APAC Family Offices Outperformed Global Investment Peers
New data shows these firms achieved strong returns by leaning into active management and artificial intelligence.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Investing
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Asia-Pacific family offices outpaced global peers during the first half of 2026, with over one-quarter of firms reporting returns exceeding 15 per cent year-to-date. These results reflect a shift toward active management and targeted direct investments.
Why it matters
The strong performance of APAC family offices highlights the impact of aggressive portfolio strategies and sector-specific focus, such as artificial intelligence, on long-term wealth growth. These trends provide a baseline for understanding how institutional-style investment management shapes capital outcomes for high-net-worth families.
Twenty-six per cent of surveyed APAC family offices achieved returns above 15 per cent year-to-date. These firms manage portfolios for families with an average net worth of US$2.1 billion.
The players
Citi Wealth
A global division of a major banking institution that provides wealth management, investment advisory, and financial planning services to high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
The details
Family offices in the region attributed their performance to a high rate of active management, adopted by 62 per cent of firms, and the use of hedging strategies by 49 per cent. Furthermore, 79 per cent of these offices participate in direct investments, with 80 per cent identifying artificial intelligence as a primary focus. Internal teams generate 77 per cent of these direct opportunities, utilizing AI to streamline analysis, decision support, and workflow automation.
Timeline
Citi Wealth surveyed 351 global family offices during June and July 2026.
The performance data covers returns achieved year-to-date through July 2026.
Nearly 40 per cent of respondents project increased family globalization over the next five years.
One-third of family offices anticipate leadership transitions within the next five years.
Money Landscape
The performance data is drawn from the 2026 Citi Wealth Global Family Office Report. It marks a departure from traditional passive trends as these offices increasingly prioritize active management to navigate shifting global market conditions.
The reliance on artificial intelligence for investment analysis among these firms illustrates the growing importance of digital tools in institutional asset management. Investors should discuss with a financial professional how their own portfolios might incorporate similar data-driven decision frameworks.
The takeaway
The success of APAC family offices underscores the effectiveness of using internal teams and AI to capture direct investment opportunities. Investors can track their own portfolio strategy against these professional benchmarks by reviewing their asset allocation annually with a qualified financial advisor.
Further reading
Learn more about market trends and portfolio construction in the Investing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NST Online.
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