Tatler House Dialogue: How Standard Chartered’s CIO and Elaine Kim are nurturing next-gen wealth

The dialogue brought together two compelling speakers whose perspectives framed the topic from complementary angles. Steve Brice, global chief investment officer at Standard Chartered Bank, drew on decades of investment experience and his own role as a father of two teenage sons to reflect on the shifting priorities he sees across households today. Opposite him was Dr Elaine Kim, medical doctor, entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Trehaus, and mother of four, who offered a deeply human, purpose-driven approach rooted in early childhood education, family life and values-based leadership.

Koh opened the evening by acknowledging a sentiment increasingly shared across affluent families in Asia: “wealth today is less about accumulation and more about alignment—aligning financial decisions with values, life stage priorities and the long-term development of future generations. It is a conversation that Standard Chartered has championed through its advisory frameworks, and one that sits at the heart of Tatler’s mission to tell stories that illuminate how Asia thinks, leads and thrives.”

Values, vocabulary and the early seeds of financial confidence

From the outset, Kim emphasised that conversations about money are, at heart, conversations about values. “Just exposing them to this,” she said of her children, “gets them thinking constantly about other people who we could be supporting or helping more… and engaging that thought about impact and philanthropy.”

Her stories—from rebuilding homes in Nepal to navigating homelessness with her children in Los Angeles—illustrated how early experiences guide not only empathy, but ambition. “It leads…to certain directions of causes that they are passionate about,” she added, “but it also gets them thinking about how they want to strive and earn money so that they can be in a position to help others.”

These reflections set the stage for a larger discussion on building the “first portfolio” not as a technical exercise, but as a living classroom in discipline, curiosity and the difference between spending and investing.

In case you missed it: Beyond the horizon: How Darren Lim & Evelyn Tan navigate life’s adventures with the Beyond Credit Card

A human-centred lens on wealth

Brice, who has advised families across markets and generations, underscored the importance of human instinct and emotional clarity in an increasingly digital world. “We still think the human expert or specialist is at the centre of everything that we do,” he noted. Technology and AI can enhance the journey, he explained, but “people like to talk…and sound out ideas,” especially when making decisions that shape family futures.

He also articulated why Standard Chartered takes a long-view approach—resisting the industry temptation to cater purely to short-term preferences. “We want to be your long-term trusted advisor,” he said. “We’re going to have difficult conversations… and build that long-term trust.”

When asked about preparing the next generation, his answer was rooted in life choices as much as investment ones. “You need to build foundations for being able to do what you want in life,” he reflected. “Having the financial stability and strength to choose what you want to do rather than what you think you have to do is where I want them to be.”

The emotional intelligence of wealth

Kim expanded this further, framing investing as a tool for self-determination, not dependence. “We don't intend to leave them an inheritance,” she said. “We want them to grow up thinking they need to earn their own future… it’s the difference between being privileged and entitled.”

For both speakers, raising capable next-generation leaders requires intentional communication—narrating investment decisions aloud, discussing risk and reward openly, and involving children early in evaluating value versus expenditure.

An evening that continues the conversation

As the dialogue drew to a close, guests stayed on for cocktails and unhurried conversations with Brice, Kim and the Standard Chartered team—extending discussions on family governance, portfolio construction and purpose-led investing.

This Tatler House Dialogue exemplified Tatler Singapore’s commitment to convening leaders at the intersection of wealth, ambition and values—and to framing wealth not as an end in itself, but as an evolving dialogue shaped by clarity, purpose and the courage to plan for the generations ahead.

NOW READ

Her Life’s Work, Her Legacy: Standard Chartered Global Private Bank partners with Front & Female to celebrate International Women’s Day

Resilience is the new measure of wealth: How Standard Chartered Global Private Bank empowers families in uncertain times

What separates exceptional leaders from the rest? Top executive coach Brenda Bence shares her leadership insights