As $124 trillion is projected to change hands through 2048, according to Cerulli Associates, families are increasingly asking not who can sell their assets but who can be trusted with them. REALM Global, an invitation-only network of luxury real estate advisors, has announced The Age of the Trusted (working title), a definitive guide to luxury advisory intended to be published with Greenleaf Book Group. The book will not be written by a single author but by the world's leading luxury advisors and the wealth managers and family office principals who serve alongside them, convened in twelve councils at the REALM Global Collective in May 2027.
The initiative addresses a widening trust gap in private wealth. While information is ubiquitous and free, judgment and discretion remain rare. "Every family we serve already has more information than they could ever use," said Julie Faupel, Founder and CEO of REALM Global. "What they cannot find on a screen is discernment, discretion and the quiet confidence of an advisor who will still be beside them a decade from now." The guide aims to codify the practices that define trusted advisory, offering a shared standard for advisors, families, and gatekeepers.
The timing is critical. The ultra-wealthy population has never been larger or more global: 556,850 individuals now hold $30 million or more, up 14.4% in a single year, and Altrata expects 746,570 by 2030. Yet only 17% of high-net-worth individuals describe their advisory experience as seamless and personalized, according to Capgemini's World Wealth Report 2026. Excellence is concentrated: among 840,000 producing U.S. agents, the top 1% close 18% of every transaction, per Mike DelPrete, Cotality data. REALM's own network of roughly 600 members across 23 countries closes more than $50 billion annually, with nearly one in three members on the RealTrends Verified rankings.
The Age of the Trusted will be renewed annually, with each year's Collective updating the compendium. For the profession, it represents a commitment to elevate standards; for families, a clear picture of what to expect from a trusted advisor; and for gatekeepers, a shared language for serving families as one team. As Faupel noted, "A standard is not declared from a stage, it is proven in practice." REALM is now welcoming partners and sponsors for the 2027 Collective, with details available at www.realm-global.com.
