Generational Ownership through Legacy Design

How to Build Generational Wealth: Here’s How You Can!

In a time where the global transfer of wealth is set to exceed $2.5 trillion by 2030, one question looms large: will the next generation be ready to receive it?

Elements Legacy Design,” Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and founder of Wealth for Generations, David Joshua Lee delivers a compelling case twhy families—especially in Asia— rethink how they view legacy.

But this isn’t just another talk about financial planning.

Drawing on deeply personal stories and decades of cross-border advisory experience, David challenges audiences to shift their focus from wealth accumulation to wealth preservation and intentional distribution. With roots in Penang and a practice now based in Singapore, his message bridges both cultural and practical nuances of family legacy in Southeast Asia.

“Wealth without wisdom destroys families,” David says, recounting how his great-grandfather built convents and schools across Malaysia—only for the family fortune to vanish by the third generation.

His mother, a humble housewife who passed from cancer, left behind a simple gold coin and a far more valuable inheritance: a well-structured legacy plan that ensured her children were financially secure and emotionally grounded. That moment, David shares, was the spark that ignited his mission: to help families live and leave a legacy with clarity and purpose.

Frameworks That Fuel Financial Resilience

Throughout the talk, David introduces two powerful concepts—G.O.L.D. and A.B.C.D.E.—frameworks he developed to simplify the complex world of legacy planning. From accounting for digital assets and overseas investments to avoiding the “3 Silent Killers” of wealth—Cost, Confusion, and Conflict—these models offer families a blueprint for continuity.

He explains how proper tools—like specified investment accounts, family trusts, and corporate executors—can prevent heartbreaking family feuds and ensure wealth remains in the bloodline, even in the face of divorce, incapacity, or untimely death.

Real People. Real Stories. Real Solutions.

What makes David’s talk remarkable is its blend of financial acumen and human insight. He shares real-life client cases that touch on common but overlooked risks—like how unclaimed assets, poor asset documentation, or the lack of a will can result in multi-million dollar losses.

In one case, a father of three safeguarded his children's inheritance from future in-laws by implementing a trust. In another, a C-suite executive used a legacy plan to fund future education without enabling financial dependence.

His examples underscore one truth: financial literacy is not just about money—it's about preparing your family for life without you.

A Voice for a New Generation of Legacy Planning

David’s approach is as structured as it is soulful. As one of the region’s leading experts in cross-border legacy planning, his credibility stems not only from certifications and experience, but from lived conviction. He doesn’t just advise—he implements the very same structures for his own family, including a family trust, a treasure fund, and guidelines for how wealth should empower, not enable.

“Be your family’s Shark Tank,” he says. “Why wait for outside investors when you can invest in your own children’s dreams?”

Watch the Full Talk

Whether you’re a business owner, senior executive, or simply a parent with a vision for your children, David’s keynote is an essential watch.

🎥 Watch the full keynote now:

Final Thoughts

Building generational wealth is a journey, not a sprint. It requires consistent effort, patience, and a clear vision of the future. By cultivating a wealth-building mindset, investing wisely, protecting your assets, and educating your family, you can create a legacy of financial stability and opportunity for generations to come.
Get in touch with us to start today, and watch your wealth—and your family’s future—grow.

About David Joshua Lee
David is a second-generation financial advisor, CFP®, and founder of Wealth for Generations. Based in Singapore, he specializes in helping successful families across Singapore and Malaysia optimize their financial plans, design cross-border legacy strategies, and transfer wealth meaningfully across generations.