Australia’s $3.5 Trillion Wealth Transfer Is Coming – But Most Families Aren’t Ready

Sydney, Australia —19 November 2025 — With one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in history set to unfold over the next two decades, Apt Wealth Partners is sounding the alarm on the widespread lack of preparedness among Australian families.
 
Fresh data from Apt Wealth Partners' 2025 Survey of 889 high net worth individuals exposes major weaknesses in estate planning conversations, exposing families and private wealth firms to the risk of poor financial decisions, family disputes and erosion of wealth.
 
Key findings from Apt Wealth's 2025 Survey:
● Only 17% of clients strongly agree they have adequately educated their beneficiaries on managing inherited wealth.
● Just 22% strongly agree they regularly discuss estate planning, trusts, or gifting
strategies with their financial adviser.
 

"This should be a wake-up call for the advice industry," Andrew Dunbar, Chief Executive Officer at Apt Wealth Partners. "Many families have a Will, but they don't have a plan. If you haven't had the conversation, educated your children or set clear roles, you're not ready, no matter how sophisticated your estate documents look on paper."
 

To help bridge this preparation gap, Apt Wealth Partners has expanded its offering to include in-house legal services, a move designed to better support clients through the full spectrum of estate and succession planning. This integrated approach ensures that estate planning isn't treated as an isolated legal task but as a fundamental part of each client's long-term financial strategy.
 

The service was launched in recognition of the fact that many Australians may have Wills in place, but few have had the deeper conversations needed to ensure a smooth and aligned transfer of wealth. Apt's professional model supports clients by:

● Facilitating informed, values-based discussions between family members
● Encouraging open dialogue with advisers about legacy, roles and responsibilities
● Seamlessly coordinating advice across legal, financial and tax domains
● Helping clients align their estate planning decisions with their broader life and
financial goals.

As families prepare to transfer an estimated $3.5 trillion in wealth over the next two
decades, Dunbar says estate planning must become a standard part of every advice
relationship.

"This is a risk management issue as much as it's a family issue," he says. "When these
conversations don't happen, you open the door to poor decisions, disputes, unintended tax consequences and lasting damage to family relationships."

About Apt Wealth Partners:
Apt Wealth Partners is an award-winning Australian financial advice firm dedicated to helping clients plan, protect and grow their wealth so they can live their best lives. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong and the Northern Beaches, Apt Wealth Partners delivers personalised, transparent and values-based advice to individuals, families and business owners across Australia.

Media Contact:
Andrew Dunbar
Chief Executive Officer
Apt Wealth Partners
Email: andrewd@aptwealth.com.au 
Phone: 1800 801 277
Website: https://aptwealth.com.au/