Intergenerational Wealth Transfer: A Prime Opportunity for Australian Advisers

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Recent findings from EY's Global Wealth Research report highlight a significant opportunity for financial advisers in Australia as a large-scale intergenerational wealth transfer looms.

With only 35% of Australians planning to retain their inherited assets in their existing forms, there is a noticeable shift towards diversification, with 51% intending to spread their investments across various asset classes.

This trend opens the door for advisers to engage deeply with new inheritors, ensuring client retention across generations.

Key priorities for those inheriting wealth include the need for a transparent fee structure, cited by 56% of respondents as crucial for maintaining the relationship with their wealth donor's adviser. Furthermore, a strong grasp of the inheritor’s specific financial objectives and an environment of trust built on honest communication are also essential to 54% and 53% of respondents, respectively.

Rita Da Silva, EY's regional wealth and asset management leader in Oceania, emphasizes the growing importance of digital capabilities for advisers hoping to attract younger clientele. Her insights reveal that 38% of local Gen X and 31% of Millennial investors prioritize access to advanced digital tools and technologies, as opposed to just 19% of Baby Boomers. This implies a need for wealth managers to tailor their services to a tech-savvy audience as they prepare to manage the next wave of investors.

The integration of AI is increasingly acknowledged as a vital tool in financial advisory services. Over half (56%) of Australian respondents expect some AI involvement from their wealth managers, with Millennials (72%) and Gen X (60%) demonstrating an even higher expectation. However, the uptake of AI tools faces trust issues, as only 29% of Australians express the same level of trust in AI as in human advisers, compared to a global average of 38%.

Though AI-powered financial platforms are emerging with regulatory guardrails, the Australian market shows a preference for a hybrid approach, blending AI capabilities with human oversight. Nearly half (46%) of Australians are reluctant to rely solely on AI-driven financial advice without human involvement, underscoring the enduring value of personal interaction in wealth management.

Two major concerns about AI adoption in financial advice are data privacy and security (52%), and the potential inaccuracies associated with automated tools (51%). Additionally, the absence of a human touch (51%) also raises hesitations, indicating that future developments in AI tools need to address these reservations to gain wider acceptance among Australian investors.

Published:Wednesday, 11th Jun 2025
Source: Paige Estritori

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