Asian Private Banker is proud to unveil our 2026 COO Focus, an annual audit of how the region’s largest wealth managers are recalibrating operations following a year of volatile market shifts and rapid technological adoption. Senior executives and thought leaders contributed to this year’s edition, including: Wiwi Gutmannsbauer, UBS Global Wealth Management; Benoit Douchin, HSBC Global Private Banking; Patrick Dreyfuss, […]

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In the early hours of the morning in Hong Kong, a wealth adviser found himself handling an unusual request from several clients — not about portfolio allocations or investment opportunities, but about arranging private jets out of the Middle East. The episode reflects a broader shift quietly unfolding as rising geopolitical tensions prompt wealthy Asians to reassess where their assets […]

The post Send the private jet — Asia’s rich weigh Dubai exit as regional risks mount appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Thailand has emerged as a new growth engine for Asia’s external asset managers (EAMs) as they aim to break into new markets amid rising industry competition. In one example, Singaporean EAM WRISE recently entered into a collaboration with Thai-based advisory firm IFCG Public Company, the firms said in a statement on Tuesday. Under the tie-up, WRISE will provide its platform […]

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Singapore-based independent wealth manager WRISE has expanded its presence in Taiwan, aiming to meet the evolving needs of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and families. The firm recently opened a client service centre in Taipei to provide advisory and consultation services, according to a statement. The centre will also roll out family wealth–focused educational and engagement programmes, designed to foster next-generation dialogue […]

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Galloping into the Year of the Fire Horse, the race continues among private banks and asset managers to see who can distribute the most spectacular red packets to clients. More than just traditional gifts for family and friends, these laisee, or hongbao, have morphed into cult collectables, often trading on secondary markets for prices that rival the currency inside. Horses […]

The post Vote now: Who has the best red packets in Year of the Horse? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Independent wealth manager WRISE is moving to cut brokers out of the equation, with founder Derrick Tan arguing that “middlemen don’t add value” as the firm seeks direct partnerships with global insurers to serve ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients. This “upstream” approach, developed over the last few years, has allowed the firm to fully customise and quickly launch structured […]

The post WRISE’s Derrick Tan: “Middlemen don’t add value” — EAM bypasses brokers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singaporean independent wealth manager WRISE Group has partnered with CTF Life Bermuda to deliver integrated wealth management and legacy planning solutions for clients. In this strategic partnership, WRISE will use CTF Life Bermuda’s solutions to provide tailored strategies addressing the global integrated wealth, health, and legacy planning needs of clients, the wealth manager announced in a statement on Wednesday. This […]

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Singaporean independent wealth manager WRISE has expanded its presence with the opening of a new office in an inland Chinese city. WRISE Academy, an initiative under the firm’s affluent segment, WRISE Prestige, has been launched in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, according to a statement on Thursday. This is WRISE Academy’s second location following the launch of its Shenzhen […]

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The Middle East has been the epicentre of geopolitical uncertainty over the past six months, with flare-ups of tensions between Israel and Iran and in the wider region impacting markets and client portfolios. With clients geographically closer to conflict, WRISE Private Middle East CEO told Asian Private Banker how he has been advising staying “tactically agile” to seize opportunities where […]

The post Build in tactical agility to capitalise on geopolitical volatility – WRISE Middle East CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s family offices are showing an increasing appetite for real estate as a reliable investment opportunity during volatile periods, industry experts told Asian Private Banker. “We have been seeing rising interest in real estate investment from the family offices in both Hong Kong and Singapore,” said Regina Lim, head of research for APAC at M&G Real Estate. She added that […]

The post Is 2025 a top vintage for Asian real estate? Family offices scout deals amid volatile market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-based independent wealth manager WRISE Group has launched a dedicated corporate finance unit in Hong Kong, aiming to tap U/HNW clients in the deal-making space. The new unit, WRISE Capital, will provide a full range of corporate finance and advisory services, including M&A and takeover advisory, IPO sponsorship and preparation, as well as post-listing and compliance advisory services for Hong […]

The post Singapore’s WRISE taps dealmaking space with new unit launch appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore independent wealth manager WRISE has hired a private banking veteran in its latest efforts to deepen its penetration in the regional space. Paul Arni joined the firm as non-executive director on Tuesday. He will be tasked with helping WRISE improve governance, risk management and long-term growth, according to a company announcement. Arni has over 30 years of experience in […]

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As part of a strategy to tap the private wealth potential of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Singaporean independent wealth manager WRISE has opened an office in Shenzhen while also launching ‘WRISE Academy’ in the city. WRISE Academy, according to a recent company statement, is an initiative which comes under the firm’s affluent segment, WRISE Prestige. WRISE Academy will provide […]

The post Singapore’s WRISE opens Shenzhen office to tap GBA wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Over 250 attendees from Asia’s private banking and wealth management sector gathered to honour the recipients of Asian Private Banker’s Awards for Distinction 2024 during an exquisite gala dinner held at The Henderson in Hong Kong’s Central district on Thursday evening. Below are some select photo highlights of the evening:

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Private banks and wealth managers have been expanding operations into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Gulf region to follow the rising flow of wealth. Along with many ultra/high net worth individuals (UHNW/Is) flocking to the region, high earners in the tech sector have also been arriving to work for the many start-ups the UAE is becoming known […]

The post Dubai tech bros: Asian IAM looks to tap emerging client segment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Independent wealth manager WRISE has appointed a structured products veteran as its regional chief investment officer. Chen Jingwei, currently chief investment strategist at WRISE Private Singapore, will oversee all investment-related activities across the firm’s mass affluent segment, WRISE Prestige Hong Kong, in addition to his current responsibilities. Chen joined WRISE in 2022 as one of its earliest team members. WRISE […]

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With the year of the snake approaching, competition between private banks in Asia is hotting up when it comes to who can distribute the most dazzling red packets to clients. These envelopes – known as laisee or hongbao – are traditionally given to family members and friends. However, they can also be highly sought-after collectors’ items and fetch a premium […]

The post Vote now: Who has the best red packets in Year of the Snake? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singaporean IAM WRISE Group has launched a new segment targetting wealth owners in the Middle East, the firm said in a company statement on Friday. The new segment, WRISE Prestige Middle East, comes with a minimum investment threshold of US$1 million and offers global securities, structured products, mutual funds, fixed income, and insurance, the firm said. The launch follows the […]

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WRISE Group has appointed a new CEO for affiliate company WRISE Prestige which targets the mass affluent segment, the firm announced in a statement on Thursday. Based in Hong Kong, Henry Shin has been appointed as WRISE Prestige’s new CEO. In his new role, Shin will lead daily operations and spearhead wealth management products and services that are tailored to […]

The post WRISE appoints CEO for mass affluent business in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Derrick Tan, the former Bank of Singapore CEO for Hong Kong, has appointed a senior banker for the Hong Kong office of his IAM WRISE. Poly Cheung has joined the firm as market head for Greater China at WRISE Private Hong Kong, responsible for tapping the Greater China UHNWI segment in Hong Kong. Based in Hong Kong, Cheung will report […]

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Independent wealth manager WRISE has launched a new offering in Hong Kong to target the mass affluent segment, as part of the firm’s strategy to diversify its offerings. Named WRISE Prestige, the new business unit expands WRISE’s reach to the mass affluent market with a minimum investment threshold of US$500,000, the firm said in a statement on Tuesday. WRISE’s UHNW […]

The post WRISE joins the race for Asia’s mass affluent market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What is the hottest area of competition between private banks in Asia at Chinese New Year? DPM market penetration? Wallet share? The fastest growing net new money? You guessed it, custom red packets. These ornately-adorned envelopes, known as laisee in Cantonese or hongbao in Mandarin, are presented – often containing money – to friends, family members, colleagues and clients as […]

The post Poll: Which private bank has the best red packets in the year of the dragon? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

WRISE Wealth Management (WRISE) has expanded into the Middle East and appointed a former Citi banker as its CEO for the region, the firm said on Tuesday. WRISE Middle East, located in Dubai, will be a subsidiary office dedicated to serving the operational needs of ultra-wealthy families based in the UAE and across the greater Middle East region, the firm […]

The post Derrick Tan’s IAM taps the Middle East with the launch of new office appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

WRISE Wealth Management Singapore has hired two senior industry veterans, the firm said in a statement on Tuesday. Ranjiv Raman has been appointed as managing director and head of discretionary solutions, and Agnes Goh as managing director and head of family advisory and institutional wealth. The appointments are effective immediately. Raman and Goh will report to Kevin Teng, CEO. Raman, […]

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Dubai could provide family offices with opportunities distinct from Hong Kong and Singapore, due to the Middle Eastern wealth hub’s unique strengths, challenges and prospects. Meanwhile, the age-old Hong Kong-Singapore rivalry is in fact completely overblown. These are some of the views of family office leaders in Final Word 2023, Asian Private Banker’s annual review of the insights and opinions […]

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Former Bank of Singapore senior banker Derrick Tan has once again turned to his former employer for his latest senior hire at this IAM, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Shigehiro Suzuki joined WRISE as market head of Japan this month and will lead a team in the Singapore office. Before joining Tan’s WRISE, Suzuki was with Bank of Singapore for […]

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