Several AMAF members will be attending this year’s Citywealth London Forum, taking place on May 12, 2026, in London—the premier gathering for international private wealth professionals. On this occasion, we spoke with Calin Lapuste, Global Head of Relationships and Head of Citywealth USA, about Monaco’s positioning in the competition among wealth management jurisdictions and the evolving expectations of Europe’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
“The Citywealth London Forum is a gathering of senior professionals in private client and private wealth management, including intermediaries (accountants and lawyers) and trustees globally working with ultra-high-net-worth clients.
It is structured around a series of panel discussions addressing core issues such as succession planning, taxation, governance, and the impact of political and regulatory developments.
Participants typically attend to exchange views with peers to gain a clearer understanding of how others are responding to shared challenges.
“Monaco is one of the longest established jurisdictions in the global environment for the British. Whilst other jurisdictions have risen up like Dubai and Milan, Monaco retains its popularity and cache with the UK. Previous forums show us that uhnw or family offices seek closeness to culture and geography that matches their own. In the light of the recent developments with Iran, it has also become more crucial to stay in politically stable jurisdictions.
In practice, Monaco has the right cluster of professionals to serve the uhnw market and the time is right for Monaco to remind the world of its beautiful riviera and cultural calendar.
“The primary focus remains on preserving wealth and ensuring its orderly transition across generations. There is, however, a greater emphasis on governance than in the past, with families adopting more formal structures to support continuity and decision-making. This includes the increased use of family offices and advisory frameworks.
“The traditional centres still hold strong. There is however an increase in multi jurisdictional bases for business strategy and operational objectives. For instance uhnw taking a base in Singapore or Hong Kong for an Asian hub. However it is a watching brief. Singapore has changed its residency programmes and these can then impact uhnw choices. Dubai has been a big hub but now it remains to be seen what the future holds for the destination. This uncertainty very much puts Monaco in the frame as an elite destination.
