Most Family Offices Not Ready for Succession, Ocorian Survey Finds

Family office succession planning remains a major challenge globally, with most firms still unprepared for generational transition, according to a new Ocorian survey. Only 23% of respondents said they were fully ready for succession, while 99% of employees and advisers agreed more preparation is needed. About 91% observed a natural handover of wealth and leadership, while 3% did not and 6% were unsure. Generational divides are evident: 85% said next-gen approaches differ from founders, including 28% who saw significant differences. Respondents — family members, senior staff, and intermediaries managing USD68.26bn across 13 markets including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the UAE — underscored the urgency of building structured succession frameworks.