Manila, Philippines (December 2025) – A new survey from Sun Life Asia reveals that while financial security is regarded as a cornerstone for legacy planning across the Philippines, as many as 81% fear their wealth will not last beyond their children’s generation, underscoring an urgent need for structured planning and financial literacy in this space.
The research, titled Passing the torch: Building lasting legacies in Asia, surveyed over 3,000 respondents across the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, and highlights the attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations surrounding legacy planning in Asia.
With Asia experiencing the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in the coming decade, effective legacy planning is a growing priority for families to navigate – not only in terms of financial assets, but in the preservation of values, traditions, and opportunities for future generations.
Building a legacy of security and opportunity
More than seven in 10 Filipino respondents (77%) say having protection in place to ensure their family’s financial security is the most important factor in legacy planning. This is followed by educating future generations about financial responsibilities (53%) and building enough wealth to pass down to the next generation (52%).
Most Filipino respondents prefer the wealth they leave behind to ensure security for the family, with 69% preferring that future generations will use inherited assets to support essential family needs, such as housing and healthcare. A significant number of Filipinos would also like their legacy to be invested in long-term wealth creation for themselves and for generations to come (63%), followed by funding education from school to college or vocational training (62%).
Concerns around legacy not lasting beyond the next generation
Four in five (81%) fear their wealth may not last beyond their children’s generation, and more than half (64%) worry that their heirs are not financially equipped to manage inherited assets, underscoring the urgent need for better financial literacy and open family dialogue about money matters. Only 45% of respondents are confident their children will uphold their wishes around wealth transfer, preserve assets, and continue to grow them.
Concerns are most pronounced among the affluent, as they described themselves as “very concerned” about wealth preservation, highlighting that greater wealth often brings greater responsibility and considerably higher stakes.
Legacy is not just about money – it’s about meaning
Asian families define their legacy in multidimensional terms. When asked about the type of legacy they want to leave behind, 37% cite passing on wealth, including money, property, or other valuable assets including family business, followed by wanting to have a personal influence on family and friends (16%), and passing down family traditions, values, and life lessons (13%).
Worries extend beyond financial matters to the preservation of family values — only 43% of Filipino respondents believe their children will uphold family traditions. Diverging priorities among younger generations (70%), limited engagement (39%), misinterpretation of values (38%), and weaker intergenerational bonds (31%) are cited as major factors.
Many underprepared despite growing awareness
Even as awareness of legacy planning grows across the Philippines, preparedness remains low. Only 18% feel fully prepared in terms of legacy arrangements if they were to pass away today. Just 6% have completed and communicated their legacy plans, while over half (53%) have only partial plans, and 25% admit to having nothing at all.
Many legacy discussions lack structure. Almost half (42%) of legacy planning conversations are currently informal or casual, but this does not seem to be the preferred option, with just 19% of respondents stating this as the best setting.
Financial literacy is a valuable family legacy
Families are turning financial education into another form of inheritance by passing on knowledge and experience of money management. When asked what actions they have taken, or plan to take to strengthen the next generation’s confidence, a majority say they are teaching financial basics (66%), engaging in financial discussions (57%), and sharing personal experiences (57%).
Professional guidance towards legacy planning is also in growing demand. 43% of Filipino respondents have already engaged advisors, and 46% plan to do so.
Benedict Sison, CEO and Country Head of Sun Life Philippines, said: “People today want to pass on more than wealth; they want to give the next generation the knowledge and values to manage it wisely. With financial literacy becoming a key part of one’s legacy, we are committed to helping families plan and build legacies that last by providing trusted advice and financial education that can bridge the gap between intention and confidence.”
The full report is available here: www.sunlife.co/PassingTheTorchStudy.
