Wealth management group Wrise has opened a Shenzhen office and launched in this southern Chinese megacity its Wrise Academy, a flagship initiative under Wrise Prestige, which aims to serve  “as a cornerstone in developing the next generation of wealth management professionals”, the company says.

The academy provides comprehensive programmes tailored for independent wealth consultants ( IWCs ) and family office practitioners, while offering specialized programmes for the next generation of affluent clients.

This dual approach, Wrise adds, ensures both professional development and successful wealth inheritance, addressing the growing complexity of modern wealth management needs.

The academy brings together seasoned financial experts from top-tier investment and private banks, consulting firms and other financial institutions to offer participants, it says, “unique practical insights and forward-looking perspectives”.

The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, covering essential areas, such as family governance, asset allocation and risk management.

This approach integrates the wealth manager’s professional service experience with extensive partner resources, it points out, “providing students with unparalleled learning opportunities and industry connections”.

In the family governance courses, the academy will delve into a wide array of case studies from renowned family businesses globally, with a particular focus on Asia. This approach is designed to equip participants with a deep understanding of family wealth inheritance and governance. By doing so, it aims to prepare them to address challenges in family business succession and transform theoretical knowledge into practical solutions.

GBA targeted

The strategic location in Shenzhen positions the academy at the heart of the Greater Bay Area ( GBA )’s financial innovation hub. The GBA, according to Hurun Wealth Report 2024, is home to approximately 1.24 million affluent, 510,000 high-net-worth and 30,000 ultra-high-net-worth families, demonstrating its strong potential as a global wealth management hub.

In 2024, the region’s financial services sector grew by 6%, with policy initiatives like the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme significantly driving the market demand. These developments, Wrise notes, have created substantial growth opportunities for the wealth management industry in the GBA.

As part of the GBA strategy, Wrise recruits talent in Hong Kong to become IWCs. The academy supports these individuals by offering workshops covering finance, economics and management, and “creating pathways for emerging professionals to access international opportunities across global financial centres”.

“The establishment of Wrise Academy marks a crucial step in our mission to elevate the standards of professionalism within the wealth management industry,” adds Stephen Yan, chairman of Wrise Prestige in Hong Kong. “By bringing together a faculty of globally renowned financial experts, we are dedicated to equipping our trainees with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, while also nurturing them as future leaders in wealth management.”