Global families today are more interconnected and far-reaching than ever before. As branches extend across continents and generations, the increase in complexity is exponential. Different jurisdictions, cultures, and legal systems multiply both opportunity and risk. One family might have a patriarch in London, a matriarch in Geneva, and their heirs splitting time between Singapore, New York, and Dubai.
And this isn’t theoretical: according to the Family Barometer 2025, more than 80 per cent of ultra-high-net-worth individuals have financial and personal exposure across multiple countries. Nearly one in three owns physical assets in three or more jurisdictions – a level of cross-border involvement that introduces real structural and reporting challenges.
Getting started: how can wealthy global families simplify their challenges?
The question we’re often asked is, “How do we simplify this?” The truth is, you can’t always simplify, but you can cut through the clutter and orchestrate efficiently. The key is assembling the right team: not just legal or tax advisors, but a coordinated network that includes strategic thinkers – those with a high-level, cross-border perspective.
“No single advisor can see the full picture alone,” says Marco Sella-Rolando, Head of Wealth Planning International at Julius Baer. “What global families need is a team that can work in harmony, anticipate change, and act with foresight.”
UHNW families need someone who can spot early warning signs, and who can say: “Careful here, this could trigger something unintended”. They also need someone who can connect them with the right experts in each jurisdiction, whilst helping the family involved and their trusted advisors to maintain an overview.
This is especially vital amid a period of accelerating regulatory change. From the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and global minimum tax rules to expanding transparency requirements under DAC7, families must navigate a more demanding environment. Recent shifts in tax policy amongst the major advanced economies, including proposed changes to wealth and capital gains taxation, further underscore the importance of regularly reviewing cross-border structures.
Add to this heightened scrutiny of residence-by-investment schemes and the growing digital disclosure burden, and it’s no surprise that many families are re-evaluating existing frameworks. In fact, taxation remains a dominant concern for UHNW families globally – a finding further reinforced by this year’s Family Barometer, which shows it continues to rank as a top priority across all regions. “The question isn’t just whether a structure is tax-efficient,” adds Lisa Cornwell, Partner, Leader Private Clients & Family Offices, PwC Switzerland. “It’s whether it’s designed with enough flexibility to remain effective in the future, amid possible regulatory changes.”
How to juggle family wealth across different time horizons
Families facing these pressures are right to feel the weight of complexity, but with the right perspective, it becomes manageable. In our experience, the most successful transitions are those planned well in advance – ideally a decade or more before any major handover. A powerful way to frame this journey is by viewing family wealth planning across three broad time horizons.
“Many families spend so much time solving today’s issues that they overlook tomorrow’s,” says Marco. “But the long term is where legacy is either secured or lost. This is where families must account for geopolitical shifts, increasing scrutiny on wealth, and the evolution of planning structures themselves.”
How to manage family wealth across countries
PwC Switzerland regularly advises global families navigating jurisdictional headaches – where even a seemingly simple act, such as making a charitable donation, can become unexpectedly tax-inefficient. For instance, donating to a foreign charity may trigger a tax liability in the donor’s country of residence, while donating locally could forfeit available tax relief in the jurisdiction where the wealth originated.
Multiply this across a dozen jurisdictions, and the risks – of double taxation, privacy breaches, or structural conflicts – skyrocket. In civil law countries like Germany or Japan, forced heirship rules may override your intentions. In contrast, common law regimes like the UK or Singapore may offer broader testamentary freedom, but only if properly understood and well planned for.
“Jurisdictional mismatches are no longer theoretical – they’re real, frequent, and often expensive,” warns Lisa Cornwell. “That’s why periodic structural reviews are not just useful, they’re essential.”
These risks are why we advocate for regular health checks. Structures that were well-conceived five or ten years ago may now be toxic or misaligned. A robust structure isn’t static: it’s dynamic, regularly tested against changes in regulation, lifestyle, and geography.
How to keep your family values intact across the globe
No amount of structuring can substitute for cohesive family governance. And no governance system works without values. Too often, values are assumed rather than discussed. Many patriarchs and matriarchs believe their children share their worldview – until conversations reveal differing investment priorities, philanthropic interests, or attitudes toward risk.
The only way to mitigate this is through early, values-based dialogue. This is the foundation upon which robust family constitutions and protocols are built – documents that clarify not just financial decisions but how those decisions are made and communicated.
Governance also reduces the risk of dysfunction. As families grow, branches multiply, and viewpoints diverge, the potential for misalignment increases. Preventative planning is the best antidote: define expectations, appoint decision-makers, and harmonise every element, from trust mandates to letters of wishes, so the family moves as one. Crucially, family members must also understand the responsibilities — and opportunities — of stewardship, so that wealth is not just protected, but used with purpose.
Additionally, in today’s world, technology presents vast opportunity for global families – as well as considerable risk. While many heirs are digitally native, few are digitally prepared to manage the cybersecurity, privacy, and investment implications of wealth in an increasingly virtual world. It can be helpful for families to assign ‘next-gen champions’ – emerging leaders given a budget and a mandate to explore innovation sectors like AI, biotech, or green tech. When combined with clear values and external mentorship, this approach promotes engagement, accountability, and cross-generational trust.
In summary: keep things in harmony
Across all these challenges – complexity, regulation, taxation, values, technology – one theme runs through: harmonisation. Legacy isn’t preserved by simply optimising wealth structures. It’s secured by aligning structure, governance, and values across time, geography, and generations. Families that take a 360-degree view – strategic, flexible, and values-driven – don’t just endure complexity. They turn it into a strength.