As $124 trillion is projected to change hands through 2048, according to Cerulli, families holding that wealth are increasingly asking not who can sell them something, but who they can trust with it. REALM Global, an invitation-only network of luxury real estate advisors, has announced The Age of the Trusted (working title), a book intended to become the definitive guide to luxury advisory, to be published with Greenleaf Book Group. Rather than a single author, it will be written by the world’s leading luxury advisors alongside wealth managers and family office principals, with twelve councils convening behind closed doors at the REALM Global Collective, May 17–19, 2027, at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
The initiative arrives as the ultra-wealthy population hits record levels. According to Altrata, 556,850 individuals now hold $30 million or more, up 14.4% in a single year—the fastest growth since 2017—and that number is expected to reach 746,570 by 2030. Yet only 17% of high-net-worth individuals describe their advisory experience as seamless and personalized, according to Capgemini’s World Wealth Report 2026. That gap between available information and trusted judgment is precisely what the book aims to address.
“Every family we serve already has more information than they could ever use,” said Julie Faupel, Founder and CEO of REALM Global. “What they cannot find on a screen is discernment, discretion, and the quiet confidence of an advisor who will still be beside them a decade from now.” The guide will offer a standard for advisors, a clear picture of what to expect for families, and a shared language for gatekeepers serving the family as one team.
Excellence in the profession is rare and concentrated. Among 840,000 producing U.S. agents, the top 1% close 18% of every transaction in the country, according to Mike DelPrete, Cotality data. REALM itself reports roughly 600 members across 23 countries and 150+ brokerage brands, closing more than $50 billion annually at an average sale price of $2.5 million. Nearly one in three members appear on the RealTrends Verified rankings, with median production 2.5 times the national ranked median. The network’s Wealth Intelligence Hub spans more than 220,000 verified clients with an average net worth of $28.9 million.
The Age of the Trusted is positioned as a shared resource written across 150+ brands and 23 countries, with editions brokerages can make their own. “A standard is not declared from a stage; it is proven in practice,” Faupel said. The Collective’s findings will be shared throughout 2027, building toward publication. More information about REALM is available at www.realm-global.com.
