Abstract

This chapter explores the integration of sustainability into wealth management. It examines shifting client preferences driven by generational change and the role of regulatory frameworks in shaping standardized, sustainable investment practices, highlighting the different developments as well across key wealth management hubs. The chapter highlights the challenges and opportunities of ESG vs SDGs investing, clarifying how ESG principles and SDGs complement each other while addressing distinct priorities. ESG investing provides a solid sustainability framework while SDGs investing enables high-net-worth individuals and families to align their wealth with societal goals, fostering legacy-building through targeted outcomes. It also outlines investment gaps within SDGs, identifying sectors most in need of funding and attention. The chapter further discusses stewardship (active ownership) as a strategy for driving corporate practices toward social and environmental goals, offering an alternative to divestment when values misalign, which is gaining more weight in wealth management. Case studies showcase ESG-aligned investments that support legacy-building and succession planning, alongside SDGs-aligned approaches that facilitate impactful intergenerational wealth transfer.