The wealth management business says it is about "making wealth easy" by cutting through the web of multiple banking relations that many UHNW individuals and families accumulate.

Singapore-headquartered WRISE Group has launched its Shenzhen office and its WRISE Academy in the Chinese city. 

The group is targeting growth in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). It cited figures showing that the GBA has about 1.24 million affluent, 510,000 high net worth families, and 30,000 ultra-HNW families.

Turning to its Academy, WRISE said it is a “flagship initiative” under the WRISE Prestige subsidiary that serves affluent clients. The Academy provides programmes for independent wealth consultants (IWCs) and family office practitioners.

WRISE said it “actively recruits” IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates) talent in Hong Kong to become IWCs; it offers these people workshops covering finance, economics, and management.

"The establishment of WRISE Academy marks a crucial step in our mission to elevate the standards of professionalism within the wealth management industry,” Stephen Yan, chairman of WRISE Prestige in Hong Kong, said. 

Growth has been rapid since WRISE was founded in July 2022. The WRISE Group of companies includes WRISE Wealth Management (Singapore), WRISE Wealth Management (Hong Kong), WRISE Wealth Management Middle East Ltd (DIFC, regulated by the DFSA), WeWrise Services, and affiliated companies WRISE Prestige Securities (Hong Kong), WRISE Prestige Asset Management (Hong Kong) and WRISE Financial Services (Hong Kong). WRISE is a platform linked with financial partners including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, UBS and others. In January last year, it opened an office in Dubai. In November 2023, it appointed Shigehiro Suzuki as market head of Japan.  (This news service has interviewed Derrick Tan, chairman of WRISE Group, about the business and its strategy.)

Academy, new office
The new institution brings together seasoned financial experts from investment banks, private banks, consulting firms, and other financial institutions. 

In the family governance courses, WRISE Academy will explore case studies from family businesses globally, with a particular focus on Asia. 

WRISE said its new office in Shenzhen is at the “heart of the GBA's financial innovation hub.”