Photo Caption: Sun Life has released the Hong Kong findings of its study, Passing the Torch: Building Lasting Legacies in Asia, highlighting insufficient preparedness for wealth succession and the need for enhanced financial knowledge among people in Hong Kong. (From left to right: Christine Yeung, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Life and Health, Sun Life Hong Kong Limited; Clement Lam, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Hong Kong Limited; Adley Low, Chief Client and Marketing Officer, Sun Life Hong Kong Limited)

Hong Kong (15 December 2025) – Nearly a third of people in Hong Kong (32%) wish to pass on their wealth to the next generation, but close to half (44%) say that their wealth will not last beyond their children, indicating insufficient preparedness when it comes to wealth succession, and a clear need for professional legacy planning and financial knowledge, according to findings from a new Sun Life survey, titled Passing the torch: Building lasting legacies in Asia² .

Hongkongers value preserving wealth across generations in legacy planning, but longer life expectancy is leading to longer wealth transfer cycles, exposing families to market volatility and evolving family structures, and putting continuity at risk. This demonstrates the importance of early planning to navigate future uncertainties and ensure assets can be securely passed down for generations.

Legacy planning recognised as essential for financial security and family prosperity

The survey shows that Hongkongers take a pragmatic approach to legacy planning, centred around three priorities: protecting current assets; supporting future opportunities; and fostering family harmony.

When asked about the most important factors in legacy planning, nearly two-thirds (65%) say having protection in place to ensure their family’s financial security is the top priority. This is followed by building enough wealth to pass down to the next generation (52%) and having a clear and smoothly communicated estate plan to reduce confusion or disputes (50%). Legacy planning is viewed not only as a means to protect existing wealth, but also to build a stable economic foundation for the next generation and preserve family cohesion.

For many, legacy is seen as a tool for long-term financial growth, with 46% wanting their legacy to be invested for long-term wealth creation through financial assets, life insurance policies or the family business. Among high-net-worth individuals, this preference is even more pronounced – 59% make it a top priority.

Most of those surveyed consider inheritance as a means of family protection and future investment. Among the respondents, 43% say they would like their legacy to cover essentials such as housing and healthcare, while 41% aim to fund education from school through to university or vocational training. This shows that families are looking beyond mere wealth transfer; they seek to enable future advancement and opportunities for the next generation.

Majority have legacy transfer concerns relating to family conflicts over assets

Legacy can take many forms. For 32% of respondents, it means passing on wealth, including money, property, or other valuable assets, including family business. However, only 14% of respondents are confident their children will uphold their wishes around wealth transfer, preserve assets and continue to grow them. Nearly half (44%) fear their wealth may not last beyond their children’s generation, and 54% say they are concerned that conflicts may arise over their assets, underscoring the urgent need for better financial literacy and open family dialogue about money matters.

The confidence gap is even more apparent among high-net-worth respondents. Almost two thirds (64%) worry about potential disputes over their assets, with more than half (55%) expressing concerns that market volatility will impact the value of their wealth. This highlights how greater wealth often brings greater responsibility and considerably higher stakes.

Christine Yeung, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Life and Health at Sun Life Hong Kong, said: “Legacy planning goes far beyond the transfer of assets. It is about safeguarding the hard-earned achievements of one generation and laying a solid foundation for the next. Although awareness of legacy planning has improved, our survey reveals that many still fear they may not be able to pass on their wealth successfully, particularly in the face of longer lifespans and volatile markets. This underscores the importance of early planning.”

Many underprepared despite growing awareness of legacy planning

Even as awareness of legacy planning grows in Hong Kong, preparedness remains low. Only 12% say they feel fully prepared in terms of legacy arrangements should they pass away today, while almost half (49%) admit to having no legacy plans at all.

The survey also shows that just over a third (34%) of respondents have previously sought professional advice to manage their legacy planning needs, but two thirds (66%) have never consulted a professional advisor.

Many families recognize the value of professional advice in legacy planning, but accessing the right guidance remains a challenge. Among those who have not engaged an advisor, over a third (37%) cite difficulty in finding the right professional as the main barrier, followed by 31% who feel they do not have sufficient wealth to justify seeking advice, and 30% who prefer to handle legacy planning within the family.

Christine Yeung said: “Legacy planning is closely tied to the philosophy of asset allocation. Sun Life has been deeply rooted in Hong Kong for over 130 years, and we provide solutions tailored to every Client’s life stages. Our SunJoy Global series offers market-leading legacy features supported by a strong team of advisors, helping Clients protect, plan and grow their wealth with confidence.”

Sun Life is committed to helping Clients build a solid, long-term financial foundation by offering wealth management solutions that evolve with different life stages, ensuring that their financial plans keep pace with changing needs. Our flagship products include the SunGift Global Insurance Plan II, SunJoy Global Insurance Plan II, and Stellar Multi-Currency Insurance Plan II, all of which combine long-term savings with wealth-growth potential to help individuals plan their finances with ease.

¹ High-net-worth respondents refer to individuals with investable assets exceeding US$1 million.

²This survey, conducted in October 2025, interviewed over 3,000 respondents aged 18 and above from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, including approximately 500 respondents from Hong Kong, to explore attitudes, behaviours, and expectations around legacy planning in Asia.

This press release is intended to be distributed in Hong Kong only and shall not be construed as an offer to sell or solicitation to buy or provision of any products of Sun Life Hong Kong Limited outside Hong Kong. Please refer to the product brochure and sample Policy Document for details including definitions and full terms and conditions including key product risks. If there is any conflict between the Policy Document and this press release, the Policy Document shall prevail.

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About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.62 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

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