WHAT’S UP
The week, distilled
UHWNI
UBS Global Entrepreneur Report 2026. Entrepreneurs are heading into 2026 with cautious optimism and a clear growth agenda: expanding across borders, accelerating AI adoption, and preparing for strategic exits.
#entrepreneur #wealth #business #strategicgrowth
INVESTMENT
The Future of Real Estate: Ecosystems and Active Ownership. As ecosystems, industrialized construction, and AI reshape the sector, real estate is entering an era where operating performance defines success.
#realestate #ecosystem #ai #industryshift
PURPOSE
Once a hallmark of “good billionaire” status, The Giving Pledge is now facing a quiet backlash. Some early signatories are revisiting their commitments, reflecting a shift in how the ultra-wealthy balance philanthropy in an era of a more voracious capitalism.
#thegivingpledge #philanthropy #capitalism
COLLECTIBLES
The rise of a new asset class. As record-breaking sales capture global attention, Asia’s collectors, investors and entrepreneurs are helping turn Pokémon trading cards from nostalgic collectibles into a fast-growing alternative asset market.
#collectibles #assetclass #pokemon
EDUCATION
The slow death of the English boarding school. The closure of Rendcomb College reflects a deeper crisis in Britain’s boarding school model, where demand for traditional boarding is fading, forcing consolidation across the sector and raising questions about the future of elite education in the UK.
#boardingschool #britisheducation #futureofeducation
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Wealth managers are betting that lifestyle management will keep the UHNWI. As the $100tn wealth transfer approaches, firms are bundling concierge-style services, from estate planning to everyday logistics, to retain assets and deepen relationships with the next generation.
#lifestylemanagement #privatebanking #future
WHAT’S THAT
This week’s visual clue.
The Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report
The global art market edged back into growth in 2025, but the rebound remains uneven and still below its 2022 peak. Sales in the global art market grew by 4% year-on-year in 2025 to an estimated $59.6 billion, with aggregate value rising in both the dealer and auction sectors. The momentum is being driven primarily by high-end transactions, with top-tier works, especially in the United States, fueling value growth while broader market activity stays relatively subdued.
Beneath the surface, stable volumes, shifting auction dynamics, and ongoing policy uncertainty point to a market increasingly dependent on its upper segment, raising questions about the depth and sustainability of the recovery.
WHAT’S ON
This week’s pick of entertainment
LISTEN
“Dreams don’t have a price” . - The philosophy behind Lake Como’s most iconic hotels
The Stanza podcast
Valentina De Santis is a third-generation hotelier and the owner of two of Lake Como’s most celebrated properties: the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the 24-room villa hotel, Passalacqua which debuted at #1 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list in 2022.
Her family has shaped Lake Como hospitality for over half a century. What began as a bold entrepreneurial leap became a generational legacy rooted in independence, long-term stewardship, and an uncompromising belief in beauty.
ATTEND
TEFAF Maastricht Art Museums in Japan
March 14th - 19th
Widely regarded as a premier fair for fine art, antiques, and design, TEFAF Maastricht brings together over 260 dealers from 20 countries, showcasing everything from Old Masters and classical antiquities to modern and contemporary art, jewelry, and design.
Every object is rigorously vetted by 200 experts, giving collectors confidence as they explore ten curated sections—including Focus, highlighting solo artists, and Showcase, featuring the next generation of galleries.
WHAT ELSE
Wealth, off duty.
Why investors won’t know what to make of AI for a while - THE ECONOMIST
From Park Lane to Palm Beach: London club owner eyes Florida rival to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago - THE GUARDIAN
Forget Influencers. Welcome to the World of the ‘Alternatively Influential.’ - WALL STREET JOURNAL
Is Paris ready for the super-rich? - FINANCIAL TIMES
