19/02/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | FEB 19, 2026

20 Key estate planning trends in 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Something changed in Malaysia’s estate planning landscape in 2025. Wealth managers and trust companies began reporting a marked shift in client behaviour: families weren’t asking “Trust or Will?” anymore. They were asking “How do I use both?” The trend started quietly in the first quarter among high-net-worth families and business owners, then accelerated through the year as awareness grew. By year-end, the dual instrument approach – combining a Will for documentation with a Trust for protection – had become the dominant strategy among those serious about estate planning. The numbers behind the shift are stark: RM90 billion in frozen assets – nearly 5% of GDP – sits locked in probate, while 85% of Malaysians still have no formal estate plan. But

financing models fail to reflect their actual performance. This longer-term view also shapes how Paydibs thinks about the next phase of payment infrastructure, where transaction data can help businesses access financing based on proven business activity rather than rigid credit assumptions. When designed thoughtfully, embedded financing can offer a more inclusive and transparent pathway to working capital. For Malaysia’s digital economy to succeed, its infrastructure must serve those at the foundation of the economy. Payments are one of the few systems that interact with every business, every day. When designed with intent, they do more than move money. They strengthen resilience, support sustainable growth and restore confidence. As the country moves from vision to execution, the true measure of success will be whether business owners feel more in control of their future. Payments, when treated as growth infrastructure rather than a commodity, have the power to make that difference. This article was contributed by Paydibs CEO Tee Kean Kang ( pix ). authority over online holdings that might otherwise be lost permanently. Hew explained: “Think of it this way: a Will is your instruction manual. A Trust is your execution team. One handles documentation. The other handles protection. “Your Will state who gets what and appoints guardians for minor children. Your Trust ensures business continuity, assets are managed for vulnerable beneficiaries, and provides immediate liquidity while probate runs its course.” “Most families need both,” Hew added. “The Will covers your final wishes. The Trust covers everything that cannot wait.” The industry is pushing three priorities: scaling professional estate planning nationwide, educating families on how Wills and Trusts work together, and developing solutions for complex situations – special-needs care, elder support, business succession. The opportunity is massive. With RM90 billion still frozen and millions of families unprotected, Malaysia’s estate planning market is only beginning to mature. For families with real complexity – aging parents, special-needs children, or a business that employs dozens – the message is clear: one tool won’t do the job anymore. Modern estate planning means using both. A word of caution. Not all Trust companies are created equal. The industry’s rapid growth has attracted new providers – not all with the governance standards, financial strength, or track record needed for managing family wealth across decades.

international through strategic partnerships such as Alipay+, Paydibs helps businesses welcome global customers without disrupting their day-to-day operation. This approach lowers friction at checkout and allows Malaysian merchants to compete regionally with greater confidence and ease. At the point of sale, business owners are equally clear about their expectations. They prioritise reliability, transparency and security over complexity. They do not want multiple devices, a fragmented system or increased exposure to fraud risks. Consolidated payment solutions that are secure by design simplify daily operations and reduce vulnerabilities. Faster access to funds further improves cash flow and removes the stress associated with waiting days for settlements. While these improvements may seem incremental, their impact is significant when margins are tight and operational demands are constant. Looking ahead, the broader potential of payments lies in how transaction data is used responsibly to unlock access to opportunity. Many capable businesses remain underserved because traditional wallets Malaysia is aging rapidly. The proportion of citizens aged 60 and above is projected to reach 15% by 2030, officially making Malaysia an aged nation by United Nations standards. This demographic shift is making Trusts increasingly critical – not just for passing wealth down, but for managing it during one’s incapacity, senility or dementia. The fastest-growing segment of Trust clients is not passing wealth down but for a trustee to manage for their beneficiaries. Retirees are using Trusts to maintain financial independence as they age. The structure gives them continued access to their own money for medical care and living expenses, with professional management if cognitive ability declines. As Malaysia’s elderly population grows, this approach to financial independence becomes more relevant across society. It is estate planning in reverse: instead of freezing assets after death, Trusts keep them flowing during life. For business owners, probate delays can be fatal. Bank accounts freeze. Decisions stall. Suppliers and employees wait. A 12-24 month freeze does not just disrupt business – it destroys value. “The business doesn’t care that you’ve passed away. Payroll is due Friday. Your biggest client needs an answer tomorrow,” Hew said. “A Trust ensures someone with authority can act immediately.” A Will might specify who inherits the business. A Trust ensures there is a business left to inherit. Cryptocurrency wallets. Online investment accounts. Digital intellectual property. These assets disappear if no one has access credentials – and probate courts do not have your passwords. Trusts can address digital asset management in ways Wills cannot, providing immediate access and clear

o High-net-worth Malaysians abandoning the either-or approach – pairing Wills and Trusts as a single solution

the past three years. Trust adoption is accelerating even faster. The reason is simple: a Will alone cannot solve the 6 to 12 month probate freeze that hits families when they are most vulnerable. For parents of special-needs children, a Will is not enough. It distributes assets once. But their child needs financial support for life. Trusts allow parents structure ongoing care, appoint professional oversight, and protect vulnerable children from financial exploitation – protections a Will cannot provide.

among the 15% who are planning, a clear pattern emerged in 2025. They are not abandoning Wills. They are strategically adding Trusts to address gaps that Wills alone cannot fill. “A Will expresses your wishes and evolves with your story as your status change. A Trust protects your family while that story unfolds,” said Azhar Iskandar Hew, group CEO of Rockwills International Group. “For families with special-needs children, aging parents, or a business to protect – both tools are essential.” Will-writing has grown 25% over

RM90b remains frozen in probate but planners are changing how families prepare. – UNSPLASH PIX Ask about regulatory compliance, trustee qualifications, and financial stability. For structures that may need to function for 20 years or more, provider selection matters as much as the legal structure itself. Beyond transactions, payments as Malaysia’s growth infrastructure

FOR many Malaysian business owners, growth is not an abstract ambition or a distant aspiration. It is a daily exercise in sustainability, measured by stable cash flow and the confidence to keep opera tions running the next day. In this context, payments are not a technical feature that sits quietly in the background. They are a critical foundation of daily business operations. Yet payments are still widely viewed as something that simply needs to work. Once a transaction is completed, attention quickly shifts elsewhere. This perspective overlooks the deeper influence that payment design has on a business’s financial health and long term growth potential. As Malaysia enters a more decisive execution phase under national initiatives such as MyDIGITAL and the 13th Malaysia Plan, it is timely to reframe how payments are understood. They should be recognised not merely as transactional tools, but as essential national growth infrastructure that supports economic resilience, productivity and financial inclusion. At the policy level, digital transformation is often discussed in terms of platforms, data and

unnecessary layers within the payment ecosystem. For Paydibs, direct connectivity to these rails is a deliberate move to reduce intermediaries, accelerate settlement cycles and give merchants a clearer visibility over their funds. Faster access to earned revenue improves liquidity while lower

innovation. On the ground, however, business owners experience its impact in far more practical ways. Delayed settlements can postpone stock purchases and disrupt daily operations. Transaction fees, when accumulated, erode already thin margins. Complex payment systems can create dependency rather than

processing costs translate into tangible savings. These savings can be reinvested into equipment, workforce expansion or financial buffers that help businesses navigate uncertainty. For everyday business owners, these are outcomes that matter. Growth today also extends beyond immediate neighbourhoods. Even the smallest businesses are increasingly serving tourists, regional customers and cross-border buyers. However, unfamiliar payment methods and complex integrations often prevent local merchants from fully participating in these opportunities. By enabling the acceptance of

empowerment. When digitalisation fails to address these realities, it falls short on its promise. Payments, therefore, need to move beyond being a background function and play a more deliberate role in enabling stability and confidence for businesses. This perspective guides how Paydibs approaches payment infrastructure in Malaysia. Rather than treating transactions in isolation, the focus is on removing friction from the payment flow so that businesses can regain control over cash, costs and daily operations. Direct access to national payment rails such as FPX, removes