Cover For Susan Peh (right), family—and ensuring that the next generation is equipped to navigate the future—is at the heart of her legacy
For Susan Peh (right), family—and ensuring that the next generation is equipped to navigate the future—is at the heart of her legacy
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To Peh, legacy planning is more than legalities; it’s a profound act of love that leaves a lasting impact on the ones you cherish most
Spending a day with Susan Peh, one is immediately struck by her warmth and thoughtfulness. Her soft-spoken demeanour and genuine interest in connecting with people make it easy to forget that she is a highly accomplished lawyer with nearly four decades of experience navigating complex legal landscapes.
From dispute resolution to asset recovery, private client services, and advising charities and non-profits, Peh has dealt with it all. This experience has given her a perspective on what truly matters: families, values, and the enduring legacies they strive to create. “At the heart of it, legacy planning is about people—preserving family harmony and the future of businesses for generations to come,” she says.
Peh’s passion for building enduring legacies is undeniable. The most fulfilling part of her work, she confides, is playing a role in helping her clients plan for their future. In 1987, she founded Adsan Law (formerly known as Yeo-Leong & Peh) with her husband Adrian Peh. The firm offers a suite of legal services. “I find deep gratification in helping families avoid conflict and in creating robust structures that honour their values and wishes,” she says.
Incremental steps today for a better tomorrow
This commitment is evident in Peh’s holistic approach to legacy planning. Over the years, she has come to understand that a meaningful legacy extends far beyond material wealth or assets. And it’s not just for the ultra-wealthy either. One of the biggest misconceptions, Peh notes, is that legacy planning is only applicable to those with sizable assets. “Legacy planning is for everyone, no matter the size of your estate,” she shares. Many individuals also assume they have plenty of time to plan later. Peh advises against having a ‘I’ll get it done another day’ mentality as it can backfire and result in lengthy legal disputes, loss of assets, and hefty legal fees. She encourages individuals to take incremental steps, highlighting that these small actions today can make “a world of difference tomorrow.”
Above As CEO of Adsan Law, Peh has spent nearly 40 years helping her clients plan for their future through estate and succession planning, trust creation, and philanthropic advisory
As CEO of Adsan Law, Peh has spent nearly 40 years helping her clients plan for their future through estate and succession planning, trust creation, and philanthropic advisory
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To ensure a lasting legacy built on fairness and harmony, Peh advocates proactive planning. One way is through estate equalisation, which helps ensure that an individual’s estate is distributed fairly amongst beneficiaries. Peh recommends tools such as wills and life insurance. “Another option is setting up trusts to balance out the value of assets like property with other financial assets, so all parties receive an equal share,” she shares. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with multiple heirs, family-run businesses or blended families. “Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the estate is divided in a way that reflects the individual’s wishes while maintaining fairness among all heirs,” she notes.
Presently, Peh and her husband work with around 120 staff and lawyers, including their three children, Melissa, Bertrand, and Desiree, at Adsan Law. When working alongside one’s children in a family business, she shares the importance of imparting both practical business skills and core values that will help them succeed in the business and in life. Integrity, diligence, resilience, and respect are key principles she strives to instill in her children everyday.
“Succession planning is a priority for our firm,” Peh shares. “My husband and I are grooming the next generation of leaders in the firm and these individuals may not necessarily be our children.” With that goal in mind, they have established governance structures that clearly define roles, responsibilities, decision-making power, and expectations around the firm’s growth. “When the time comes, these will hopefully ensure a smooth transition and preserve Adsan Law’s guiding values for the future generation,” she says.
Peh and her husband take a diligent approach to planning their own legacy, for both their family and their business
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At home, Peh and her husband have taken a similarly diligent approach to planning their own legacy. “We view it as a shared responsibility and an important part of our future so that our children and grandchildren will be well cared for, both financially and emotionally,” she says. This has translated into a comprehensive plan that includes estate planning, crafting comprehensive wills and trusts, and implementing asset protection strategies such as life insurance.
Crafting a legacy on your own terms
Singapore’s population of high-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) is growing. According to Henley & Partners and New World Health’s The Richest Cities in the World 2024 report, the country had climbed to fourth place in the global ranking, with its millionaire population increasing by 64 percent in the last ten years.
Wealth preservation and succession planning remain key priorities for Singapore’s affluent. A recent report by Agility Research & Strategy found that 28 percent of HNWIs have established legal trusts, primarily to ensure smooth wealth transfer. The study also reveals that a significant shift in financial control is anticipated over the next decade, with one in three HNWIs set to inherit substantial assets.
Recognising the evolving needs of Singapore's affluent population, Singlife has recently introduced the Singlife Legacy Indexed Universal Life (IUL), a versatile life insurance plan. Through its combination of life protection and wealth accumulation, Singlife Legacy IUL offers affluent individuals flexibility, market-linked growth potential, and lifelong protection against death and terminal illness.
For affluent families, this is especially relevant. Singlife Legacy IUL offers a strategic approach to preserve their wealth across generations. Its market-linked growth allows families to grow their wealth over time in an ever-changing economic landscape. In the realm of estate planning, the plan ensures a death benefit that can help cover financial obligations. Furthermore, the Singlife Legacy IUL can serve as a valuable tool for estate equalisation, providing families with options to help achieve a more balanced distribution of wealth among family members. And with features that allow for versatility such as the flexible premium options and penalty-free withdrawals, the Singlife Legacy IUL offers both protection and investment solutions—a comprehensive approach that empowers families to safeguard their legacy.
Singlife’s commitment to long-term protection is critical in today’s market, Peh notes, especially as families face changing dynamics and greater financial uncertainty. “Their products are relevant, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of modern families—whether it’s in terms of protecting assets or ensuring financial security in the event of unexpected life events.”
Above Peh believes that what you do in life is just as important to your legacy as what you leave behind
Peh believes that what you do in life is just as important to your legacy as what you leave behind
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A legacy beyond wealth
“I’ve always believed that legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind, but what you do with what you have while you’re still here,” Peh shares. Beyond her legal practice and family life, her passion for leaving a positive mark extends to the community at large. Peh and her husband have created a family foundation to support causes close to their hearts and regularly participate in volunteer initiatives. “Volunteering has become a family tradition,” she shares, “That way, our children and grandchildren grow up seeing the value of contributing to the community.”
Peh serves on the board of the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, a 114-year-old charitable healthcare institution. She is also a founding director of the Jazz Association (Singapore) (JASS)—a position she has fondly held, given her passion for music. Through JASS, Peh hopes to nurture young, promising jazz talents and foster a vibrant community in Singapore. “Jazz isn’t just about music—it’s a way of life, a philosophy, and an art form that transcends boundaries,” she notes. “By investing in the future of jazz in Singapore, the vibrancy of our cultural landscape will flourish for many generations to come.”
Peh's legal practice has been a journey of gained wisdom and dedication to her clients, helping them navigate complex legal landscapes to craft an enduring legacy. Her role as a mother and grandmother has also deepened her understanding of what matters in life: family relationships, values, and the impact we leave on our community. “Ultimately, legacy planning is a profound act of love. It’s about ensuring that the best parts of us live on through those we cherish the most.”
Start building your own legacy today. To find out more about the Singlife Legacy Indexed Universal Life, click here. Terms and conditions apply. This material is published for general information only and does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.
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Credits
Content Direction: Shairah Thoufeekh
Videography: Nicola Ng
Camera Crew: Joey Tay, Jufri Husne, Timothy Koh
Grooming: Angel Gwee
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