The transfer of multigenerational wealth, growth and inequality – how to maintain legacy in a period of transition
27 January 2026 - The coming decades will see an unprecedented transfer of wealth between generations, unfolding against a backdrop of rising global inequality, geopolitical instability and environmental stress. As multigenerational families navigate this transition, they face both a responsibility and an opportunity: to redefine their purpose, steward their assets for long‑term societal benefit, and lead with intention in an age of disruption. This blog explores the challenges, questions and leadership approaches shaping how families can sustain their legacy while catalysing positive change.
A turning point for multigenerational families
We are entering a year of acceleration of the great wealth transfer. Asset-holding multigenerational families are expected to transfer $18.3 trillion in wealth globally by 2030, and £7 trillion could be passed down from elders in the UK by 2050. Estimates suggest over £1 trillion was transferred in the UK alone in 2025.
In the same period, the world is facing growing inequality. The World Inequality Report, which draws on the work of 200 scholars, highlights that the world's wealthiest 10% hold the lion’s share of resources, while the bottom half of the world’s population commands just 10% of total global income. Accelerating global inequality, geopolitical instability and environmental degradation present a unique framing for current and next-generation leaders, who must decide how they will lead in an age of disruption.
These escalation of these trends, which undermine the abilities of all families to thrive, isn’t inevitable; the future will be shaped by choices which those with power, influence and capital make. Across many countries, it is families that make up the backbone of economies, and that provide the investment and entrepreneurial drive to sustain the conditions for economies to thrive. It is also family philanthropy that supports much civil society work to protect the social and environmental foundations on which societies depend. However, it is increasingly clear that the scale of the challenges that societies face can’t be solved by ‘business as usual’ and philanthropy alone. As families undergo succession transitions internally, it is also an opportunity to transition their approach to stewarding family interests, to deliver on their purpose and sustain their legacies in new ways that catalyse positive action across the markets and regions in which they operate. At CISL, we work at multi-generational levels within families to deliver exactly that.
A leadership opportunity
Family leaders are recognising the growing and urgent responsibility which lies on their shoulders to ensure they are a force for good, particularly where society is questioning who holds the governance to lead change, at the pace required.
The current political conversation in many countries surrounding wealth inequality suggests various means of redress, such as redistribution through taxation as championed by Patriotic Millionaires (amongst others), impact investing in innovation or "moonshot" philanthropy. Central to this discussion are critical questions; What forms of investment and divestment can foster a more equitable society? How can wealth be transitioned across an economy in ways that enable all families to have the opportunity to thrive, without causing market instability? These are increasingly pressing questions that leading families are grappling with.
In the context of intergenerational wealth transfer, families are also engaging with critical internal and governance questions of how to clarify or reinvent purpose, and deliver progress in line with this, in ways that are relevant to today’s world and their family's purpose?
Leaders from multigenerational families are born into the responsibility of these decisions, and they are never made in isolation; rather, they are shaped by specific contexts and are intrinsically linked to the communities and systems that depend on family-owned enterprises. The interplay between family interests and societal well-being is central to the impact of their decisions, demanding careful consideration of both immediate and long-term outcomes.
How CISL enables ambitious outcomes
Markets need to transform to align commercial success with the delivery of positive outcomes for the societies and natural systems on which they depend – to foster long term, sustainable prosperity and resilience. The conversations required within families determine how best to contribute to the societies on which they depend in economically viable ways are complex, nuanced and often bring both professional and personal dynamics to the fore. This has been the experience on CISL’s Multigenerational Leadership for Sustainability programme. Across years of working with multigenerational families, CISL has established core principles for the programme to enable the ambitious outcomes that delegates are looking to achieve:
Open, candid conversation: Participants often operate within environments characterised by complex networks of relationships that span emotional as well as financial dimensions, with multiple dependencies and long-term consequences. In such contexts, it can be challenging to disengage from immediate realities to make space for truly honest and open dialogue. The programme creates space for these candid discussions, enabling participants to explore their ambitions, chart pathways forward, and identify the full spectrum of stakeholders involved in impactful decision-making.
Peer networks: The role and responsibility held by family members – particularly those who play a leadership role within families - is unique; those in the same position understand these challenges and opportunities better than anyone. By curating a group of trusted peers with shared ambitions to use their resources for a better future, participants learn as much from each other as they do from the faculty and subject matter experts.
Embracing different perspectives: The programme is unique as it focuses not on any single dimension – such as wealth management, philanthropy, or impact investing. Instead, it looks at the breadth of dynamics and possibilities, and enriched by insights from a diverse array of thinkers, from both within the family office ecosystem and from those who bring experience and expertise from other domains – and from a broad range of geographies. This enables participants to challenge assumptions and stretch their thinking – to open their minds to new opportunities and strategies.
Today’s reality, tomorrow’s possibility: CISL anchors its Multigenerational Leadership programme in current scientific research and as well as inspiring real-world examples of high-impact, catalytic action. The programme supports families to explores scenarios under a variety of conditions, to understand the potential long-term consequences of their choices and ensure their actions achieve desired outcomes.
Actionable plans: The programme is firmly rooted in practical application rather than theory alone. Throughout the week and beyond, delegates work to formulate actionable plans that seamlessly integrate purpose with practice. This ensures that participants leave the programme equipped with clear strategies to enact meaningful change.