As the next generation embraces the notion of charitable giving, will a rise in billionaires be the key ingredient for an explosion of philanthropy?
The idea of doing a public good with one’s wealth is something most people find appealing, and has huge benefits for civil society. In Asia, the explosion of new wealth in recent years has increased the potential of the region to add to this pool, though charitable giving in the region has thus far been slower to materialize.
The good news is this appears to be changing, in part due to new generations embracing the notion of a more systematic approach to giving and taking advantage of an improving regulatory environment.
Indeed, new research suggests there isn’t a shortage of desire in the region to turn wealth into good deeds.
Commissioned by RBC Wealth Management, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) undertook a study of 1,051 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), including 220 respondents in parts of Asia (China, Hong Kong, and Singapore), from March to May, 2018. The survey explores how the meanings of legacy and wealth are being redefined across regions, genders and generations.
The new face of wealth and legacy study shows 81 percent of respondents in Asia believe they have more opportunity to tackle societal issues, specifically through investing, compared to 56 percent in the West.
Add to this the fact there is now more billionaires in Asia than any other area of the world, and it’s clear the ingredients exist for an explosion of philanthropy – good news in a region with substantial environmental and social challenges.
“There are a lot of wealthy people in China and also in Hong Kong that became wealthy in a very short period of time because of technology or startups. And these people are basically looking at what they will do with the money,” says Janice Park, director of client strategy and business development at RBC Wealth Management in Singapore.
The wealth explosion in the region has been staggering. According to research firm Wealth-X, the number of billionaires in Asia reached 784 last year, eclipsing the 727 in North America, with the bulk of the growth in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Perhaps naturally, there has been a bit of a lag between the explosion of wealth and the development of a culture of philanthropy, says Vivian Kiang, head of wealth planning for Asia at RBC Wealth Management in Hong Kong.
“In Europe you can easily have generations up to the third or fourth generation. In Hong Kong, I would say the second generation or the third generation is on the rise. Whereas in mainland China, it’s still the first generation of wealth,” she says.
In China in particular, there is a traditional desire to focus resources on ensuring the continued prosperity of one’s family. Charitable causes are not necessarily ignored, but the trend in the past has not been to make it a major part of one’s estate plan.
In The EIU study, 82 percent of younger respondents in Asia say they have more opportunity to tackle societal issues that are personally important to them, compared to 70 percent of older generations.
“When I talk to clients, I would say the majority of them are focusing on how to structure the wealth to pass on to their kids or grandchildren. It’s all the bloodline family that they want to benefit,” says Kiang.
However, this traditional approach may be evolving to incorporate more outside giving as younger family members – many whom have spent time living in the West – inherit estates and feel less constrained by traditional habits.
“When the second generation comes in, basically they’re … trying to make changes,” says Park.
A shift to a more systematic approach to giving – long embraced in Europe and North America – is also part of the transition in giving happening in Asia. Traditional giving in mainland China, and to a lesser extent Hong Kong, was usually done through one-off donations, often to local schools or hospitals. The idea of more structured giving through foundations is being embraced by the new generation.
“A lot of first generation (wealthy) patriarchs have given cheques to the associations and organizations they want to help out. But it’s changing,” says Park.
Perhaps predictably, the younger generation takes a broader view of giving, with a larger focus on environmental or social issues that affect the entire region, according to Park. The younger generation is also less private about its giving than past generations, which can inspire others to follow suit.
A key barrier that must also be overcome to see a continued expansion of philanthropy is lingering suspicion of charitable organizations, where transparency is often lacking.
According to the Doing Good Index 2018 — a report published by Hong Kong-based research and advisory organization, the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) — Asian philanthropists have reservations in sharing their wealth with organizations in the region, in large part due to a lack of trust.
Many organizations have tough-to-navigate websites, and it can be difficult to assess which are legitimate, according to the report. There have also been scandals that have eroded trust, one incident in 2011 eroded faith in the Red Cross Society of China , a major charity unaffiliated with the International Federation of the Red Cross.
“Transparency is one of the things I hear clients talk about when they try to decide where the money goes,” says Kiang.
She gives the example of one client who was eager to donate funds for housing for school children. He insisted going out to see the facility to make sure his funds were being properly used before committing to continued donations.
Another piece of the puzzle is the regulatory environment, which has shown mixed progress. An added benefit for philanthropy is tax advantages, but many Asian countries have limited incentives in place. Mainland China, Hong Kong, and India are in that basket, according to the CAPS report, while Singapore has by far the most tax-advantaged strategies available in the region.
In Hong Kong, 28 percent say tax considerations influence their giving, The EIU survey shows, compared to 48 percent in Singapore.
There have been signs of progress on other regulatory fronts, however. Before 2016, charitable giving in mainland China was heavily restricted, with a narrow legal definition of what qualified as a charitable activity. The passing of the Charity Law that year expanded that definition, clarified rules governing registration and fundraising and clarified enforcement.
With a complicated and rapidly evolving giving environment, having a strong advisory team is key to determining the best ways for HNW and UHNWIs to best put their funds to work for the greater good.
“On our side, it’s really helping them understand how this fits into their broader wealth planning,” says Park. “Clients I have spoken to say they want to give but they don’t know where to start. They’re looking for a very sustainable organization, a credible organization, and they want to make sure their money is being used for a good cause.”
She says has seen an increase in clients who want to make philanthropy a substantial part of their wealth plan, with the younger generation leading the way.
“They want to make sure that whatever wealth they generate; they want to give back to society.”
The margin of error on the total Asia sample is 6.6 percent with a 95 percent confidence level.
The information contained in this material has been compiled by RBC Wealth Management from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by RBC Wealth Management, its affiliates or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. All charts, illustrations, examples and other demonstrative content contained in this material have been provided for illustrative purposes only as of the date of this material, are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility. Whilst efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this material at the time of publication, errors and omissions may occur.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance, future returns are not guaranteed, and a loss of original capital may occur. Hypothetical historical data used in this material, including any underlying assumptions used, is not indicative of future performance or value. Any upward or downward trend presented is not an indication that the portfolio is likely to increase or decrease in value at any time.
Each legal jurisdiction has its own laws regulating the types of services, securities and other investment products which may be offered to their residents, as well as the process for doing so. As a result, any services, securities or investment products discussed in this material may not be offered or eligible for sale in some jurisdictions. This material is not an offer to provide any services or to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Additionally this material is not, and under no circumstances should be construed as, a solicitation to act as a securities broker or dealer in any jurisdiction by any person or company that is not legally permitted to carry on the business of a securities broker or dealer in that jurisdiction. The contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute a recommendation to purchase a particular security or investment product or take up any services. Nothing in this material constitutes legal, accounting or tax advice and you are advised to seek independent legal, tax and accounting advice prior to acting upon anything contained in this material. Interest rates, market conditions, tax and legal rules and other important factors which will be pertinent to your circumstances are subject to change. Specific investment strategies should be considered relative to the suitability of the products contained therein, your objectives and risk tolerances. For information on any services, security or investment product mentioned in this material you are advised to consult the applicable offering material pertaining to such security prior to investing or taking up such service.
To the full extent permitted by law neither RBC Wealth Management nor any of its affiliates, nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this material or the information contained herein. No matter contained in this material may be reproduced or copied by any means without the prior consent of RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management is the global brand name to describe the wealth management business of the Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates and branches, including Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch, Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch and RBC Investment Services (Asia) Limited.
® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. RBC Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. Copyright © Royal Bank of Canada 2018. All rights reserved.
The material herein is for informational purposes only and is not directed at, nor intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject Royal Bank of Canada or its subsidiaries or constituent business units (including RBC Wealth Management) to any licensing or registration requirement within such country.
This is not intended to be either a specific offer by any Royal Bank of Canada entity to sell or provide, or a specific invitation to apply for, any particular financial account, product or service. Royal Bank of Canada does not offer accounts, products or services in jurisdictions where it is not permitted to do so, and therefore the RBC Wealth Management business is not available in all countries or markets.
The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as professional advice or opinion provided to the user, nor as a recommendation of any particular approach. Nothing in this material constitutes legal, accounting or tax advice and you are advised to seek independent legal, tax and accounting advice prior to acting upon anything contained in this material. Interest rates, market conditions, tax and legal rules and other important factors which will be pertinent to your circumstances are subject to change. This material does not purport to be a complete statement of the approaches or steps that may be appropriate for the user, does not take into account the user’s specific investment objectives or risk tolerance and is not intended to be an invitation to effect a securities transaction or to otherwise participate in any investment service.
To the full extent permitted by law neither RBC Wealth Management nor any of its affiliates, nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this document or the information contained herein. No matter contained in this material may be reproduced or copied by any means without the prior consent of RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management is the global brand name to describe the wealth management business of the Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates and branches, including, RBC Investment Services (Asia) Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch, and the Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch. Additional information available upon request.
Royal Bank of Canada is duly established under the Bank Act (Canada), which provides limited liability for shareholders.
® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. RBC Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. Copyright © Royal Bank of Canada 2024. All rights reserved.
We want to talk about your financial future.