STEP International Conference Malta 2025

STEP International Conference Malta 2025

The Demands on a ModernFiduciary: navigating generational shifts and wealth preservation.

Hilton Malta | Two-Day International Event | 2025

STEP International Conference Malta 2025 returns as a cornerstoneevent for fiduciary professionals, wealth planners, legal experts, andregulators worldwide. Proudly sponsored once again by Griffiths + Associates,this premier gathering brings together global leaders to share insights, shapebest practices, and navigate the evolving demands of the modern fiduciarylandscape.

Opening the conference will be the Hon. Clyde Caruana,Malta’s Minister for Finance, setting the stage for two days of high-caliberdiscussion, practical insights, and professional networking.

Featuringover 30 globally renowned experts from Malta, the UK, Switzerland, Austria,Italy, the UAE, and beyond, the 2025 agenda will tackle the most criticalchallenges and innovations facing today’s fiduciaries and wealth advisors:

ü  Therising generation: mental health, values, approach to wealth and the future ofresponsible stewardship.

Millennialsand Gen Z are demonstrating a clear shift in values when it comes to wealthmanagement. Unlike their predecessors, many of today’s younger heirs andentrepreneurs are motivated by social impact, sustainability, and a desire toalign their wealth with personal beliefs. Young individuals are oftenprioritizing ethical investing, environmental concerns, and a commitment tocauses such as climate change and social justice, seeking to make their wealthwork for the greater good, and demanding greater transparency, sustainability,and ethical practices from both their advisors and the companies they investin. There will be a focus on how advisors and fiduciaries can best support thenew generation as they forge a path that reflects both financial acumen and acommitment to creating a positive societal impact. This evolving dynamic willhave far-reaching implications for wealth management and fiduciary duties inthe years to come.

ü  FamilyOffices: comparing structures and strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

The discussion will coverhow family offices are structured to manage generational wealth, investments,philanthropy, and succession planning, depending on their location. It willalso explore the distinctions between onshore and offshore setups in terms ofregulatory environments, privacy, tax treatment, and compliance burdens.Additionally, there will be a focus on the Asian landscape, highlighting thegrowth of family offices in financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, aswell as regional approaches to wealth management.

ü  Digital Assets: tools andinsights to securely manage digital assets, accurately assess their value, andeffectively integrate them into comprehensive wealth management and successionplanning strategies.

As digital assets becomean integral part of family wealth, succession planning for these assets isincreasingly essential. The session will cover digital asset classification andvaluation, legal and regulatory considerations, cross-border challenges, securityand risk management, and the evolving role of digital assets in long-termwealth preservation.

ü  Estate planning around theworld: effective passing on wealth across generations while navigatinginternational legal, tax, and cultural complexities.

This segment will delveinto the challenges and opportunities involved in structuring wealth forintergenerational transfer, minimizing tax burdens, and addressing legalcomplexities across jurisdictions. It will emphasize the importance ofunderstanding international laws, treaties, and regulations, and their impacton high-net-worth individuals and families. Advisors will gain insights intohow to navigate the complexities of cross-border estate planning, and howstructures such as trusts and foundations can be utilized to preserve wealthefficiently and in compliance with relevant laws.

ü  International Families:matrimonial property regimes.

This session will delveinto the complexities of identifying the applicable matrimonial property regimefor international families, particularly when no explicit choice has been made.It will address how these regimes affect tax exposure, succession planning, andtrust structures, and will consider the role of the EU Matrimonial PropertyRegulation in cross-border situations.

ü  Relocation forHigh-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs): Malta, Italy, UAE, and more…

This session will explorethe key considerations and strategic opportunities for HNWIs seeking torelocate to jurisdictions such as Malta, Italy, the UAE, and beyond. Topicswill include tax residency and citizenship options, lifestyle and legalframeworks, wealth structuring, succession planning, and the comparativeadvantages of each jurisdiction. The discussion will also address the latestregulatory trends, immigration pathways, and how these locations cater to thespecific needs of internationally mobile individuals and families.

ü  EU TaxPolicy 2024–2029: progress, de-prioritisation, and proposed directives.

Expertswill explore the strategic shifts in EU tax policy and the evolving trajectoryof tax directives, with a focus on anticipated reforms.

Thesession will provide an in-depth look at the current status of key proposals,including the Unshell Directive, designed to combat abusive tax practices; theTransfer Pricing Rules, aimed at tackling double taxation; the Securing theActivity Framework for Enablers (SAFE), intended to prevent certain taxintermediaries from facilitating tax evasion; Debt-Equity Bias ReductionAllowance (DEBRA), aimed at helping businesses become more resilient andimprove access to financing; and; and Head Office Taxation (HOT) system,intended to simplify tax rules for small businesses operating across borders.

ü  AML& Regulation: implementation of the EU AML package - current progress, keychallenges, and upcoming actions at both EU and member state levels.

Thissession will provide a comprehensive update on the EU AML Package, includingkey timelines for its rollout and what stakeholders can expect in the comingnear future.

Topicswill cover the latest developments in the establishment of the Anti-MoneyLaundering Authority (AMLA) and its anticipated impact, as well as theprogress, challenges, and next steps in implementing the package at both EU andnational levels.

Specialfocus will be given to the UK and Maltese jurisdictions.

Thediscussion will examine recent UK tax changes, with particular attention to theend of the resident non-domiciled regime and the introduction of the newinpatriate (FIG) regime. It will also address proposed reforms to inheritancetax and the transition toward a residence-based system, highlighting both thepotential pitfalls and planning opportunities under the transitional rules andthe new framework.

Inparallel, another segment will focus on recent refinements to the MaltaFinancial Services Authority regulatory framework, with particular emphasis onmeasures aimed at mitigating money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

As apart of the specialist sessions, various topics will be discussed, such as:

ü  Settlors,protectors, beneficiaries: understanding key trust roles &responsibilities.

Thisdiscussion will explore the distinct roles within a trust structure—settlors,protectors, and beneficiaries—clarifying their duties, rights, and the dynamicsbetween them. It will also highlight practical considerations and commonchallenges faced in trust governance.

ü  Loyalty& Liability: The true cost of Invisibles.

In theworld of trust management, trustees face significant legal and ethicalobligations. This topic addresses the fundamental duty of trustees to act withloyalty and integrity while managing trust assets.

ü  Trusts in Turmoil: a trustlitigator’s perspective – practical lessons for today’s fiduciaries.

This session will providefiduciaries with critical insights into the legal complexities and real-worldchallenges surrounding the administration of trusts in contentiouscircumstances.

As always, STEP Malta 2025 goes beyondeducation — it’s a nexus for global connection, thought leadership, andpractical insights. Delegates will gain deep technical knowledge, freshperspectives, and actionable strategies to navigate the future of fiduciaryservices.

Griffiths + Associates looks forward to welcoming you to STEP Malta 2025.

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With over 20 years ofadvisory excellence, Griffiths + Associates is your trusted partner in:

•      Wealth & Tax Planning

•      Family Office Structuring

•      Fiduciary Services

•      Compliance & AML Support

•      International Business Advisory

For more information aboutour services, or to find out how we can become your Financial Adviser, pleaseemail us at info@griffithsassoc.com

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