STEP International Conference Malta 2025

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

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

• The rising generation: mental health, values, approach to wealth and the future of responsible stewardship.

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

• Family Offices: comparing structures and strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

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

• Digital Assets: tools and insights to securely manage digital assets, accurately assess their value, and effectively integrate them into comprehensive wealth management and succession planning strategies.

As digital assets become an integral part of family wealth, succession planning for these assets is increasingly essential. The session will cover digital asset classification and valuation, legal and regulatory considerations, cross-border challenges, security and risk management, and the evolving role of digital assets in long-term wealth preservation.

• Estate planning around the world: effective passing on wealth across generations while navigating international legal, tax, and cultural complexities.

This segment will delve into the challenges and opportunities involved in structuring wealth for intergenerational transfer, minimizing tax burdens, and addressing legal complexities across jurisdictions. It will emphasize the importance of understanding international laws, treaties, and regulations, and their impact on high-net-worth individuals and families. Advisors will gain insights into how to navigate the complexities of cross-border estate planning, and how structures such as trusts and foundations can be utilized to preserve wealth efficiently and in compliance with relevant laws.

• International Families: matrimonial property regimes.

This session will delve into the complexities of identifying the applicable matrimonial property regime for international families, particularly when no explicit choice has been made. It will address how these regimes affect tax exposure, succession planning, and trust structures, and will consider the role of the EU Matrimonial Property Regulation in cross-border situations.

• Relocation for High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs): Malta, Italy, UAE, and more…

This session will explore the key considerations and strategic opportunities for HNWIs seeking to relocate to jurisdictions such as Malta, Italy, the UAE, and beyond. Topics will include tax residency and citizenship options, lifestyle and legal frameworks, wealth structuring, succession planning, and the comparative advantages of each jurisdiction. The discussion will also address the latest regulatory trends, immigration pathways, and how these locations cater to the specific needs of internationally mobile individuals and families.

• EU Tax Policy 2024–2029: progress, de-prioritisation, and proposed directives.

Experts will explore the strategic shifts in EU tax policy and the evolving trajectory of tax directives, with a focus on anticipated reforms.

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

• AML & Regulation: implementation of the EU AML package – current progress, key challenges, and upcoming actions at both EU and member state levels.

This session will provide a comprehensive update on the EU AML Package, including key timelines for its rollout and what stakeholders can expect in the coming near future.

Topics will cover the latest developments in the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and its anticipated impact, as well as the progress, challenges, and next steps in implementing the package at both EU and national levels.

The discussion will examine recent UK tax changes, with particular attention to the end of the resident non-domiciled regime and the introduction of the new inpatriate (FIG) regime. It will also address proposed reforms to inheritance tax and the transition toward a residence-based system, highlighting both the potential pitfalls and planning opportunities under the transitional rules and the new framework.

In parallel, another segment will focus on recent refinements to the Malta Financial Services Authority regulatory framework, with particular emphasis on measures aimed at mitigating money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

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

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

This discussion will explore the distinct roles within a trust structure—settlors, protectors, and beneficiaries—clarifying their duties, rights, and the dynamics between them. It will also highlight practical considerations and common challenges faced in trust governance.

• Loyalty & Liability: The true cost of Invisibles.

In the world of trust management, trustees face significant legal and ethical obligations. This topic addresses the fundamental duty of trustees to act with loyalty and integrity while managing trust assets.

• Trusts in Turmoil: a trust litigator’s perspective – practical lessons for today’s fiduciaries.

This session will provide fiduciaries with critical insights into the legal complexities and real-world challenges surrounding the administration of trusts in contentious circumstances.

As always, STEP Malta 2025 goes beyond education — it’s a nexus for global connection, thought leadership, and practical insights. Delegates will gain deep technical knowledge, fresh perspectives, and actionable strategies to navigate the future of fiduciary services.

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