Julius Baer Family Barometer 2026: only 2.3% of business-owning families are ready to sell

When a family business changes hands, far more is at stake than the price. That is the message of the Family Barometer 2026, published in Zurich on 20 October 2026 by Julius Baer. Now in its sixth edition and produced for the first time together with Ernst & Young (EY), the study follows ultra-wealthy business-owning families from the preparation of a sale or transfer through to life after the exit.

Few are truly ready

Family businesses remain the principal source of wealth for ultra-high-net-worth families, known in the industry as UHNW families. Yet relatively few of them are prepared for the moment ownership changes hands. According to the study, only 2.3% of UHNW business-owning families are considered fully ready for a sale or transfer. 56.3% are only somewhat prepared and 29.5% are not ready at all. Succession looks tight as well: only 22.6% of the next generation are considered ready and fully equipped to take over the family business.

The biggest hurdle is alignment

Once a sale is on the agenda, preparation involves far more than financial and technical questions. 80% of respondents cite a lack of family alignment as a factor limiting readiness, making it the most frequently named obstacle. Tax considerations follow at 55.4%, ahead of governance and legal structures. Asked what drives disagreement, 60.6% point to emotional attachment to the business, followed by differing views on its future direction and by diverging valuation expectations.

The next generation often stays on the sidelines. 45.6% of families consult their successors on a potential sale without giving them a vote, while only 18.5% involve them actively in the discussion with an equal say.

Life after the sale

The work does not end with the signature. After an exit, preserving joint family wealth is the leading priority for 79.4% of respondents, followed by clarifying family roles and establishing a new sense of purpose. Families have to move from running a concentrated operating asset to stewarding liquid and diversified wealth. According to the study, wealth planning, including succession, is the area where they most often need additional expertise, and investment vehicles and single-family offices are among the structures most frequently considered after a sale.

Regional differences are marked. Preserving wealth dominates in Europe and Latin America, while families in Asia and the Middle East place greater weight on long-term growth and expansion.

What occupies wealthy families worldwide

Beyond the exit, the Family Barometer also asks about broader priorities. As in last year’s edition, succession planning ranks first globally, followed by building a family legacy and by individual and family growth opportunities. Among investment priorities, respondents name geopolitical diversification ahead of inflation protection and real estate investing. Taxation, intergenerational wealth transfer and political stability remain the leading societal concerns.

How the study was made

The Family Barometer is published by Julius Baer and EY Switzerland. It is based on a survey answered by more than 700 financial professionals, including experts from both firms as well as independent third-party advisers. They serve UHNW clients across regions and disciplines, from relationship management, tax and law to family offices, wealth planning, investment and consulting. The figures therefore reflect the view of the advisers rather than a survey of the families themselves.