Filipino investors are increasingly looking beyond domestic markets as inflation, peso weakness and market volatility fuel demand for broader diversification, with offshore assets now accounting for about 15 percent to 20 percent of BPI Wealth’s assets under management (AUM).
BPI Wealth Chief Investment Officer Luis Antonio Zialcita said investors are making greater use of the expanding range of offshore funds to build portfolios that combine Philippine and global assets.
The shift comes as BPI Wealth’s AUM reached P2.06 trillion as of June, retaining its position as the country’s largest trust entity, according to President and CEO Tere Marcial.
Marcial said BPI Wealth expects AUM to expand by 17 percent to 18 percent this year, slightly below its earlier 20 percent target, after growing by about 14 percent to 15 percent year-to-date. The company is targeting another 15 percent to 20 percent increase in 2027.
Much of the recent inflow has gone into fixed-income products, particularly diversified global bond portfolios and funds offering regular income payouts, reflecting investor demand for yield alongside geographic diversification.
BPI Wealth has also broadened access to offshore investments through peso-denominated share classes. The products allow investors to gain exposure to global bonds, technology stocks and broader international equities without having to directly purchase foreign currency.
“We see more and more Filipinos diversifying into global portfolios,” Marcial said, pointing to higher inflation and a weaker peso as factors behind the shift.
The move offshore, however, has not translated into a wholesale retreat from Philippine assets.
Zialcita said local equities remain relatively inexpensive based on current valuations, while domestic fixed-income securities continue to offer opportunities to lock in gross yields of about 7 percent to 7.5 percent.
The contrasting flows suggest investors are increasingly treating domestic and global assets as complementary rather than mutually exclusive, using offshore exposure to broaden geographic diversification while retaining allocations to Philippine markets.
BPI Wealth currently serves about 1.5 million customers. Its digitally served retail segment, including investors reached through third-party platforms, is its fastest-growing client base, underscoring the expanding role of digital channels in bringing investment products to a wider pool of Filipino savers.
