Q1: How are you advising clients in terms of investment opportunities in 2025? Which markets and asset classes will provide the best opportunities? And how can clients balance leveraging these opportunities while managing risks to their portfolios?

We foresee a strong shift toward addressing structural weaknesses through investments in domestic infrastructure, energy security, and supply chain resilience, as nations increasingly embrace economic nationalism. These sectors, critical for building self-sufficient and robust economies, are expected to attract significant capital to address vulnerabilities exposed in recent years. In Southeast Asia, this trend may translate into large-scale projects in transportation infrastructure, renewable energy, and bolstering local manufacturing capabilities.

At the same time, transformative technologies – such as AI, automation, robotics, and advanced therapeutics for chronic health conditions – are set to experience substantial growth. For example, AI and automation are likely to boost labour productivity and reduce production costs, while innovations in health technology address the growing demand for specialised medical care among Asia’s ageing populations. These dual themes of structural resilience and technological innovation are expected to shape the region’s investment landscape in the year ahead.

For investors, being selective and adaptable is key. A successful strategy involves focusing on asset classes and sectors underpinned by long-term growth drivers while remaining agile to respond to shifting market dynamics. Partnering with seasoned investment professionals can also provide valuable guidance, enabling diversification beyond traditional assets and uncovering high-potential opportunities while managing risks effectively.

One risk-mitigation approach is engaging in direct investments in private equity and credit, structured with built-in protections such as key terms and covenants. These safeguards allow investors to participate in emerging trends while maintaining a degree of security, mitigating potential downturns and preserving capital.

Ultimately, a sound investment strategy requires a balance between pursuing growth opportunities and maintaining a disciplined focus on risk management, ensuring confidence and resilience across market cycles.

Q2: Much hype has been made about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. What opportunities does AI present to your financial institution, and how does it fit into a broader strategy of technological upgrade and digitisation?

We’ve long recognised the transformative potential of AI, and our actions are already underway. According to McKinsey, generative AI could significantly impact the banking industry, boosting productivity by 2.8% to 4.7% of annual revenues – equivalent to an additional US$200 billion to US$340 billion. Beyond these financial benefits, generative AI tools also have the power to enhance customer satisfaction, improve decision-making and employee experiences, and reduce risks through better fraud and risk monitoring.

However, there’s no cookie-cutter approach to digitalisation and technology upgrades. Interestingly, for us, the process almost always begins with involving our people. This is because our team comprises predominantly customer-facing professionals, and we believe AI transformation thrives on constant human-to-human interactions across functions.

To ensure that technological advancements enhance productivity and efficiency, we must first make our team comfortable with these tools, equipping them to see how these innovations can support their work. The next question becomes how aggressively we should embrace AI. For us, the answer lies in starting with back-office AI and low-risk digital projects that deliver clear returns on investment.

One example of our AI-driven advancements is the evolution of our RFO App. Initially created for internal use, such as booking meeting rooms, it is now in its third iteration and includes a proprietary AI function that provides advanced investment insights. This upgrade offers precise, real-time analytics, empowering our clients to make well-informed financial decisions.

Q3: Trillions of dollars of wealth are expected to be passed down to the next generation of clients in Asia over the coming years, bringing into the spotlight services targeted at next-generation clients. What is your bank doing to ensure it captures the full potential of this opportunity, whether via content, outreach, or solutions like family office and wealth planning?

To answer this question, we first need to understand the characteristics of next-generation clients in Asia. If we can profile them, they are typically highly international and often influenced by more global perspectives. They also have a stronger grasp of emerging investment trends, particularly in areas like digital assets, sustainability, and technology, and they value expertise and are more inclined to engage external professional advisors.

Let’s not forget that where there’s a next generation, there’s also a previous generation, which means we are navigating intergenerational dynamics – and that’s precisely where we, as their family office, play a crucial role.

Let’s continue to focus on the next-gen here. For these clients, our approach is comprehensive and omnichannel – spanning service offerings, engagement strategies, and personalised experiences.

When it comes to service offerings, we identified a significant gap in the market. Next-gen clients were either looking to diversify into the crypto market or, in the case of crypto-native clients, seeking to transition into traditional finance but lacked the expertise and resources to do so. This unmet need led to the creation of Revo Digital Family Office in 2022. Revo is a dedicated digital multi-family office brand under Raffles Family Office, designed specifically to address the unique needs of digital asset investors.

The name “Revo” reflects the evolution of “Raffles” going through an evolution. As Asia’s first digital multi-family office, Revo exists to and redefine wealth management for ultra high net worth individuals and families in the digital age. By offering tailored solutions for digital assets, Revo empowers clients to grow, secure, and pass on their wealth in an increasingly complex and fast-changing financial landscape.

Through such approaches, we ensure that we not only capture the potential of this next-generation wealth transfer but also position ourselves as trusted advisors for these forward-thinking clients.