Panel
Private Wealth and the Future of Financial Security | Global Conference 2026
Milken InstituteManeet Ahuja, Peter Beske Nielsen, David Blanchett, Jay Jackson, Jed Laskowitz, Ida Liu
- Over $100 trillion in global wealth transfer is projected for the near future, with $30 trillion expected to flow specifically to women within the millennial and next-generation cohorts.
- Market volatility is anticipated to stabilize in the 20s range, establishing this level as the "new normal" after a prior decade characterized by the low teens, while a major market pullback is expected due to prevailing risk complacency.
- Geographic capital flows are expected to shift toward Southeast Asia, India, and Japan as the U.S. and China bifurcate, creating diversification opportunities amid the need for geographic separation.
- The energy transition is forecast to require billions in funding over the next 10 to 15 years, driving growth in peripheral sectors such as data centers, semiconductors, clean energy, and alternative energy alongside artificial intelligence.
- The ETF market is projected to expand from current levels to a $50 trillion industry by 2030, representing a $10 trillion to $15 trillion increase, with active ETFs growing at an annual rate of 30% to 40%.
- Longevity is expected to extend global lifespans by 10 to 20 years, driven by advancements in healthcare and telemedicine, compelling financial plans to incorporate lifespan data despite the historical impossibility of reaching age 95.
- Private companies are expected to remain private for approximately 14 years before going public, a significant increase from the six-year average in 1999, creating potential for small-cap valuations to triple upon accessing institutional capital.
- The $10 trillion in global wealth controlled by family offices is expected to double every five to ten years, leading to increased direct investments and co-investments rather than traditional fund reliance.
- Financial advisors face a "survival of the fittest" environment over the next five to ten years, with centralization of portfolio management expected to force those relying solely on stock market timing out of the industry.
- Pension reforms in European markets like Holland and Germany, alongside broader Asian initiatives, are expected to create new markets for individual investors, supported by the European Long-Term Investment Fund (LTIF) to create an even playing field.
- AI applications in actuarial analysis are expected to drastically reduce timeframes for life expectancy assessments by processing thousands of medical pages in seconds, transforming longevity asset planning.
- Longevity assets, specifically life insurance policies, are expected to offer uncorrelated yields of 8% to 10% with certainty regarding liquidity and duration, addressing a gap where less than 1% of U.S. retirement assets currently possess longevity protection.
- The wealth management sector is expected to adopt a holistic approach for the affluent, integrating investment portfolios with balance sheet, tax, estate, and banking services, potentially including concierge services that centralize medical records and lifespan data.
- Millennials and next-generation women are expected to shift investment focus toward purpose-aligned goals and impact investing rather than solely absolute returns, while the democratization of alternatives risks commoditization if product quality standards do not keep pace with proliferation.
- Healthcare companies face a massive patent cliff requiring revenue replacement, with over 70 transactions valued at over $1 billion expected in the current year, while AI is projected to increase return dispersion in private markets, creating distinct winners and losers.
- A compression of high-quality investment ideas is expected over the next five years, requiring future-proofing through IPO experiences that ensure sustainable growth and repeatable market models.
- Private markets are expected to outperform during periods of market volatility and dislocation, although real diversification remains difficult to identify in the current environment despite immense opportunities.