The New Logic of Leverage - Investment Strategies the World's Wealthiest Are Using in 2025

For high and ultra-high net-worth individuals (UHNWIs and HNWIs), the financial landscape in 2025 is more complex, and more opportunity-rich, than ever before. The smartest investors are rethinking traditional investment strategies, moving away from selling or liquidating assets to fund new ventures. Instead, they’re embracing strategic leverage as a core tool for liquidity management, wealth preservation, and long-term portfolio growth.

At Enness Global, we see this transformation first-hand. Today’s wealthy clients are no longer asking, “Can I afford to buy?” but “How can I finance intelligently to maximise opportunity without sacrificing performance?” Whether arranging luxury real estate finance, securities-backed lending, or cross-border credit facilities, the world’s wealthiest are using borrowing as an instrument of strategy, not necessity.

“The most sophisticated investors no longer view leverage as risk, they see it as precision,” comments Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global. “In 2025, intelligent financing has become one of the most effective investment strategies for preserving wealth and capturing global opportunities.”

This marks a defining moment in private wealth. The new logic of leverage isn’t about taking on debt, it’s about structuring it intelligently to unlock capital, retain ownership, and keep your wealth working efficiently.

Understanding the Shift: From Liquidation to Leverage

In previous decades, ultra-wealthy investors often viewed full ownership as the ultimate sign of financial strength, buying assets outright and avoiding debt wherever possible. But in 2025, the smartest investment strategies look very different. Today, strategic leverage is no longer seen as a risk factor; it’s regarded as a precision tool for managing liquidity, enhancing returns, and preserving capital across complex global portfolios.

According to the 2025 World Ultra Wealth Report, global UHNWI wealth has grown by 5.4% year-on-year to reach $59.8 trillion, yet over a third remains in liquid assets. This growing liquidity buffer highlights a powerful trend: affluent investors are prioritising flexibility and capital efficiency, the ability to access funding and redeploy wealth swiftly without disrupting long-term holdings.

Why the Change?

The shift from liquidation to leverage reflects a broader rethinking of how wealth is structured and grown:

• Rising global asset prices have increased the opportunity cost of selling high-performing investments.
• Stable credit markets and historically competitive rates make strategic borrowing highly attractive for low-risk borrowers.
• Tax and jurisdictional efficiencies now make financing more cost-effective than liquidation, especially for cross-border portfolios.
• Next-generation wealth owners favour agility, diversification, and financial engineering over static ownership.

This evolution represents a mindset change among the world’s wealthiest: modern investment strategies aren’t about cash transactions, they’re about keeping capital dynamic, diversified, and working efficiently through intelligent leverage.

Strategic Borrowing: How the Wealthy Use Credit in 2025

In 2025, the world’s wealthiest are reshaping investment strategies by using leverage as a deliberate tool, not a last resort. Structured intelligently, borrowing allows UHNWIs and HNWIs to unlock liquidity, diversify portfolios, and retain ownership of high-performing assets. At Enness Global, we see four key approaches dominating modern wealth management:

1. Real Estate Finance for Wealth Preservation

Luxury real estate remains the cornerstone of HNWI portfolios. Rather than selling equities or business holdings to purchase property, many now leverage existing assets to finance acquisitions.

Example: Financing a £10 million London townhouse through a low-LTV mortgage allows the client to maintain their equity exposure, benefit from potential property appreciation, and keep liquidity intact.

Result: Greater diversification and retained investment upside.

2. Securities-Backed Lending (SBL)

SBL allows wealthy investors to use their investment portfolios as collateral for flexible credit lines. This approach provides immediate liquidity without triggering asset sales.

Benefits include:

• Access to capital while retaining exposure to equities or other investments.
• Interest payments often lower than capital gains taxes incurred by liquidation.
• Funding for new opportunities, whether venture investments, real estate, or art acquisitions, without disrupting portfolio performance.

3. Cross-Border & Multi-Jurisdictional Lending

Global mobility and diversified asset bases require complex solutions. Enness often structures multi-jurisdictional loans that span different regulatory and tax environments.

Example: A client based in Monaco purchasing property in London and refinancing equity from a U.S. securities portfolio.

Benefit: Efficient capital movement across borders, aligned with domicile and tax strategies.

4. Corporate & Structured Finance for Private Clients

Many UHNWIs hold wealth within corporate structures or family offices, which opens avenues for corporate and structured finance. Solutions like shareholder loans, bespoke credit facilities, and structured debt allow clients to:

• Fund investments or projects without selling assets.
• Preserve ownership and dividend flows.
• Incorporate leverage as part of broader investment strategies focused on long-term growth.

The Psychology of Leverage: A New Mindset Among the Ultra-Wealthy

In 2025, the smartest investment strategies among ultra- and high-net-worth individuals are no longer about borrowing because they must, they are about borrowing because it makes strategic sense.

Where liquidity was once treated as a simple safety buffer, it is now a powerful enabler of opportunity. Where debt was once considered a liability, it has become a precision tool for portfolio growth and wealth preservation. This reflects a fundamental shift in financial philosophy among the ultra-wealthy:

• Leverage as opportunity, not obligation.
• Credit as liquidity management, not exposure.
• Debt as design, not default.

UHNWIs increasingly see their balance sheets as dynamic ecosystems, integrating assets, credit, and financing options to optimise returns and flexibility. The goal is no longer to avoid debt, but to structure it intelligently, using leverage as a disciplined instrument of modern wealth strategy.

Investment Strategies Risk: Understanding the Downsides of Leverage

While leverage is increasingly being used as a strategic tool, it is not without risk. Poorly structured borrowing, inadequate collateral management, or over-exposure to single markets can amplify losses rather than enhance returns, especially in periods of market volatility. Interest-rate movements, margin calls, and cross-border regulatory shifts can all affect the performance of leveraged positions. This is why leverage must always be deliberate, controlled, and actively managed, not simply taken on because capital is available. Intelligent financing is powerful only when risk parameters are clear and continuously monitored.

Case Study: Releasing Liquidity with Securities-Backed Lending

Enness Global recently arranged a circa £400,000 securities-backed loan for a London-based UK client, secured against shares in a listed international technology company. The facility featured a 50% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and was structured as an indefinite revolving credit facility (RCF) with highly competitive terms.

The Client’s Objectives

The client sought to unlock liquidity from their shareholding without selling or restricting their position. They wanted a flexible solution that allowed them to draw down and repay funds as needed, rather than committing to a fixed-term loan.

This approach reflects the modern ultra-wealthy mindset: leveraging assets strategically to access capital while preserving investment upside, a core principle of advanced investment strategies.

The Challenge

Most lenders prefer diversified portfolios to minimize risk. In this case, the client held a single stock position, which typically limits borrowing options.

Using Enness Global’s extensive lender network and expertise in bespoke financing, we identified a provider comfortable offering single-line lending and negotiated terms tailored to the client’s goals for flexibility, speed, and risk management.

The Outcome

The client secured a revolving credit facility of circa £400,000, giving on-demand liquidity while maintaining full exposure to the underlying investment’s performance. Key benefits included:

• Access to funds without selling assets
• Maintained portfolio exposure and potential upside
• Flexible, short-notice drawdowns and repayments
• Efficient use of strategic leverage for liquidity management

This case demonstrates how intelligent investment strategies can combine leverage, bespoke financing, and asset preservation to achieve flexible, growth-oriented outcomes for HNW and UHNW clients

Expert Insight: Balancing Risk and Reward in Intelligent Borrowing

Leverage can be a powerful tool in modern investment strategies, but its effectiveness depends on careful structuring and ongoing management. At Enness Global, we help clients ensure that borrowing enhances growth rather than amplifies risk.

Key factors we evaluate include:

• Stability and liquidity of collateral assets – ensuring the foundation of any loan can support market fluctuations.
• Cross-border tax and currency considerations – optimizing returns while minimizing regulatory or tax exposure.
• Interest rate sensitivity and exposure management – maintaining flexibility even in volatile markets.
• Alignment with long-term wealth objectives – ensuring borrowing decisions reinforce broader wealth preservation and growth strategies.

By taking a disciplined, strategic approach, UHNW and HNW clients can leverage their assets intelligently, unlocking liquidity, portfolio diversification, and investment flexibility without compromising their long-term financial goals.

Why Enness Global?

Enness Global acts as an independent advisory partner for ultra-wealthy individuals, families, and their advisers, arranging complex, high-value finance solutions worldwide. From international mortgages to securities-backed lending and corporate finance, our team sources tailored lending that fits the new logic of leverage.

In Summary

2025 marks a defining moment in private wealth strategy. For the world’s wealthiest, the goal is no longer to own everything outright, but to own intelligently, financing assets, preserving liquidity, and using leverage as a disciplined instrument of growth.

At Enness Global, this is where we excel: connecting the world’s leading lenders with clients who understand that the best use of wealth is not to spend it, but to structure it wisely. Contact us today to see if we can help you achieve your objectives.

At Enness Global, this is where we excel: connecting the world’s leading lenders with clients who understand that the best use of wealth is not to spend it, but to structure it wisely. Contact us today to see if we can help you achieve your objectives.

FAQS: investment Strategies for High-Net-Worth Individuals in 2025

1. What are the best investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) in 2025?
Top strategies include strategic leverage, securities-backed lending, luxury real estate finance, and cross-border lending. Modern HNWIs focus on accessing liquidity without selling assets, optimising capital efficiency, and preserving wealth through intelligent borrowing.

2. How do UHNWIs use leverage to grow wealth?
UHNWIs use leverage as a precision tool rather than a last resort. Borrowing against portfolios or other assets lets them maintain investment exposure, access liquidity, and fund new opportunities while preserving long-term wealth.

3. How can high-net-worth clients access liquidity without selling investments?
Through securities-backed loans, low-LTV mortgages, or multi-jurisdictional credit facilities, clients unlock capital while retaining ownership of high-performing assets. This allows funding for property, ventures, or alternative investments without disrupting portfolios.

4. What is securities-backed lending (SBL) and why is it beneficial?
SBL enables wealthy investors to borrow against their investment portfolios without selling assets. Benefits include immediate liquidity, lower borrowing costs compared to capital gains taxes, and funding for growth opportunities while maintaining portfolio exposure.

5. What is the difference between leveraging assets and liquidating them?
Liquidation involves selling investments, potentially triggering taxes and reducing exposure to growth assets. Leveraging allows borrowing against existing assets, preserving portfolio performance while unlocking capital for new strategic investments.

6. How do cross-border and multi-jurisdictional loans work for UHNWIs?
These loans allow capital movement across countries efficiently, considering tax, regulatory, and currency factors. They’re ideal for clients with diversified global portfolios or luxury real estate investments in multiple locations.