HKU launches wealth management academy to boost city’s role as hub for ‘new money’

On Tuesday, Hong Kong's University of Hong Kong Business School inaugurated the city's first university-led Wealth Management Academy, aiming to bolster the region's role as a hub for "new money." The academy will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, and academics to train professionals for the wealth management, asset management, and family-office sectors.

Christopher Hui, Hong Kong's secretary for financial services and the treasury, emphasized that the quality of human capital determines how well financial capital is managed, highlighting Hong Kong's unique position as a bridge between mainland China and the global market. The launch coincides with a growing demand for wealth management professionals, as Hong Kong has surpassed Switzerland to become the world's largest cross-border wealth management center.

Hong Kong's wealth reached US$2.95 trillion in 2025, compared to Switzerland's US$2.94 trillion, according to Boston Consulting Group. Hongbin Cai, dean of HKU Business School, noted that Hong Kong should focus on "new money from the East" to complement "old money from the West." The academy will build upon HKU's existing wealth management programs, including an undergraduate asset management and private banking program launched in 2017, a master's program in wealth management in 2024, and a master's program in family wealth management in 2025.

The academy will focus on research, talent development, and industry engagement, organizing activities such as scholarships, forums, company visits, and practitioner dialogues.