Filipinos fear their wealth may not last another generation

Half worry heirs lack the financial know-how to keep family assets growing.

More Filipinos are putting plans in place for the wealth they will leave behind, but many remain worried that their heirs may not know how to make that money last.

A new study by Sun Life found that 82% of Filipino respondents fear their wealth may not survive beyond the next generation, with half citing beneficiaries’ lack of financial preparedness as their biggest concern. At 50%, this worry surpassed concerns about market volatility, which was cited by 46% of respondents.

The concern extends to younger Filipinos, who see the potential for their wealth to benefit future generations but remain uncertain about whether it will endure. The study found that 86% of Gen Z respondents and 84% of millennials worry their wealth may not last beyond the next generation, even as 71% and 73%, respectively, believe it can have a positive impact on future generations.

More Filipinos are formalizing their legacy plans. The share of respondents who had documented their plans and communicated them to their families climbed to 36% from just 6% in 2025. Those without any legacy plan fell to 8% from 25%.

Education emerged as the top legacy priority, cited by 56% of respondents, ahead of wealth and family traditions at 45% each. Among those planning to transfer wealth, 61% want their assets invested for long-term growth, while 55% want them to support essential family needs and 53% want them to help fund education.

There is also room for more professional guidance. While 34% of respondents had already sought legacy-planning advice, another 50% said they wanted to do so in the future.

The findings suggest that building wealth is only part of the challenge. Families must also prepare heirs to manage inherited assets, whether those take the form of savings, property or a family business, if they hope to preserve that wealth for future generations.

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