RCBC and the Rise of the Next Generation of Filipino Wealth Leaders

For many Filipino families, wealth represents years of hard work, entrepreneurship, and sacrifice—often built by a founding generation with the hope that it will endure far beyond their lifetime. Today, wealth stewardship is entering a new era.

Across the Philippines and the wider Asia-Pacific region, families are experiencing what experts call the Great Wealth Transfer. With this massive economic shift, wealth is passed from one generation to the next. By 2030, an estimated $3 trillion will be transferred from founders to heirs across the Asia-Pacific alone. This transition is reshaping how wealth is managed, protected, and grown.

Recognizing this pivotal moment, RCBC is taking an active role in preparing the country’s next generation of wealth leaders. This includes individuals who are not just inheriting assets, but also responsibility, vision, and legacy.

This commitment came to life during RCBC’s recently hosted NextGen Summit, an exclusive gathering designed to equip young wealth builders with the mindset, knowledge, and strategies needed to navigate wealth in a rapidly changing world.

Why the Next Generation Needs a Different Wealth Playbook

Wealth conversations have evolved. While previous generations often focused on capital preservation and stability, today’s next-gen wealth holders are approaching wealth with a broader, more purpose-driven lens. Many are globally educated, professionally experienced, and deeply aware of their role in shaping not just family fortunes, but long-term impact.

According to RCBC Head of Wealth Management Jacqueline Wieneke, this shift requires a new approach, one that goes beyond traditional investment strategies. “At the core of our wealth management philosophy is succession planning,” Wieneke shared. “We want to ensure that our clients and their families not only build wealth but also protect it and create a lasting legacy across generations,” Wieneke emphasized.

This philosophy guided conversations at the NextGen Summit, where participants explored what it truly means to inherit wealth in today’s environment and how to steward it intentionally.

Understanding the Great Wealth Transfer and Its Risks

The Great Wealth Transfer is often discussed in terms of scale, but its real significance lies in execution. Globally, studies have shown that many family businesses struggle to survive beyond the second or third generation, not because of a lack of capital, but due to poor succession planning, unclear governance, and misaligned values.

Without the right preparation, wealth transfers can lead to:

• Fragmented family decision-making

• Business continuity challenges

• Erosion of family values and vision

• Missed growth opportunities

RCBC recognizes that preparing the next generation requires more than handing over assets. It means equipping heirs with financial literacy, strategic thinking, and leadership confidence, long before the actual transfer takes place.

Beyond Preservation: Viewing Wealth as a Platform for Growth

One of the key themes highlighted during the NextGen Summit was a mindset shift: wealth should not be treated merely as a safety net, but as a springboard.

Rather than focusing solely on protecting what already exists, next-gen wealth leaders are encouraged to see inherited wealth as a tool for:

• Innovation and entrepreneurship

• Business expansion and diversification

• Sustainable and impact-driven investments

• Long-term value creation

“Young wealth builders should put themselves in a position of continuous learning and take an active role in decision-making,” Wieneke emphasized. “It’s no longer just about preservation, but also innovation and pursuing new paths and ventures.”

This proactive approach empowers the next generation to honor their family’s legacy while also shaping it to reflect modern realities and opportunities.

The Rise of Purpose-Driven Wealth

While the fundamentals of wealth management—growth, protection, and continuity—remain constant, how the next generation approaches these goals has changed significantly.

Today’s young wealth builders are:

• More involved in investment decisions

• Highly attuned to global markets and trends

• Drawn to sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical investing

• Interested in aligning wealth with personal values and advocacy

This evolution signals a deeper shift: wealth is no longer just about financial success, but about purpose.

According to Wieneke, defining a personal mission statement is a crucial step in this journey. “Defining a purpose allows wealth builders to articulate what they want to achieve, where they want to take their business, and the kind of legacy they wish to leave behind,” she explained. “For the next generation, this process helps them identify their priorities and chart their own journey with confidence.”

Purpose-driven wealth ensures that financial decisions are not made in isolation but in alignment with long-term goals, values, and societal impact.

Why Succession Planning is the Foundation of Legacy

Succession planning sits at the heart of RCBC Wealth Management’s philosophy. A well-structured succession plan:

• Ensures smooth leadership transitions

• Clarifies roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority

• Protects family harmony and business continuity

• Aligns financial strategies with long-term family goals

RCBC approaches succession planning not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing process that evolves alongside the family and its enterprises. This includes preparing successors early, establishing governance frameworks, and creating structures that support both growth and stability.

This disciplined yet flexible approach recently earned RCBC international recognition as Best Succession Planning at the Euromoney Private Banking Awards 2025—a testament to the bank’s deep expertise and client-centered strategy.

RCBC: A Trusted Partner Across Generations

What sets RCBC Wealth Management apart is its role as more than just a financial service provider. For decades, RCBC has partnered with Filipino families through multiple generations, offering bespoke solutions tailored to each family’s unique goals, challenges, and values.

Its comprehensive wealth management services include:

• Portfolio diversification strategies

• Succession and estate planning

• Governance advisory for family enterprises

• Long-term investment planning

By combining institutional experience with a forward-looking perspective, RCBC helps families safeguard what they have built, while empowering the next generation to redefine success on their own terms.

Preparing the Philippines’ Next Wealth Leaders

As the Great Wealth Transfer accelerates, the need for education, guidance, and strategic partnership becomes even more critical. Through initiatives such as the NextGen Summit, RCBC is actively shaping a new generation of wealth leaders, especially those who understand that true legacy is built not just through financial growth but through stewardship, purpose, and impact.

By encouraging continuous learning, intentional leadership, and values-driven decision-making, RCBC equips young wealth builders to confidently step into their role, not just as beneficiaries but as architects of the future.

Turn Wealth Into a Lasting Legacy with RCBC

Wealth, when managed thoughtfully, can transcend generations. With the right mindset, structure, and support, today’s next-gen wealth holders can transform inherited assets into legacies that reflect their aspirations, values, and vision for the future.

As Wieneke aptly puts it, RCBC’s role is clear: to help families turn wealth into something meaningful, resilient, and built to last for generations.

Explore how RCBC Wealth Management can help you build, protect, and grow your legacy. Contact us today.