Henley & Partners has introduced a novel benchmarking tool called the Henley Opportunity Index in their inaugural Henley Education Report, aimed at measuring the impact of premium education and investment migration on multi-generational wealth preservation and growth. This index is the first to quantify the benefits of combining top-tier education with enhanced residence rights and citizenship options through investment migration, providing a unique perspective on wealth advancement strategies for ultra-high-net-worth families.
Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, describes both education and investment migration as “inter-generational enablers,” crucial for balancing wealth generation and opening up new opportunities. According to Volek, the index is an essential tool for families, helping them identify the best global environments for advancing their children’s careers and maximizing income potential through tailored investment migration strategies.
The index evaluates the world’s leading residence and citizenship by investment programs based on parameters like education, employment opportunities, economic mobility, and livability. This provides families with a way to compare and choose locations that offer the optimal conditions for their future generations.
For example, the index illustrates how an Indonesian family could dramatically increase their next generation’s success probability from 25% at home to 82% by obtaining residence rights in the US through the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Similarly, for a Nigerian family with an opportunity score of 14%, participating in the Singapore Global Investor Program could increase their prospects to 79%.
Tess Wilkinson, Director of Henley & Partners Education, notes that while education is a pivotal investment for future success, the country of residence plays a significant role in economic outcomes. This is because studies have shown that a substantial portion of income variation globally is attributed to the country where one lives and works. Therefore, integrating high-quality education with strategic investment migration that grants access to thriving job markets is key.
Dr. José Caballero, Senior Economist at the IMD World Competitiveness Center, emphasizes that these programs allow families to offer their children better educational and professional opportunities without the complexities of acquiring various visas. This access not only enhances their living standards and earning potential but also increases their chances of wealth creation and preservation.
The Henley Opportunity Index also highlights specific cases, such as a Filipino family benefiting from the Canada Start-Up Visa Program. The comparative analysis shows how moving from the Philippines to Canada could improve their scores across education, employment prospects, and livability, substantially enhancing their overall opportunity score from 23% to 74%.
Further, the report discusses the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program, which after five years of legal residence, allows investors to apply for citizenship and thereby gain the ability to live, work, or study anywhere in the EU. This could significantly boost economic mobility for South African families, for example.
Ultimately, the Henley Opportunity Index serves as a critical tool for future-proofing the next generation, helping families to navigate the complex landscape of global education and residence options to secure the best possible future for their descendants.
