Julius Baer, one of the world’s largest and oldest wealth managers, is a firm that puts family affairs at the heart of its investment strategies.
This is only natural. The firm, which was founded in 1890, started as a family shop. Once the business was flourishing, the family sold at the ideal moment and used the proceeds to help develop the wealth management business of today.
Understanding families and their legacies are therefore part of this pure-play, private bank’s culture, which means Julius Baer is well suited for single family offices, providing Singapore clients with the widest selection of solutions through its open platform.
The bank – whose head of wealth planning and family office services for Singapore is Kevin Tay – provides the full suite of capabilities to clients, from wealth planning and structuring to wealth management, investment solutions and financing.
Business has been good. Julius Baer Group recorded AUM of about $512 billion in 2021, an 11% increase year on year. Net new money rose 30%: Contributions were particularly strong from clients domiciled in Asia, especially in Singapore, Japan, and India.
Julius Baer also racked up its highest profit in history by tapping into its digital strengths. The bank has already launched digital asset trading with 12 cryptocoins and is also exploring options in Asia to capture the growing opportunity in digital assets.
Julius Baer’s direct private investment teams in Asia are working closely with staff in Switzerland to source and arrange co-investment opportunities in private equity deals globally. These would benefit local HNW and UHNW clients.
The bank deployed several successful private market funds, as well as co-investment opportunities that saw strong client take-up, including from family offices.
Julius Baer’s leading position in sustainable investment is helping its Singapore office woo younger clients. Its strategy focuses on long-term value creation for clients, employees, shareholders and society at large. The bank is also the first Swiss bank to endorse the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Banking.
Tay says the bank stays relevant by offering next-generation client initiatives: expert seminars, talks and workshops focusing on financial management, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
The Young Partners Elective Asia group is meant to create an network of prospective clients. That means more investment options related to financial management, entrepreneurship, sustainability and digital assets, as well as personal effectiveness such as influencing skills and more.