, Singapore was strengthening its regulatory framework and financial infrastructure, helping to establish its position as a trusted financial centre.

Today, the landscape has become more diverse and client priorities have evolved alongside it.

The rich have shifted their focus from wealth preservation to diversifying investments, succession planning and transferring wealth to the next generation, says Jimmy Lee, Julius Baer’s Asia head. PHOTO: JULIUS BAER

The rich have shifted their focus from wealth preservation to diversifying investments, succession planning and transferring wealth to the next generation, says Jimmy Lee, Julius Baer’s Asia head.

A new generation of wealth holders, including second- and third-generation family members, as well as entrepreneurs from sectors such as technology, fintech and e-commerce, are placing greater emphasis on diversification across geographies and asset classes, Lee said.

Interest in global equities, alternative investments and thematic opportunities has increased, while discretionary portfolio management – where a licensed portfolio manager makes buying and selling decisions on clients’ behalf without requiring prior approval for each trade – has become more widely accepted.

As intergenerational wealth transfers continue across Asia, families are also taking a more structured approach to managing wealth.

Succession planning, family governance and long-term stewardship have become increasingly important alongside investment performance.

“Singapore’s development reflects many of these trends. Supported by a stable regulatory environment, financial resilience and a deep ecosystem of financial expertise, it has become an important centre for wealth management and family offices in the region,” Lee said.

More than a quarter of Julius Baer’s global business today originates from Asia, spanning clients, assets under management and talent. Lee said the bank’s presence in the region reflects two decades of sustained investment and commitment.

“Building long-term relationships in Asia requires local expertise, continuity and a willingness to invest through market cycles. We view our presence here as long-term, underpinned by the belief that enduring client relationships are built through consistency, proximity and a deep understanding of local markets,” he said.

Singapore is also an important centre for innovation for Julius Baer, which in 2021 established Launchpad, its dedicated innovation lab in the Republic, to test and incubate disruptive tech solutions, including digital assets and generative AI.

Lee said that as client needs continue to evolve, Singapore will remain central to how the bank develops new capabilities and delivers the next generation of wealth management.

In a new report on Asian safe havens, Julius Baer said market volatility driven by artificial intelligence, rising geopolitical tensions and growing government debt has prompted investors to rethink how best to protect their wealth.

Traditional safe-haven assets, including US Treasuries, gold and the Japanese yen, have delivered mixed results in 2026.

While investment returns remain important, investors are increasingly looking at whether a country can protect their families, wealth, businesses and assets, while offering security and flexibility in citizenship options.

And Singapore is well-placed to capitalise on this shift, due to its reputation for neutrality, strong governance and sophisticated financial and legal services.

The report named Singapore and Hong Kong as Asia’s leading safe-haven financial centres, but said they serve different purposes. Singapore’s neutrality and extensive connections across Greater China, South-east Asia and India make it a natural destination for capital from a broad range of markets. Hong Kong, in contrast, remains primarily a gateway for mainland Chinese wealth.

Singapore’s cross-border wealth is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 9% between 2025 and 2030, from about US$2.1 trillion (S$2.7 trillion) to US$3.3 trillion, according to Boston Consulting Group.

This would place it among the faster-growing major wealth centres, alongside Hong Kong, which is projected to expand at the same rate.

Tech-fuelled growth has created massive wealth in Asia, which accounts for about 30% of global millionaire wealth.

This has created significant demand for stable places to store wealth, invest and manage cross-border assets within Asia, the report said.

The eastward shift does not necessarily mean traditional Western financial centres will lose their dominance.

Switzerland retains advantages built over centuries, including its reputation for neutrality, deep private-banking expertise and established legal and wealth-planning infrastructure.

Julius Baer expects rising cross-border wealth to sustain two parallel networks: a Western axis centred on Switzerland, the US and Britain, and an Asian axis anchored by Singapore and Hong Kong.

Angela Tan is senior correspondent at The Straits Times’ business desk.

Banks and financial institutions

Private banking/Wealth management

预计新加坡的跨境财富将在 2025 年至 2030 年间以 9% 的复合年增长率增长，从约 2.1 万亿美元（2.7 万亿新元）增至 3.3 万亿美元。

发布于2026年11月4日上午6:00

更新于2026年11月4日上午6:00

新加坡已成为宝盛集团继瑞士之后的第二大全球中心。其员工人数从2006年的34人增长至今年的1350多人。

亚洲财富正从保值转向多元化、传承规划和家族治理。年轻的继承人和科技公司创始人希望投资全球股票、另类投资，并寻求全权委托的投资组合管理服务。

瑞士宝盛银行表示，新加坡凭借其中立性和强有力的治理，成为领先的避险天堂。预计到2030年，新加坡的跨境财富将以每年9%的速度增长，达到3.3万亿美元。

新加坡——瑞士宝盛银行亚洲区负责人李志明告诉《海峡时报》，来自亚洲及全球各地的更多富裕家庭正转向新加坡管理财富，因为他们的关注点已从保住财富转向多元化投资、继承规划以及将财富转移给下一代。

这家瑞士私人银行通过其位于新加坡的分支机构为超过 25 个市场的客户提供服务。该银行在新加坡的员工人数已从 2006 年的 34 人增长到 2026 年的 1350 多名跨国员工。

自 20 年前在新加坡设立分支机构以来，新加坡已发展成为 Julius Baer 继瑞士之后的第二大全球中心。

“新加坡崛起成为全球财富管理中心，反映了亚洲财富的演变，”李先生说道。他是一位资深的私人银行家，于 2016 年成为该银行亚太区负责人。

他表示，二十年前，新加坡的财富管理主要侧重于财富保值。

许多客户都是白手起家的第一代创业者，他们在充满挑战的经济环境下创建了自己的企业，并专注于保护资本。他们的投资组合通常集中在熟悉的区域市场，股票交易在其中扮演着核心角色。

他表示，另类投资、可持续发展和慈善事业并非主要考虑因素。数字资产尚未成为一种可投资的资产类别。

与此同时，新加坡正在加强其监管框架和金融基础设施，这有助于确立其作为值得信赖的金融中心的地位。

如今，市场格局变得更加多元化，客户的关注点也随之发生了变化。

宝盛银行亚洲区总裁李志明表示，富人已将关注点从财富保值转向投资多元化、财富传承规划以及将财富转移给下一代。图片：宝盛银行

宝盛银行亚洲区负责人李志明表示，富人已经将关注点从财富保值转移到投资多元化、继承规划以及将财富转移给下一代。

李表示，包括第二代和第三代家族成员以及来自科技、金融科技和电子商务等领域的企业家在内的新一代财富持有者，更加重视跨地域和资产类别的多元化投资。

人们对全球股票、另类投资和主题投资机会的兴趣日益浓厚，而全权委托投资组合管理（即持牌投资组合经理代表客户做出买卖决策，而无需事先获得每笔交易的批准）也得到了更广泛的接受。

随着亚洲各地代际财富转移的持续进行，家庭也开始采取更加系统化的方式来管理财富。

与投资业绩一样，继任计划、家族治理和长期管理也变得越来越重要。

李表示：“新加坡的发展体现了许多这样的趋势。在稳定的监管环境、金融韧性和深厚的金融专业知识体系的支持下，新加坡已成为该地区重要的财富管理和家族办公室中心。”

如今，宝盛集团全球业务的四分之一以上来自亚洲，涵盖客户、管理资产和人才等各个方面。李表示，该行在亚洲的业务布局体现了二十年来持续的投资和投入。

他表示：“在亚洲建立长期合作关系需要本地专业知识、持续性以及在市场周期中持续投资的意愿。我们视在亚洲的长期发展为一项长期战略，因为我们坚信，持久的客户关系建立在始终如一、贴近客户以及对本地市场的深刻理解之上。”

新加坡也是瑞士宝盛集团的重要创新中心。2021 年，宝盛集团在新加坡设立了专门的创新实验室 Launchpad，用于测试和孵化颠覆性技术解决方案，包括数字资产和生成式人工智能。

李表示，随着客户需求的不断变化，新加坡仍将是该银行发展新能力和提供下一代财富管理服务的核心。

瑞士宝盛银行在一份关于亚洲避险天堂的新报告中表示，人工智能、地缘政治紧张局势加剧以及政府债务不断增长等因素引发的市场波动，促使投资者重新思考如何才能更好地保护自己的财富。

包括美国国债、黄金和日元在内的传统避险资产在2026年的表现喜忧参半。

虽然投资回报仍然很重要，但投资者越来越关注一个国家能否保护他们的家庭、财富、企业和资产，同时提供公民身份选择的安全性和灵活性。

新加坡凭借其中立的声誉、强大的治理能力以及完善的金融和法律服务，完全有能力利用这一转变。

报告指出新加坡和香港是亚洲领先的避险金融中心，但二者用途不同。新加坡的中立地位及其与大中华区、东南亚和印度的广泛联系，使其成为来自众多市场资本的天然目的地。相比之下，香港仍然主要是中国内地财富的门户。

据波士顿咨询集团预测，新加坡的跨境财富在 2025 年至 2030 年间将以 9% 的复合年增长率增长，从约 2.1 万亿美元（2.7 万亿新元）增至 3.3 万亿美元。

这将使新加坡跻身增长速度最快的主要财富中心之列，与预计增长速度相同的香港并驾齐驱。

科技驱动的增长在亚洲创造了巨额财富，约占全球百万富翁财富的30%。

报告称，这导致亚洲对稳定财富存储、投资和管理跨境资产的场所产生了显著需求。

金融中心东移并不一定意味着传统的西方金融中心会失去其主导地位。

瑞士保留了几个世纪以来积累的优势，包括其中立的声誉、深厚的私人银行专业知识以及完善的法律和财富规划基础设施。

瑞士宝盛银行预计，不断增长的跨境财富将支撑两个平行网络：一个以瑞士、美国和英国为中心的西方轴心，以及一个以新加坡和香港为中心的亚洲轴心。

安吉拉·谭是《海峡时报》商业版的高级记者。

银行和金融机构

私人银行/财富管理