Published : Mar-2017
No. of Pages : 56
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2
1.1. HNW investments preferences are shaped by a multitude of factors 2
1.2. Key findings 2
1.3. Critical success factors 2
2. REGIONAL ASSET ALLOCATION TRENDS 9
2.1. The global HNW portfolio is well diversified 9
2.1.1. The typical HNW portfolio is increasingly exposed to risk assets 9
2.1.2. The recent commodity price rebound has yet to manifest itself in the average HNW portfolio 10
2.1.3. The allure of property as an investment option has somewhat faded 11
2.2. HNW investors have strong appetite for direct equity, local currency products, equity funds, and bond funds 12
2.2.1. Equity funds and ETFs are becoming increasingly popular 12
2.2.2. While the average HNW bond portfolio is well-diversified, bond funds continue to dominate 13
2.2.3. Local currency products prevail as part of HNW investors' cash investments, but there are exceptions 15
2.2.4. Offering REITs is a must in the HNW space 16
2.2.5. Hedge funds are the preferred alternative investment product among HNW investors 17
2.2.6. Funds are the go-to investment when it comes to commodities 18
2.3. There are significant regional differences when it comes to HNW investors' asset allocation preferences 19
2.3.1. HNW investors in the West are significantly exposed to equity risk 19
2.3.2. Real estate features prominently in the typical HNW portfolio in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa 20
2.3.3. Commodity holdings can be found across the world, but are particularly pronounced in Asia Pacific 21
2.3.4. Demand for alternatives is particularly strong in North America and Asia 22
3. HNW INVESTMENT DRIVERS 23
3.1. Equity holdings are driven by capital appreciation opportunities 23
3.1.1. Cheap buying opportunities are driving equity investments 23
3.1.2. Capital appreciation potential will continue to drive HNW demand, but not everywhere 24
3.2. Dividend income as a driver of equity investments is becoming increasingly important 26
3.2.1. Geographic diversification is driving equity investment in Russia 27
3.3. Bonds are traditionally important to risk-averse HNW individuals 28
3.3.1. Quantitative easing and political uncertainty will continue to have a negative effect on bond holdings in Europe 28
3.3.2. Risk aversion and asset diversification are the main drivers of bond investments 29
3.3.3. Current returns are important considerations in many emerging markets, and wealth managers will do well to educate clients about the risks involved 30
3.4. Cash and near-cash products are favored as a means of "parking" wealth and maintaining liquidity 31
3.4.1. HNW investors are forecast to increase their cash holdings, albeit only slightly 31
3.4.2. Being ready for future investment opportunities and a desire to maintain liquidity are the top drivers for cash investments 32
3.4.3. Rising consumer confidence will have an adverse effect on deposit holdings in Europe 34
3.4.4. The uptake of financial advice will lead to further portfolio diversification away from deposits - at least in some markets 35
3.5. Real estate investments are driven by price movements and a desire to be able to rely on rental income 36
3.5.1. Global HNW investments in real estate are forecast to rise 36
3.5.2. Property price movements and rental yields are the main drivers for HNW investments in real estate 37
3.5.3. Price appreciation is of particular importance in Asia 38
3.5.4. In Europe the perception of safety, diversification benefits, and rental income are more important than capital growth 39
3.6. Alternative investments are becoming increasingly important for their diversification benefits 40
3.6.1. HNW demand for alternatives is forecast to increase in all but one country 40
3.6.2. Asset diversification benefits have emerged as the top driver for HNW alternative investments 41
3.6.3. Future capital appreciation remains important, but less so than a year ago 41
3.6.4. Expansion of P2P lending and crowd-funding platforms is driving demand for alternatives in Hong Kong 42
3.6.5. Other HNW drivers for alternatives include dissatisfaction with traditional asset classes, the perception of exclusivity, and current returns 43
3.7. Commodities largely act as a diversifier, but capital appreciation opportunities seem appealing too 43
3.7.1. Demand for commodities is set to rise in the majority of countries surveyed 43
3.7.2. Their reputation as an important diversifier has seen commodities become an integral part of the typical HNW portfolio 44
3.7.3. HNW investors in Asia Pacific are betting on capital appreciation opportunities 45
3.7.4. The perception of safety is becoming an increasingly important driver in the commodity sphere 46
4. APPENDIX 47
4.1. Abbreviations and acronyms 47
4.2. Supplementary data 47
4.3. Definitions 52
4.3.1. HNW 52
4.3.2. Liquid assets 52
4.4. Methodology 53
4.4.1. GlobalData's 2016 Global Wealth Managers Survey 53
4.4.2. GlobalData's 2015 Global Wealth Managers Survey 53
4.5. Bibliography 53
4.6. Further reading 54
List of Tables
Table 1: Importance of dividend income as a driver for equities; dividend growth (%); and dividend income ($bn), 2016 26
Table 2: Equity index movements and gross rental yields in Europe, 2016 39
Table 3: HNW investment drivers by country: equities, 2016 47
Table 4: HNW investment drivers by country: bonds, 2016 48
Table 5: HNW investment drivers by country: cash and near-cash products, 2016 49
Table 6: HNW investment drivers by country: property, 2016 50
Table 7: HNW investment drivers by country: alternatives, 2016 51
Table 8: HNW investment drivers by country: commodities, 2016 52
List of Figures
Figure 1: The typical HNW portfolio is becoming increasingly exposed to risk assets 10
Figure 2: Commodity prices have rebounded but remain low 11
Figure 3: The IMF's Global House Price Index has almost reached 2008 levels 12
Figure 4: Direct equity investments constitute the single largest component, but taken together fund holdings dominate 13
Figure 5: Emerging markets are still considered an attractive investment destination 14
Figure 6: Bond funds form the largest component of HNW investors' fixed-income investments 15
Figure 7: Local currency products are the most common type of cash investment 16
Figure 8: A significant proportion of HNW wealth is locked up in property 17
Figure 9: Hedge funds dominate in HNW investors' alternatives portfolios 18
Figure 10: Mutual funds form the largest component of HNW investors' commodity investments 19
Figure 11: Global markets have been subject to significant volatility 20
Figure 12: Investors' attitude towards risk differs significantly across the globe 22
Figure 13: The majority of wealth managers expect HNW equity demand to rise 23
Figure 14: Capital appreciation opportunities are motivating HNW investors to channel their wealth into equities 24
Figure 15: HNW investors are becoming more inclined to seek financial advice 25
Figure 16: Geographic diversification benefits are a key consideration among Russian HNW investors 27
Figure 17: Global demand for bond holdings will be varied 29
Figure 18: Risk aversion is driving bond investments in the HNW space 30
Figure 19: Global HNW cash holdings will increase over the next 12 months 32
Figure 20: HNW investors in Germany are looking for cheap buying opportunities 33
Figure 21: Being ready for future investment opportunities is the top driver for cash investments 34
Figure 22: Rising consumer confidence will result in deposit holdings declining 35
Figure 23: There is a significant opportunity to be had in China 36
Figure 24: HNW property investments are largely forecast to rise over the next 12 months 37
Figure 25: Property price appreciation is the number one driver of real estate investments 38
Figure 26: HNW demand for alternatives in Australia is forecast to skyrocket 40
Figure 27: Capital appreciation is the number one driver of alternative investments 42
Figure 28: Commodity holdings are set to increase in the HNW space 44
Figure 29: The benefits of asset diversification are driving commodity investments 45
