Vanquour on the $100T Wealth Transfer and What Comes Next

Lu Zhou  CEO of Vanquour at Money20/20 Middle East 2025, explains why her firm has been spending time in the Gulf. Based in New York City, Zhou says the team flew to Saudi Arabia to understand local policy, meet with government and leading families, and deepen relationships with family offices. The draw, as Vanqour notes, is the region’s fast-growing opportunity set and a large pool of under-tapped capital looking for thoughtful stewardship.

Vanquour frames the moment within a broader macro shift: a generational wealth transfer estimates at around $100 trillion over the next two decades. In her view, wealth transfer across generations is the “easy” part; the real work is preserving and growing it with the right governance, mission, and controls so businesses and portfolios succeed under new leadership. She stresses that her 20 years on Wall Street have reinforced the importance of building durable structures, from investment policy and risk management to succession planning and board composition — that can survive leadership change.

A key theme for Zhou is the rising influence of women in wealth and points out that roughly 30% of the transfer, at least $30 trillion will land with women, including in the Middle East. That reality is shaping product design and client service models. Zhou says many women she meets prioritize impact, sustainability, education, and intergenerational development, and she argues these priorities should be woven into strategic asset allocation rather than treated as side projects. Vanquour also emphasizes the basics of client experience: women expect to be treated as equals, and she’s met highly sophisticated female leaders in the region who want straight, professional engagement.

Beyond returns, Vanquour frames family wealth as a vehicle for legacy and values. Capital, she says, should be paired with a clear purpose and mission so future generations inherit more than a balance sheet. With proper guidance and professional service, and by respecting different perspectives on risk, impact, and time horizons, Vanquour believes wealth in the region can transition “gracefully” and continue to prosper.