Over the course of my career, one lesson has become increasingly clear. The future of the RIA industry will not be defined solely by investment returns. It will be defined by our ability to serve families across multiple generations, helping them preserve both wealth and the values they care about most. Without thoughtful planning, wealth can erode over time, and the vision families want to pass on can be lost.
Why multigenerational service matters
Serving multigenerational families has always been central to what we do at Apriem Advisors. Supporting families through wealth management or accumulation across generations means navigating complex dynamics, from differing risk tolerances and financial literacy levels to evolving family priorities. It is about more than managing assets. It is about helping families to maintain purpose and legacy through thoughtful guidance in areas such as financial planning, tax strategy, estate planning, philanthropy, and governance.
Families that engage with a single advisory firm over multiple generations build trust and stability. These relationships are rewarding personally and create long-term client partnerships that benefit both the family and the firm. When younger generations are actively engaged and educated, the continuity of wealth and values is far more likely.
The cost of waiting
Without proactive planning, family wealth can diminish over time. I have seen families struggle when governance is unclear, financial literacy is lacking, or communication is inconsistent. The result can be financial loss, family conflict, missed opportunities, and a diluted legacy.
RIAs have a unique opportunity to address these challenges. By providing comprehensive planning and education, we can help families make informed decisions that preserve wealth and sustain values across generations. This work goes beyond financial outcomes. It helps families protect what matters most.
Looking ahead for the RIA industry
The RIA industry is evolving, and firms that succeed will be those that actively engage the entire family and incorporate their goals and perspectives into financial strategies. Technology will play a key role in this evolution. Digital tools for financial education, reporting, and collaborative planning allow advisors to work efficiently with multiple family members while maintaining transparency and accountability.
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My advice for advisors
RIAs who want to serve multigenerational families effectively should focus on several key areas:
Holistic Planning: Incorporate estate, tax, retirement, and philanthropic planning into every multigenerational strategy
Education and engagement: Provide financial literacy tools and guidance to younger family members, strengthening their capacity to grow and preserve family wealth
Governance structures: Help families implement frameworks that support decision-making, reduce conflict, foster accountability, and maintain clarity over wealth transfer
Technology integration: Use digital platforms to streamline communication and reporting across generations
Legacy alignment: Ensure that wealth strategies reflect family values, purpose, and long-term objectives
Values over Valuables
The firms that thrive in the years ahead will be those that embrace the responsibility of serving multigenerational families. It is not just about protecting assets. It is about safeguarding legacies, fostering family cohesion, and creating lasting impact. These are the principles at the heart of my new book, Values Over Valuables: Daring to Live the Life Money Can't Buy, which explores how families can protect wealth, legacy, and purpose across generations and offers actionable guidance for advisors seeking to support families across generations.
At Apriem Advisors, this is the work that drives us every day. By focusing on comprehensive multigenerational planning and engaging families across generations, we help ensure that wealth is preserved and purpose is carried forward. My book captures these strategies and insights in greater detail, providing a roadmap for advisors and families alike.
The message is clear. The time to act is now, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference has never been greater.
Interested in reading the US RIA Toolkit 2026? You can read and download the report online here.
About Apriem Advisors
Your trusted partner in wealth management. We offer comprehensive services ranging from sophisticated investment strategies to retirement and estate planning, allowing you to concentrate on what truly matters – time with your loved ones. Our holistic methodology ensures that you and your family navigate your complete financial landscape, establishing a sustainable plan designed to foster success for generations ahead. We specialize in generational wealth, retirement solutions, charitable initiatives, investment strategies, estate planning, and overall financial planning.
For more information, visit www.apriem.com
About the US RIA Toolkit 2026
The US RIA Toolkit 2026 describes an era of transformation for the RIA ecosystem. Rapid growth, accelerating consolidation, and rising client expectations are converging with advances in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape how RIAs compete, scale, and serve clients. This report is intended to help RIAs and those serving the segment to navigate this transformation. It highlights real-world technology solutions, implementation strategies, and resources designed specifically for RIAs operating in an increasingly complex environment.
With RIA assets under management at historic highs, private equity activity accelerating, and a growing number of advisors making the jump to the RIA segment every year, competitive differentiation has never been more important. From digital client experience and automation, to AI-driven personalization and cybersecurity, this report explores the tools that can materially improve efficiency, growth, and client satisfaction.
Our broader Toolkit Report Series covers thematic, geography and wealth manager segment-focused reports, each tasked with delving into the topics and supporting technologies of relevance to help wealth managers of all types better understand how they should bring technology into their business and in which areas.
About The Wealth Mosaic
The Wealth Mosaic is a UK-headquartered online solution provider directory and knowledge resource, focused specifically on the wealth management industry.
For wealth managers, the buy side of our marketplace, The Wealth Mosaic is designed to enable discovery of key solutions, solution providers and knowledge resources by specific business needs.
For solution providers and vendors, the sell side of our marketplace, The Wealth Mosaic exists to support the positioning, exposure and business development needs of these firms in a more complex and demanding market.
For more information, visit: www.thewealthmosaic.com
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