Noah Holdings newly launched global wealth management platform for global Chinese investors, Ark Wealth Management, has found that a “new investment philosophy is needed as markets brace for heightened volatility”.
According to the firm’s first half 2025 CIO report, major forces are driving these changes, including geopolitical uncertainties, diverging global monetary policies, and the rapid commercialization of AI, with three main consequences for investment strategy.
First, a second Trump presidency and its trade policies, misaligned monetary policies across key global markets, and rising political risk require investors to rethink geographic asset allocation.
Second, as AI transitions from development to full-scale commercialisation, investors must distinguish sustainable opportunities from speculative hype.
Third, wealthy Chinese clients are rapidly increasing offshore allocations, prioritising government bonds, and embracing insurance and trust structures to protect generational wealth.
To navigate this environment, Ark Wealth Management argues for a shift from isolated investment decisions to constructing an “anti-fragile” system that can adapt to economic and political disruptions.
The core transformation involves moving beyond the traditional three pillars – safety, liquidity, and returns – and towards a more forward-looking and value-driven approach.
Jingbo Wang, co-founder and chairwoman of Noah Holdings commented: “Investors and wealth managers require a disciplined, structured approach that integrates defensive assets, long-term planning, and growth-oriented opportunities. The question is no longer about where to invest, but how to structure wealth for longevity in an era of uncertainty.”
The report introduces Ark Wealth’s multi-layered asset allocation model, which starts with a “safety net” (insurance, trust structures, identity planning), builds a “foundation” (steady income, inflation hedges), and incorporates “growth” (equities, private equity, and high-upside assets).
Ark Wealth Management currently has around $8.7bn in assets under advisement, and has service centres in several countries and regions employing 140global investment advisers.
