$124 Trillion Wealth Transfer Seen Creating Opportunity For Credit Unions
By CU Today Staff —
AUSTIN, Texas—An estimated $124 trillion in assets expected to change hands in the coming years could create a significant opportunity for credit unions to establish relationships with heirs and retain assets as wealth moves between generations, economist Elliot Eisenberg told attendees at ALM First’s 2026 Financial Forum.
Eisenberg, speaking during a session on The Great Wealth Transfer, said the transfer will unfold slowly but could have major implications for credit unions because many Baby Boomers are holding onto rather than spending their accumulated wealth. The session was among the opening-day presentations at the three-day conference at the Four Seasons Austin, which drew more than 200 financial professionals.
Jason Haley, ALM First’s chief investment officer, told attendees that despite what he described as a “hazy” economic environment, credit unions and banks are operating from a position of relative strength. He pointed to healthy industry margins, stabilization in credit performance and strong household balance sheets, although serious delinquencies have risen in auto loans and FHA mortgages while serious credit card delinquencies have leveled off.
Regulatory uncertainty was another focus. ALM First’s Dale Klein and Brent Lytle, a former regulator and former examiner, respectively, said a smaller regulatory workforce and more targeted examination resources make it increasingly important for financial institutions to identify their own risks and develop internal capabilities before those issues surface during examinations.
An executive panel led by ALM First CEO Emily Hollis also examined how institutions can remain competitive without assuming excessive balance-sheet risk. Panelists pointed to AI as one way smaller institutions can compete with larger financial companies and emphasized relationships rather than rates as a differentiator. Their message to boards was to focus less on day-to-day management and short-term risks and more on whether their institutions will remain relevant in their communities a decade from now, including through investments in their employees.
Originally reported by CU Today.