No silos, only solutions

The US is the largest wealth pool in the world, and is expected to grow faster than other mature markets. It’s also poised to see USD 70 trillion in wealth transfer to a new generation over the next 25 years, and we estimate 30 percent of that to be privately held assets. These trends are generating increasing demand for private markets opportunities among ultra high net worth (UHNW) and Global Family Office (GFO) clients seeking to diversify their portfolios and enhance returns, or to reevaluate their business or real estate ownership. This shift in investor sentiment is also driving the launch of private single-asset and fund vehicles to meet client demand for opportunities in this space.

Private markets – investments in companies not traded publicly on stock exchanges – have been one of the highest-returning asset classes in recent years. To continue responding to client demand and interest, our Private Markets OneBank Partnership in the Americas is broadening access to this fast-growing investment area.

Combining the collective strength of our wealth management and investment banking capabilities, we’ve created a more seamless center for excellence for clients looking to invest in private deals or raise capital away from public markets. Regardless of where a UBS client sits across the issuer-to-investor spectrum, they can now benefit from an interconnected and fully integrated cross-business ecosystem. This realignment exemplifies one way we’re delivering on our client promise, while enabling growth across the region and positioning the firm to act on the biggest trends shaping client preferences now and in the years to come.

“This is a business that can deliver the full UBS investment ecosystem to our clients − and we're still only scratching the surface,” said Tom Naratil, Co-President Global Wealth Management and President UBS Americas.

This is a business that can deliver the full UBS investment ecosystem to our clients − and we're still only scratching the surface.

For clients seeking to raise private capital, dedicated investment bankers are now embedded as close to clients as possible, in Global Wealth Management's Private Wealth Services Hubs located around the US. They’re working hand-in-hand with our financial advisors to drive focused, proactive identification of private market opportunities – from origination to distribution – among our ultra high net worth and Global Family Office client base.

Feedback from UBS clients, advisors and bankers has been positive, and the outcomes to date fill us with confidence that this divisionally agnostic approach is a business model that works well for all.

Private markets have typically been viewed as more illiquid than other asset classes, meaning that it can be difficult to quickly withdraw cash or assess valuations. Because of that, they have generally been seen as most suitable to long-term investments by institutional investors, such as pension funds or the wealthiest families.

UBS’s partnerships with industry innovators, like iCapital Network and Partners Group, are helping to democratize access to private markets globally, by opening up opportunities previously tailored for UHNW and GFO clients to a broader client base, while also expanding the pool of investment opportunities for wealthy clients seeking alternative sources of yield.

We expect continued strong interest among UBS clients looking for the unique diversification offered by private markets – and we anticipate that our Private Markets OneBank Partnership has the potential to enable us to double the investment opportunities our advisors are able to share with wealth management clients based on their needs, preferences and suitability.

In a sentiment echoed by Jay Williams, a UBS Private Wealth Advisor, we’ll keep our eye on the word that matters most: teamwork.

“Financial Advisors sometimes feel like: ‘I’m the only one who should take care of my client.’ I used to do that myself. But it’s not ‘me’ or ’my team’ – it’s UBS as one that’s going to deliver.” 

It’s not ‘me’ or ‘my team’ – it’s UBS as one that’s going to deliver.