Family Offices in Asia stay the course

Deutsche Bank today concluded its Emerging Markets Family Office Forum 2026 in Singapore, where around 200 Family Offices and wealthy individuals convened to explore the major forces shaping global wealth today.

Themed ‘The Long Game: Capital, Conviction and Continuity’ the forum’s agenda covered geopolitics and macroeconomics, the evolution of artificial intelligence, defence and sovereignty, entrepreneurship, multigenerational wealth, and how history can help make sense of forces shaping today’s world.

In opening remarks, Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Officer of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Member of the Management Board, Alexander von zur Mühlen, said: “Global trade is not retreating, it is rewiring. Companies and countries are diversifying partners, strengthening links, and opening new corridors. In this environment Asia Pacific stands at the centre of opportunity. At the same time, we are also seeing renewed global interest in Europe, including from this region."

Capital does not move only from Europe to Asia. Increasingly, it moves the other way as well. Alexander von zur Mühlen

Singapore’s Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development, and Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Alvin Tan, joined as a guest speaker to discuss new developments in Singapore’s financial sector and opportunities for family offices in a conversation moderated by Deutsche Bank’s Global Chief Investment Officer Christian Nolting and Global Head of Emerging Markets Research, Sameer Goel.

According to a live poll of the Forum audience by Deutsche Bank’s Global Chief Investment Officer Christian Nolting (CIO), 37 per cent of family offices saw rates and yields as the greatest risk to global economic growth, followed by inflation (23 per cent) and AI risk (17 per cent). This compared to 5 per cent who saw risk in AI at the 2025 Forum.

In the CIO poll, when the Family Office audience was asked about geopolitical risk, 73 per cent saw Asia as the most stable geopolitical region for the next 12 months, followed by the US (14 per cent), UK/ Europe (6 per cent), Latin America (4 per cent) and Middle East (2 per cent).

Head of Emerging Markets for the Private Bank, Marco Pagliara said: “International families and their Family Offices are seeking stability, risk mitigation strategies and global connectivity, and Singapore has emerged as one of the clear favourites as a global wealth centre in this changing world.”

Deutsche Bank’s Family Office Forum provides a platform for stewards of ultra-high net worth (UHNW) family wealth to network and delve into the major trends shaping the direction of investment markets and capital allocation.

This is the third edition of the invitation-only event in Asia, and forms part of Deutsche Bank’s global Family Office series.

Deutsche Bank provides wealth management globally across 14 booking centres for many of the world’s leading entrepreneurial families, philanthropists, and UHNW individuals.

As at June 30 2026, Deutsche Bank Private Bank’s client Assets under Management (AuM) reached 732 billion euros.

Perspectives from guest speakers at the forum

Derek Chang, President & Chief Executive Officer, Liberty Media, said: “Singapore is a key gateway to Asia’s financial community and an important market for Liberty Media as we continue to share the growth stories of Formula 1 and MotoGP. We greatly appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with investors, and the Deutsche Bank team did an outstanding job bringing together meaningful discussions, particularly around the intersection of sport, storytelling, and the ingredients that create enduring, iconic businesses”

Thomas Flohr, Founder & Chairman, Vista Global said: "Vista sees a significant surge in global demand with the emergence of the “borderless billionaire”. One day a meeting in South Korea; the next day, a meeting in Japan; then everybody is back in Silicon Valley. These individuals are moving around the world between business interests, residences and leisure time and even if you own your own jet or two of them, you can’t really effectively cover the globe with your omnipresent executives unless you have a global fleet. We provide guaranteed access anywhere, anytime in the world with Vista’s signature level of experiences, creating time efficiencies from flying point to point.”

Robert Jesudason, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Serendipity Capital, said: “If you accept the premise we are in a new era of geopolitical rift, then every portfolio has an exposure, whether it's managed or not. AI and quantum are where technology and national security now converge, and family offices that understand that and invest for the long term early will be positioned on the right side of the next decade."