Cover Schroders' Vincent Ee, head of Investments, Asia; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia; Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head
Schroders' Vincent Ee, head of Investments, Asia; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia; Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head
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Amid shifting markets and rising expectations, Schroders delivers aligned advice, private market insight, and long-term strategy for UHNW families.
In an era defined by volatility and complexity, wealth management is evolving. It is no longer just about the traditional twin pillars of capital preservation and product-driven solutions. Instead, vision, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose have become central. This is especially true across Asia, where family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) are navigating changing market dynamics, technological progress, the balancing act of intergenerational transitions, and a growing expectation for wealth to go beyond mere returns.
Within this landscape, Schroders Wealth Management stands apart by bridging more than two centuries of global experience and heritage with a continuous spirit of innovation as they support not only families and UHNWIs, but also charities, foundations, and international professionals seeking seamless, values-driven wealth management.
“Family ownership has shaped our identity. It means we think in decades, not quarters,” shares Jason Lai, chief executive of Schroders Wealth Management, Asia. “At the same time, we continuously invest in technology, digital platforms, and data-driven solutions. Stability gives clients reassurance, while technology helps them embrace innovation safely.”
This approach—underscored by a steadfast commitment to stewardship—delivers trusted expertise in uncertain times and a partnership that supports clients in taking the long view.
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Above Tatler Singapore's Wealth Management, December 2025
Tatler Singapore's Wealth Management, December 2025
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Two Centuries of Continuity
As part of Schroders—the global asset management group with over US$1 trillion in assets under management and presence across 38 markets—Schroders Wealth Management delivers both global scale and local expertise to clients in key markets such as the UK, Switzerland, and Singapore.
Yet, even as a FTSE 100 company, the Schroder family remains the group’s largest shareholder, upholding the values and ethos of a family enterprise. This continuity of family ownership has shaped not only the firm’s culture but also its deep understanding of how families build, preserve, and pass on wealth across generations.
“The fact that Schroders is a family-owned firm means our heritage naturally creates empathy with families and entrepreneurs,” notes Lai. “Having navigated similar challenges for more than 220 years across multiple generations, we bring that lived experience into every relationship.”
This has translated to a consistent approach of disciplined investment, research-led decision making, and integrity—evolving alongside new markets, technologies, and client expectations but always informed by heritage.
Above Jason Lai, CEO, Asia, Schroders Wealth Management
Jason Lai, CEO, Asia, Schroders Wealth Management
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Alignment Over Intermediation
As an independent wealth manager, Schroders Wealth Management embraces a distinct philosophy, placing alignment with clients at the core of its service rather than acting as an intermediary. Rather than focusing on product distribution, the firm positions itself as an investment partner and steward of long-term wealth.
Lai sees this as an important distinction. “Rather than operating from a traditional sell-side model, we seek to ‘disintermediate’—removing unnecessary layers and ensuring we sit on the same side of the table as our clients, fully aligned with their interests.”
Schroders Wealth Management achieves this through an open-architecture and multi-custodial model, which empowers clients to decide where their assets are held, while the firm focuses on strategic advice, governance, and tailored portfolio construction. Such independence is further reinforced by an unconflicted fee structure designed to prioritise outcomes over transactions.
Clients also benefit from institutional-quality research and portfolio management, drawing on the breadth of Schroders’s global investment platform. In this way, Schroders offers an approach to private wealth that combines the rigour of a global asset manager with the perspectives unique to a family enterprise—the best of both worlds.
Taking The Long View
For families in Asia—where Schroders has been present for over five decades—this balanced approach between institutional discipline and family-centric thinking is particularly valuable. As families build professionalism into their wealth structures, there remains a strong desire to conserve flexibility, values, and trust.
At the same time, external conditions—from inflation and shifting interest rates to geopolitical events and the spectre of an AI-driven market bubble—add layers of challenge to decision-making.
“The environment today is one where clients are constantly inundated with noise—from the media, markets, and their social channels,” observes Vincent Ee, head of investments, Asia. “Helping them distil facts from noise is crucial, and we do so through ongoing dialogue to keep clients informed and empowered, so they can make timely and confident decisions. We also emphasise disciplined portfolio construction and diversification by staying anchored to long-term goals rather than being distracted by short-term market swings.”
This disciplined mindset underpins Schroders’s investment philosophy. In Ee’s opinion, it is “discipline and composure” that “make a world of difference in the long run”.
Above Schroders' Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Vincent Ee, head of investments, Asia
Schroders' Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Vincent Ee, head of investments, Asia
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Adapting to a Shifting Investment Universe
As for the long run, Ee observes that the landscape is changing: markets are not reverting to past patterns but are instead undergoing a gradual—and likely permanent—shift away from familiar norms. “The number of listed public companies has declined significantly over the past three decades, while the number of private companies has expanded,” he shares. “The investment universe has evolved, and investors need to evolve with it.”
To that end, Schroders Wealth Management advocates looking beyond traditional public markets, since an increasing proportion of growth is now captured while companies remain private—and for much longer periods. To address this, the firm offers a broad spectrum of private market opportunities, from semi-liquid strategies, annual vintage vehicles, and more bespoke approaches. This, however, does not mean turning away from public markets. Ee highlights healthcare as one example of an area of focus in public markets, given the sector’s current valuations and compelling long-term growth drivers.
For UHNW individuals and families, investment decisions must respond to changing times, but the overall strategies should remain anchored to long-term goals. Schroders Wealth Management supports this balance with buy-side research and a robust institutional risk framework, helping clients identify both enduring and emerging themes.
Ee adds, “In this evolving universe, it is not about chasing fads, but about identifying enduring themes, supported by deep research, risk oversight, and the patient perspective that comes from heritage.”
Building Families Beyond Portfolios
Working with and supporting families has always been a central pillar of Schroders Wealth Management with the firm’s Family Office Services forming the foundation of this commitment. Its offerings extend well beyond asset management, covering advisory and executional support in areas such as governance frameworks, succession planning, and philanthropic strategy.
At the heart of these services is a guiding principle: wealth should serve continuity, not complexity.
“Growth remains important, but purpose, impact, and governance have become central to the dialogue for families today,” says Lai. “Families are thinking not only about financial returns but also about legacy, succession, and how their wealth can reflect their values. There’s also a growing focus on aligning wealth with meaning, by creating impact that endures beyond a single generation.”
Above Schroders' Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia
Schroders' Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia
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Sustainability and Impact
For a growing number of families, impact and sustainability are integrated into the definition of success.
Schroders is a pioneer in this space, having integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its investment process for more than two decades—well before ESG became mainstream. Today, these considerations are embedded in the investment process using proprietary tools such as SustainEx, which measures both the positive and negative externalities of portfolio holdings. This data-driven approach offers nuanced, objective, and comprehensive insights into sustainability risks and opportunities.
Schroders’ focus on patience and long-term thinking extends naturally to its steadfast commitment to responsible investing. “Yes, focus on ESG has fluctuated, and there’s been some fatigue or even de-emphasis in parts of the corporate world,” concedes Ee. “But we believe its importance remains fundamental.”
He continues, “We view ESG not as a trade-off, but as a driver of alpha—risk-adjusted investment returns. ESG risks that may not be visible today do surface over time, and companies that fail to manage these risks typically underperform. Put another way, incorporating ESG gives us a more complete and forward-looking view of a company’s health and resilience.”
From this perspective, clients can pursue returns that deliver social and environmental impact, seeing the two as interconnected. Over the long term, ESG must be a key driver in investment decisions—and this philosophy is deeply embedded at Schroders.
The VCC Advantage
For families seeking new approaches to structuring wealth, the Variable Capital Company (VCC) framework in Singapore represents a significant advance.
Schroders Wealth Management has been an early adopter—and advocate—of the VCC, a next-generation fund framework that provides greater flexibility, transparency, and regulatory oversight, by operating as a single umbrella for multiple sub-funds. Schroders Wealth Management’s VCC platform helps families simplify administration, reduce costs, and optimise tax efficiency.
Beyond these operational advantages, a VCC enables families to consolidate assets across jurisdictions, manage both private and public holdings seamlessly, and customise investment mandates—all within a single entity.
For Schroders Wealth Management, the VCC exemplifies how institutional-quality infrastructure can be tailored to meet the unique needs of families. The firm’s role extends beyond simple structuring, providing strategic oversight, governance support, and portfolio management. Clients gain access to a flexible yet robust platform for long-term asset management that combines Singapore’s regulatory strengths with Schroders’ investment expertise.
Above Schroders' Vincent Ee, head of investments, Asia; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia; Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head
Schroders' Vincent Ee, head of investments, Asia; Richard Lewis, managing director and team head, Family Office, Asia; Jason Lai, CEO, Asia; Max White, managing director and team head; Caroline Liew, executive director and team head
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Empowering Clients and the Future of Wealth Management
At the heart of Schroders Wealth Management’s offering is a commitment to transparency and clarity. The open-architecture, multi-custodial platform allows families to view all their holdings in one place—reducing complexity and enabling truly informed decisions. Technology, analytics, and AI enhance this experience, supporting scenario modelling and risk management.
Yet, personal relationships remain paramount.
Digital innovation should “strengthen relationships, not supplant them”, by allowing users to automate routine, time-consuming tasks, Lai notes. “It frees us to devote more attention to strategy, insight, and personal connection,” he explains. “It’s critical to maintain the reassurance and understanding that come from direct relationships.”
Advisors, therefore, remain central to the process. “Technology should augment, not replace, the trust-based dynamic in private banking and wealth management,” adds Ee. “Ultimately, it’s the combination of data-driven intelligence and human empathy that will define successful wealth managers in the future.”
The Future of Wealth Management
As client attitudes on wealth and legacy continue to evolve, so too must the definition of stewardship. For Schroders, the future of wealth management lies not in scale or speed, but in deep understanding.
“We must obviously adapt and broaden our concept of stewardship to reflect our clients’ evolving aspirations,” reflects Lai. “It’s no longer just about financial preservation and growth, but also wellbeing, resilience, and personal fulfilment. Wealth management is a platform for achieving all of these. Ultimately, stewardship is about supporting total wellbeing, and our holistic approach integrates financial strategies with these non-financial dimensions to create both economic and social value.”
Still, this future will continue to rest on the same principles that have guided Schroders for more than two centuries: discipline, prudence, and foresight. These enduring values are simply being applied in new ways—through technology, innovative structures, and fresh perspectives—to give families, charities, foundations, and international professionals even greater control over their legacy.
In a landscape that is constantly changing, the value of the long view endures. The true measure of wealth lies not only in preservation and growth, but in the positive difference it can make for future generations and the communities it touches.
For more information on Schroders Wealth Management, click here.
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