Inaugural NDB Family Office Forum sheds light on building lasting legacies

• NDB Wealth Management holds exclusive forum bringing together industry experts and impressive speaker line-up from Singapore and Dubai

NDB Wealth Management Ltd., hosted an exclusive client event on 1 December with international speakers to exchange views on global family office structuring trends, planning for the future with wealth and succession planning. The event brought together a select group of investors, entrepreneurs, and private wealth clients for an in-depth discussion on emerging trends shaping responsible stewardship of wealth.

The forum featured two distinguished international speakers: NS Advisors, Singapore Founder/Managing Director R. Narayanamohan and KERNEL Multi Family Office, Dubai Founder/CEO Sunil Jose.

Drawing on extensive global experience, both experts shared practical insights on how ultra-high-net-worth families are structuring, preserving, and growing intergenerational wealth amid increasing regulatory complexity and heightened global tax transparency.

NDB Wealth Management CEO Ruwan Perera said: “We are delighted to launch the inaugural NDB Family Office Forum, an important extension of our flagship Wealth Management Event. The Family Office Forum will provide our clients with access to influential minds and thought-leaders, discussing the most salient opportunities and addressing the ever-evolving needs of our clients. Family offices face a number of profound macro-economic issues in 2026, all of which have the potential to affect their asset allocation, family business, and succession planning decisions – the slowdown in global economic growth, increased risks from trade tensions, policy uncertainty, and lingering inflation, though Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment offers a potential boost.”

Narayanamohan said: “Families with significant wealth have unique and complex needs that continually evolve. The overarching premise of a family office is to provide a structure for overseeing and growing assets, while also providing for effective stewardship and planning for the successful wealth transition to future generations. Families create family offices to manage their wealth while nurturing their identity and values. They look after a range of areas from wealth management to wealth transfer, philanthropy, and family governance.”

Jose said: “Family offices are often operating elements of several service firms under one roof helping to manage the complexities of family affairs. The importance of having a succession plan frequently arises in family office discussions, yet the number of those acting on those discussions remains low. The cornerstone in a family-owned business is communication, trust, and having open, honest dialogue to resolve conflict, which is crucial for transferring wealth and values. Other key aspects include implementing governance structure by setting up a family council, board, or constitution with defined decision-making processes and scheduling regular reviews and updates to keep the plan current. Also, educating the next generation by establishing mentorship and formal training and providing hands-on experience and exposure to best practices is crucial.” 

He shared some real-world examples from multi-generational families who have thrived through strong communication, shared values, adaptability, and a clear purpose, which resonated deeply with the clients.

Speakers also discussed global trends, including the growing integration of structured philanthropy, value-aligned investing in socially responsible investments, Environmental, Social and Governance sustainable investments and impact investments into Family Office strategies, and highlighted best practices in leading jurisdictions such as Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the UK. 

From a regional perspective, the forum underscored Sri Lanka’s potential to position itself as an emerging Family Office destination, supported by competitive cost advantages, skilled professional talent, and strong regulatory and financial frameworks. The speakers further noted that introducing targeted tax incentives could attract high-net-worth individuals to Sri Lanka, generating significant economic spillover benefits.

The event marked another significant milestone in NDB Wealth Management Ltd.’s commitment to empowering its private wealth clients through thought leadership, strategic networking, and knowledge-sharing, and reaffirmed its dedication to equipping clients and investors with the insight and confidence needed to adopt international best practices and build lasting family legacies.