Research from Capital Group shows a confidence gap at the heart of the “great wealth transfer”, with many inheritors making major financial decisions before they feel ready. While more than 90% made their first significant financial decision within three months of receiving an inheritance, only less than felt very comfortable doing so in the first few weeks.

Guy Henriques, president, Europe and Asia-Pacific client group at Capital Group, said: “Receiving an inheritance often brings immediate financial, legal and administrative decisions, before many inheritors have had time to decide what they want that wealth to achieve. Our research shows that this pressure can lead to missed opportunities, with many wishing they had invested more of their inheritance.” 

The Capital Group study was conducted by Financial Times Longitude in April and May 2026. The study surveyed 1,200 high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals to find out how they manage their inherited wealth. Respondents were based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. They had a minimum net worth of $1m, investable assets of between $250,000 and $10m, and reported inheritances of between $100,000 and $100m.  

The research found that 91% of inheritors made their first significant financial decision within three months of receiving their inheritance. For 43%, important decisions happened within weeks, despite only 18% feeling very comfortable with their choices.

Only 19% are fully happy with how they used their inheritance, while 60% wish they had invested more in securities or retirement accounts. Nearly half (49%) cited too many options or conflicting advice as among the biggest challenges they face when managing inherited wealth.

However, Hong Kong inheritors are more likely than their global peers to feel very comfortable making decisions in the first few weeks (24% versus 18% globally). Almost all draw on professional advice (96% versus 90% globally), and far fewer turn to peer or mentor networks (20% versus 32%).

While inheritors value guidance from financial advisors, the findings suggest that only 37% acted fully on the advice they received, compared with 48% globally, with the figure falling to 27% among Hong Kong women (compared with 42% of women globally).

Among female inheritors, Hong Kong women inheritors are enthusiastic adopters of technology but keep a conservative investment approach. Data suggest that 83% of them used digital platforms (versus 73% of women globally) and 77% using AI to build financial knowledge (versus 69%). Their portfolios are more likely to include money-market funds (70% versus 39% globally), bonds and fixed income (70% versus 53%) and ETFs or index funds (63% versus 44%).

Singapore inheritors appear to have greater space and confidence to consider their options before acting. Only 31% made their first significant financial decision within days or weeks of inheriting, compared with 43% globally. Existing legacy adviser relationships appear to be a key source for investment assurance.

Professional advice is near-universal (96% versus 90% globally), and fewer consulted digital platforms (51% versus 67% globally). 69% of respondents say an existing adviser relationship gave them the confidence to act (versus 55%), while only 16% found a new adviser who felt like the right fit (versus 39%).

Technology plays a supporting role, particularly for women. They use AI to build knowledge (71% versus 69% of women globally) but are far less likely to rely on digital platforms (50% versus 73%), social media or finfluencers (12% versus 32%).