Governance, global mobility and digital assets

Hosted by Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, Director – Africa, at Jersey Finance, the event explored how global mobility, changing family dynamics, regulatory developments and new asset classes are reshaping the wealth planning landscape for international families.

The discussion highlighted that while perspectives vary across jurisdictions and disciplines, as wealth becomes more international, HNW families are navigating greater complexities, reinforcing the importance of robust governance, experienced advisers and the use of well-regulated international finance centres (IFCs).

Several key trends that participants are seeing across the South African private wealth landscape were explored:

One of the strongest themes to emerge was the increasingly international nature of South African wealth.

Families today often have business interests, investments, beneficiaries and advisers spread across multiple jurisdictions. Children may be educated abroad, family members may relocate for business or lifestyle reasons, and investment portfolios tend to span several markets and asset classes. This growing mobility creates opportunities, but also raises new considerations around ownership, succession and governance.

The group noted that structuring decisions are no longer driven solely by tax considerations. Instead, families are seeking solutions that can accommodate cross-border ownership, succession planning, differing regulatory regimes and evolving family circumstances. As a result, the strength of the jurisdiction, quality of the legal framework and depth of professional expertise are becoming important factors in structuring decisions.

Many first-generation wealth creators have built successful businesses through entrepreneurial vision and direct control. However, participants have observed that transferring wealth across generations often introduces new challenges, particularly where family members are based in different countries and may have different priorities and expectations.

As a result, practitioners are placing greater emphasis on governance frameworks, family constitutions, succession planning and mechanisms that help families establish clarity around decision-making and stewardship.

Contributors agreed that preserving wealth is not simply about protecting assets. It is about ensuring continuity of purpose, decision-making and family alignment across generations.

A related theme to emerge was the desire among many family businesses to retain control while also preparing for future succession.

Contributors noted that families are looking for structures that provide flexibility without compromising governance. This can be particularly important in the context of international families, where trustees, advisers and beneficiaries may be operating across multiple jurisdictions and legal systems.

The discussion suggested that successful structures are often those that balance founder influence with the governance frameworks needed to support future generations.

For intermediaries, the challenge is in helping families move beyond succession planning as a legal exercise and towards governance as an ongoing process.

The roundtable also explored the growing impact of regulation on international wealth planning.

From anti-money laundering requirements and beneficial ownership obligations to sanctions compliance and cross-border reporting standards, experts noted that regulatory expectations continue to increase globally.

While these developments can increase administrative demands, attendees generally agreed that robust regulatory frameworks help underpin confidence, transparency and long-term stability.

For international families, this reinforces the importance of working with experienced professionals and jurisdictions that are equipped to navigate an increasingly sophisticated regulatory environment.

Focussing on the value proposition of professional trustees, experts around the room challenged whether trustees are doing enough to articulate the value they provide, particularly where clients are charged annual fees but have limited visibility of the work being undertaken behind the scenes.

Compliance monitoring, regulatory reporting, beneficial ownership requirements, sanctions screening, risk management and governance oversight all form part of the modern trustee role. Yet much of this work remains invisible unless issues arise, creating a growing tension between cost-conscious clients and the expanding responsibilities placed on trustees.

For many participants, the importance of education and communication is becoming a key component. Trustees are no longer simply administrators of structures; they are expected to help families navigate risk, governance and regulatory complexity in an environment that continues to evolve

The conversations highlighted that families do not simply choose structures; they choose people they trust. In many cases, resistance to fees is not about cost, but about whether families understand and value of the advice being provided.

Several contributors observed that enduring wealth structures are often built on trusted relationships between families, advisers and fiduciaries, rather than on documentation alone.

Among the key trends identified, digital assets and the growing role of tokenisation became one of the most animated discussions.

Experts around the table highlighted that digital assets are moving beyond cryptocurrency speculation. Attention is shifting towards tokenisation, fractional ownership and the use of blockchain technology to improve liquidity, transparency and accessibility across a range of asset classes.

While questions remain around regulation, taxation, succession planning and fiduciary oversight, there was broad agreement that digital assets are becoming a more frequent part of family wealth conversations, particularly among younger generations and globally mobile families.

For practitioners, the question is no longer whether digital assets should form part of the conversation, but how existing fiduciary, succession and oversight frameworks can evolve to accommodate them responsibly.

As with any emerging asset class, innovation will need to be balanced with appropriate oversight, risk management and long-term planning.

While international wealth planning often focusses on jurisdictions, regulations and structures, participants emphasised that cultural considerations remain equally important.

Families across Africa may share common aspirations, but their attitudes towards wealth, succession, control and governance can differ significantly.

Experts recognise that effective structuring requires cultural understanding alongside technical expertise.

The discussions agreed on the importance of avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Understanding family dynamics, cultural expectations and local context is often just as important as understanding legal and regulatory frameworks.

For internationally mobile families, the strongest outcomes are often achieved when technical expertise is combined with a deep understanding of family dynamics, objectives and values.

The roundtable reinforced that the future of wealth management is becoming interconnected.

Global mobility, changing family dynamics, evolving regulatory expectations and emerging technologies are all influencing how families structure, manage and transfer wealth.

For professionals supporting African HNW families, the challenge is no longer simply designing structures. It is helping families navigate complexity in a way that supports resilience, continuity and long-term success.

For international families, the future challenge is no longer creating wealth. It is ensuring that governance, relationships and structures are robust enough to preserve that wealth across generations.

As wealth becomes increasingly international, trusted professionals, strong governance frameworks and well-regulated international finance centres will continue to play an important role in supporting families through that journey.