Imagine a successful entrepreneur in their 40s or 50s, with thriving business interests across Asia, property investments in Europe and the Middle East, and children attending universities around the world. Their wealth is not only spread across borders, but also spans a wide range of business and personal needs. Having spent most of their career growing their fortune, they are now focused on preserving their wealth and passing on a legacy that reflects their values.
This situation is typical of today’s ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), whose needs are becoming as complex and diversified as their portfolios. To realize their financial ambitions, many are seeking sophisticated wealth management solutions that go beyond traditional banking services.
By leveraging the capabilities of a global banking group, Standard Chartered Private Bank is able to offer its UHNW clients a comprehensive suite of capabilities tailored to meet their unique requirements.
Driving Performance With Expert Insights
A key component of this tailored approach is Standard Chartered’s Chief Investment Office (CIO), which provides expert guidance to UHNWIs, helping them make well-informed investment decisions. At the heart of the CIO’s advisory approach is an investment philosophy designed to counter common behavioral biases in decision-making. The CIO team leverages diverse perspectives—both internally and externally—to offer clients a balanced, well-rounded view of the market outlook. Through carefully crafted asset allocation models and sector insights, the CIO team provides customized investment recommendations across multiple asset classes.
Unlocking Opportunities in Private Markets
For many UHNWIs, traditional public markets by themselves do not offer all the opportunities for clients to achieve their wealth growth goals. They are increasingly turning to alternative solutions and private markets to diversify their portfolios and achieve greater resilience. Standard Chartered Global Private Bank provides the connection to these hard-to-access opportunities in private market investments, which are traditionally reserved for large institutions.
Customized Lending Solutions
Structured lending has become another essential tool for UHNW clients who need to manage both growth and liquidity. Standard Chartered Global Private Bank’s structured lending solutions cater to various financing needs, from enhancing yields on investments to unlocking capital in concentrated stock holdings. For example, clients with significant single-stock holdings can access liquidity to diversify their portfolios without sacrificing control over core assets.
These lending solutions also address short-term liquidity requirements, helping clients navigate both personal and business investments. For instance, the private bank recently helped a Southeast Asian client refinance a large loan, originally held with another private bank.
“Based on past experience, the client was concerned about whether a new banking partner would truly understand his needs, and be committed to a long-term relationship. We responded by structuring a three-year lending solution at competitive pricing, demonstrating our understanding of the client’s need and desire to forge an enduring partnership with him,” says Tristan Tan, Global Head, Structured Lending, Standard Chartered.
Planning for Future Generations
As UHNW families expand and financial priorities shift, Standard Chartered is able to provide them with comprehensive services related to succession planning, family governance and intergenerational wealth transfer. With a deep understanding of its clients’ long-term goals, the bank helps preserve family legacies through governance structures that reflect each family’s values.
To further support legacy and succession planning, Standard Chartered recently hosted a Global Family Network Forum in Hong Kong, where UHNW families from around the world gathered to share insights. The bank also emphasizes the importance of engaging the next generation and has plans for programs that will equip future family leaders with the knowledge necessary to manage wealth in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
Meeting Holistic Financial Needs
As part of a global financial institution, Standard Chartered Global Private Bank is able to offer both personal and corporate financial services. A single relationship helps UHNW clients to manage all aspects of their wealth by bringing together specialist teams to offer the relevant personal and corporate banking solutions, such as debt issuance and trade finance.
Alongside its direct services to UHNWIs, Standard Chartered also supports External Asset Managers (EAMs), who serve wealthy clients and family offices across Asia. Through this partnership model, EAMs gain access to Standard Chartered’s extensive network, infrastructure and full suite of products while maintaining direct relationships with their clients.
“This collaboration ensures that EAMs have the support they need to fulfill UHNW clients’ needs comprehensively. It also reflects Standard Chartered’s commitment to delivering end-to-end solutions for UHNWIs, whether directly or through trusted advisors,” says Vic Malik, Global Head, EAM, Standard Chartered.
As UHNW clients increasingly seek financial services partners that understand both the complexity and unique nature of their wealth management needs, Standard Chartered Global Private Bank has demonstrated its ability to deliver comprehensive solutions that empower its clients at every stage of their wealth journeys.
