The Swiss-held nest egg

As a US investor, you don’t need to rely on the American financial market only. You can take a step beyond your borders and establish a nest egg in Switzerland for safekeeping.

Prudent US investors recognize the need to be prepared for turbulence in the US financial markets and to establish an alternative strategy complementing the US strategy already in place. Market, institution, currency, and asset manager diversification is accomplished by establishing an investment account in another jurisdiction. That’s where Switzerland comes in.

Why Switzerland?

Switzerland is the world’s leading jurisdiction for international private wealth management. Moreover, Switzerland’s long-term political and economic stability, neutrality, expertise and commitment to quality provides a strong home for a portion of your assets. Switzerland is possibly the safest place in an increasingly unsafe world.

 You can establish your Swiss-held nest egg from the comfort of your home.

How to get started

There are over 40 Swiss wealth managers, registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States happy to serve US clients in the US and abroad.
Being registered with the SEC allows Swiss wealth managers to communicate and act freely with American clients and to provide their wealth management services without restrictions while adhering to the regulations. You can even establish your Swiss-held nest egg from the comfort of your home (However, a trip to Switzerland is highly recommended.).

Visit WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME and browse through the Swiss SEC RIAs at your convenience.

How to find your Swiss SEC RIA

Swiss SEC RIAs come in all shapes and sizes – individual advisers, independent wealth managers, multi-family offices and the subsidiaries of Swiss banks with a focus on American clients.

Minimum amounts of investment range between USD 50,000 and USD 20,000,000, so there are options for almost every kind of US investor.

WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME is the world’s leading directory listing the Swiss SEC-registered wealth managers open for business with US clients.

Visit the Swiss platform WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME - Swiss Wealth Management for US Clients and browse through the Swiss SEC RIAs at your convenience. Take a look at the details of their SEC registrations, read their ADV Part 2 brochures, which provide detailed insight into their wealth management services including their investment approach and fees.

Once you have thoroughly reviewed the information, you can easily get in touch with the Swiss SEC RIA(s) of your choice and request further information on establishing your account. They are not more than a phone call or click away.
WAAW also lists other wealth management-related service providers such as US tax advisers, estate planning lawyers, trust advisers, trusted advisers, citizenship and residential planning advisers etc.

Through a collaboration with a Swiss SEC RIA you can gain a cutting edge over your competition.

For American financial advisers

There is no reason to ignore jurisdictional and international diversification "Made in Switzerland" when advising your clients on the future well-being of their assets. Many Swiss SEC RIAs are happy to establish relationships with American financial advisers in order to co-advise clients on the long-term benefits of a Swiss-held nest egg. Through a collaboration with a Swiss SEC RIA you can gain a cutting edge over your competition, get prepared for jurisdictional diversification and provide your clients with added value. Getting in contact is easy. Just make a phone call, write an email or, even better, come to Switzerland and meet with your selection of Swiss SEC RIAs firsthand.

 Get the touch and feel of Switzerland as home to a portion of your assets firsthand.

Come to Switzerland – Individuals, couples, families, groups

While it is easy to establish your relationship with a Swiss SEC RIA from the US, it is recommended that you visit Switzerland to get the touch and feel of the country as a home to a portion of your assets firsthand. WAAW is happy to organize your stay and agenda for an efficient visit, covering all the bases. Naturally, sightseeing is also an important part of your trip and WAAW is happy to organize and accompany you on excursions. For further information please contact: AnneLiebgott@americanswelcome.swiss

 „In God we Trust“

 ...is stated on the US dollar. However, in this day and age, with volatility and uncertainty ever on the rise, placing trust in a secure Swiss-held nest egg is a prudent step to take.

WAAW is happy to be able to help you get established.

For further information, please visit

WAAW at http://www.americanswelcome.swiss

or contact :

Anne Liebgott, CEO, WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME
AnneLiebgott@americanswelcome.swiss
T: +41 79 767 07 58 T: from the US 01141 79 767 07 58

WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME
Zelglistrasse 19, 8311 Brütten-Zurich, Switzerland

You can also follow WAAW's LinkedIn company page at:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/where-americans-are-welcome

“Be Prepared” for jurisdictional diversification – Establish a strategic alliance with a Swiss SEC-registered wealth manager

The first million dollar question at the moment is, what will happen next with Donald J. Trump as President of the United States? What will happen to the American economy, what will happen to the US dollar, what turbulences, what unexpected things will occur? What will your clients do? What should they do?

As an investment advisor, a wealth manager, an estate attorney, a CPA or anyone in an advisory position, you have an obligation towards your clients to provide advice and to introduce innovative yet doable solutions with regard to your client’s future financial well-being.

Sticking to a home bias only and not taking a closer look at other compliant opportunities outside of the American market may even be considered unthoughtful. Why should your client’s future financial well-being depend on the American system only, when it is compliant and easily possible to hold assets beyond their own borders as well. It is prudent to get to know the possibilities and options and establish a relationship with an expert on the subject of jurisdictional and international diversification. If your clients have never considered jurisdictional and international diversification in the past, they will be grateful for new insights and opportunities from you, as their trusted advisor.

"Be Prepared"

By adopting a prudent “Be Prepared” attitude and taking different markets, different financial institutions, different investments and currencies and different views and insights into consideration, you can develop an alternative strategy that complements the investment strategy already in place on the American market. And no matter how the American economy and market develops, an alternative investment strategy can be beneficial for an overall, diversified wealth management program.

First consideration: Switzerland

Switzerland, which celebrated its 725-year anniversary this year, remains the global leader for private wealth management, due to its long-term economic and political stability, its neutrality, its high-quality approach and state-of-the-art wealth management expertise. The country's solid triple-A status appears to be immune to the happenings around its border nations. Switzerland is a first consideration.

Legal and compliant Swiss wealth management solutions are provided by Swiss wealth managers registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US. Reporting requirements are well known and together with a US tax adviser, all requirements are adhered to in a timely manner.

Establishing a Swiss-made strategic alliance

A strategic alliance with a Swiss wealth management professional, registered with the SEC, is one of the best ways to add a new facet to your advisory services and provide added value to your clients.

Adding the element of jurisdictional and international diversification “Made in Switzerland” to your client’s overall wealth strategy is a forward-looking, sophisticated approach and many Swiss SEC RIAs are happy to work together with American professionals.

You can formalize an ongoing relationship with a Swiss SEC RIA for a long-term profitable relationship and maximize the potential of your client relationships, driving client satisfaction and loyalty. Bottom line: you can serve your clients better with a future-oriented, international approach.

Through an alliance, clients will benefit from both your expertise as their trusted professional with whom they already have a relationship, a professional that addresses the full range of their financial concerns and, by extension, from the skills and insights of a Swiss SEC RIA. You can move upmarket with your services and serve a whole new set of high-net-worth clients.

Getting started is easier than you may think

To get started, visit the Swiss platform at americanswelcome.swiss (WAAW). The platform lists the Swiss wealth managers registered with the SEC focusing on the individual needs of US clients for jurisdictional and international diversification.

Swiss SEC RIAs come in all shapes and sizes. From the small and very personal one-man enterprise to larger, multi-family offices as well as the US client subsidiaries of several banks. The minimum amount of investment ranges between none, or a low of USD 50,000 and USD 30 mn or more. Most of the Swiss SEC RIAs can be found in Zurich (German-speaking region) followed by Geneva (French-speaking region) and Ticino (Italian-speaking region). See Swiss SEC RIA alphabetical and regional listings.

Browse around, check out their SEC registrations and read through the ADV Part 2s and make a selection of the Swiss SEC RIAs you would like to get in contact with.

Or make the trip...

Naturally, a trip to Switzerland to check things out personally is also an option and you can mix business with pleasure. WAAW is happy to assist you with your agenda on your personal trip or you can attend an upcoming Swiss Wealth Management Seminar, designed especially for the American financial professional. For further information, please contact WAAW.

WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME - Swiss wealth management for US clients

Anne Liebgott    From the US: +01141 79 767 07    anneliebgott@americanswelcome.swiss

Homme d’Affaires: Helping Families to Manage the Challenges of Wealth

First generation entrepreneurs and multi-generational, business-owning families have many concerns to address in order to reach and communicate decisions, transmit family values to the next generation and manage joint family assets.



Sustainable wealth preservation lies 
in understanding the correlation between the growth of a family’s human and intellectual capital as well as its financial capital.

An Homme d’Affaires, as a trusted and unbiased family adviser, provides fully independent and multi-disciplinary advisory competence, delivering tailored solutions to specific needs or, more comprehensively, providing sustainable strategies for families concerned with their long term wealth preservation.

It is not only desirable, but indispensable for families to filter and analyze consequences, opportunities and potential threats for their family as a whole and for their individual members, enabling families to deal with the many issues in a structured and comprehensive way, before taking a calm and well-balanced decision.

The Homme d’Affaires, with extensive experience in dealing with the complex needs of wealthy families (e.g. topics such as business ownership, generational transition, cross-border tax planning, philanthropy and direct investments) including a strong global awareness in our increasingly mobile world, is key to preserving wealth and forming a legacy for many generations to come.

Let your trusted adviser guide and protect you with empathy and discipline when required and help you stay on track to achieve your most cherished goals.

The trusted adviser “Made in Switzerland”

Not only is Switzerland renowned as the global leader for private wealth management due to it’s long-term political and economic stability, high level of regulation and proverbial Swiss-quality services, it is also known as one of the richest countries in the world with a high number of wealthy families per capita. The GDP (PPP) per Swiss citizen is USD 57,235. About 13.5% of Switzerland’s residents are millionaires. Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland's best-known cities consistently rank among the top ten with the highest living standards in the world. The Swiss must be doing something right!

You can tap into the fine-tuned, tried-and-proven experience of a Swiss-based trusted adviser and apply a Swiss systematic approach in developing and implementing a unique and sustainable strategy for your family…with Swiss efficiency, quality and professionalism.

How to find your Homme d’Affaires in Switzerland?

The Swiss platform WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME includes a Trusted adviser section. You can get in contact with an Hommes d’Affaires and learn more, ask your questions, discuss your individual circumstances and get started from the comfort of your home.

Contact:
Anne Liebgott, CEO, WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME, AnneL@americanswelcome.ch

Does "President Trump" make you take your money and run?

To Canada?

According to recent press, it's a time-honored tradition of US presidential elections: Americans threaten to flee to Canada if their favored candidate doesn't win.

After Donald Trump won big on Super Tuesday, carrying 7 out of 11 states, Americans took that tradition to new lengths. Google searches for "How can I move to Canada?" spiked +350% within 4 hours of the Super Tuesday results.

Obviously, the possibility of Trump becoming President of the United States, has an increasing number of Americans considering a move to other pastures. Canada, right next door, is a convenient solution but there are other, perhaps more exciting possibilities out there.

Exciting alternatives

Ever thought of settling down in Austria with Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia and Liechtenstein right next door? That's cultural diversity at your fingertips! Austria is a German-speaking country in Central Europe, characterized by its mountain villages, baroque city architecture, Imperial history and rugged alpine terrain. Vienna, its Danube River capital, is home to the Schonbrunn and Hofburg palaces, and has counted Mozart, Strauss and Sigmund Freud among its residents. The country’s other notable regions include the northern Bohemian Forest, Lake Traun and eastern hillside vineyards.

Or do you prefer the milder climate of the Mediterannean Sea? Have you ever considered Malta, where English is one of the official languages? Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, is a nation known for historic sites related to a succession of rulers including the Romans, Moors, Knights of St. John, French and British. It has numerous fortresses, megalithic temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of halls and burial chambers dating to 3600 B.C.E.

Or Cyprus? An island in the eastern Mediterranean, with a rich, turbulent history stretching back to antiquity. Known for its beaches, it has a rugged interior with wine-growing regions. It’s separated into a Greek south and Turkish north, with the capital Nicosia also divided. Coastal Paphos is famed for its archaeological sites relating to the cult of Aphrodite, including ruins of palaces, tombs and mosaic-adorned villas.

Or good old country Germany? It's a Western European country with a terrain of vast forests, rivers and mountain ranges, and 2 millennia of history. Berlin, its capital, is home to thriving art and nightlife scenes, iconic Brandenburg Gate and many sites relating to WWII. Munich is known for its Oktoberfest and cavernous beer halls, including 16th-century Hofbräuhaus. Frankfurt, with its skyscrapers, houses the European Central Bank. It's neighbors are France, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Luxembourg. Visiting all these countries, on a regular basis and enjoying the sights and local cuisine is easy and enriching.

Residence and citizenship programs...Americans welcome!

Nevermind if "President Trump" is to come, there are many reasons for a move abroad.  According to a new survey from TransferWise conducted last May among 2,090 US adults, over a third of Americans (including over half of Millennials), would consider moving to another country. Expanding horizons, visa free travel, a more exciting lifestyle, better pay, better education, excellent health care systems...the reasons are many.

These interesting and exciting locations (and there are others too) offer residence and citizenship programs for Americans wishing to take up residence abroad and acquiring a new citizenship (and perhaps even giving up their US citizenship at some point along the way). The program requirements vary from place to place, so you will have to take a close look at the pros and cons of each arrangement and choose the one that best suits your needs and plans.

Swiss quality service and efficiency

Citizen Lane, a Swiss-based Citizenship & Residence planning company advises American and international clients on the intricacies of achieving resident status and citizenship in other countries. Citizen Lane's core competencies include consulting regarding your personal residency and citizenship planning and the processing of your residency and citizenship applications and their renewals...with Swiss quality service and efficiency. Till Neumann, Managing Partner of Citizen Lane knows that choosing a location abroad, as a new home for you and your family, can have a dramatic impact on your life. Therefore he is committed to finding the right, tailor-made solution for you.

Review the options and be prepared

It makes sense to review the options now and know what is available in case the desire to move abroad becomes more than a "consideration" and becomes real.

Contact Till Neumann from Citizen Lane to get started

You can get Till Neumann's contact details here -> http://www.americanswelcome.ch/citizenship-and-residence-planning.php

 

Taking on risk that could otherwise be diversified away

Since the United States is the world's largest national economy, it is understandable that US investors think that it is fine to hold all of their assets within US borders. The home country bias is understandable, but it isn't optimal. Owning an American-only portfolio can lead to suboptimal risk-adjusted returns, according to best practices in portfolio management which reduces the volatility of your investment portfolio by adding international diversification to your overall wealth strategy.

In the long term, a well-diversified, global portfolio can help avoid unnecessary risks.

Jurisdictional diversification is key

Holding some emerging market mutual funds at your local bank, even in other currencies, is not true international diversification. Going to another jurisdiction outside of the United States, to other non-American financial institutions, holding other foreign investments and other currencies is the real thing. Hiring a wealth manager with international experience and a global outlook and a different perspective than your local investment adviser will lead you to true international diversification.

Don't tie your future financial well-being to just one country, one market, one currency and one perspective.

US financial professionals for the most part, understandably focus on the American market, American financial institutions and US dollar investments.  However, to achieve greater resiliency for your overall portfolio through international diversification, a global-oriented wealth manager will target different investments than your domestic adviser. Holding a portion of your assets in a bank outside of the American banking system provides institutional risk diversification and greater flexibility. Currency diversification provides a hedge against a falling US dollar. The prudent investor shouldn't walk around blindfolded but should prepare for bumps which may arise along their home-markets roads.

It is simply prudent to have some assets outside of the American system.

Where to go? Grüezi!

Switzerland has adopted a white money strategy putting the old myths of secret numbered accounts and hiding funds from the tax man behind. Despite turbulences, Switzerland remains the global leader for private wealth management with a world share of 25%, of which 51% is from investors abroad.

 Switzerland: The global leader

The highest level of economic and political stability, high-quality services and extensive expertise and experience is Switzerland's claim to fame for long-term success as the leading center for private wealth management. Especially during times of increasing volatility, the world's wealthy turn to Switzerland as a safe haven for their assets.

The Swiss traditions of honesty, reliability, continuity and a high regard for privacy are qualities appreciated by investors around the world.

Switzerland: Perhaps the safest home to your assets

Get started and get it right

A Swiss wealth manager registered as an Investment Adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States, is focused on providing US tax-compliant, unrestricted wealth management services to Americans domiciled in the United States. Giving advice, telephone calls, correspondence and personal meetings with clients or promotional activities for potential clients is allowed. Reporting requirements are also clear so you can get it right, right from the beginning.

American clients welcome!

You can establish a relationship with a Swiss SEC-registered wealth manager and develop an internationally-diversified portfolio held with a Swiss bank that welcomes American clients without leaving home. Your Swiss wealth manager will walk you through the steps. Nevertheless, a trip to Switzerland to meet your wealth manager and to discuss your needs and goals in person is highly recommended.

Swiss SEC-registered wealth managers range from larger, bank-associated firms to smaller and more personal independent wealth managers. Minimum amounts of investment range between USD 50,000 and USD 30mn with everything in between.

They are also happy to collabroate with American financial professionals in co-counseling their clients in developing an internationally-diversified portfolio to complement the American portfolio already in place.

There's not an easier way to find a suitable Swiss wealth manager.

Do your homework

Finding a suitable Swiss SEC-registered wealth manager is easy. The new Swiss platform Where Americans are Welcome at americanswelcome.ch lists them all, in an easy-to-access manner, individually, alphabetically and regionally. You can browse through the listings, read up on their SEC registrations and ADV Part 2 brochures with information on company size, assets under management, minimum amounts of investment, strategies, fees and so forth. Some provide particularly client-friendly access.

You can easily do your homework in the comfort of your home and narrow down a few (perhaps with the help of your local adviser) that you would like to get in contact with for an initial consultation. They are not more than a phone call or click away. And don't forget to mention that you accessed them through the Where Americans are Welcome platform!

For further information or if you have any questions please contact:
Anne Liebgott, CEO at AnneL@americanswelcome.ch +41 79 767 07 58

Why would a Swiss wealth manager register with the SEC in the US

Switzerland is renowned as the private wealth management capital of  the world with approximately 26% of the world’s private wealth held in Switzerland and managed by Swiss-based banks, wealth managers and

investment advisers. In times of heightened volatility and turbulence, Switzerland continues to attract the wealth of prudent investors around the world, seeking the highest possible level of safety for their assets beyond their own borders.

Now why would a Swiss wealth manager register with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States? A Swiss wealth manager can serve up to 14 American clients domiciled in the US with an aggregate  amount of assets under management not exceeding USD 25 million without having to register with the US authorities. So why do over 40 Swiss wealth managers take the bother to register with the SEC and fulfill the demanding regulations to be compliant? Beyond the actual SEC  registration, the Swiss SEC RIA is required to provide an annually updated “ADV Part 2,” a brochure that describes their business in detail in a narrative format, e.g. business practices, fees, conflicts of  interest, and disciplinary information. (The ADV Part 2 needs to be given to each potential client before a relationship begins and it is worthwhile to read it cover-to-cover.)

That’s why!

With an SEC registration, a Swiss wealth manager can communicate freely with American clients in the US. Phone calls, emails and correspondence of any kind are possible, providing Americans with easy access to Swiss wealth management services. A Swiss wealth manager is able to visit American clients in the US to discuss investment strategies and the development of their portfolios. And a Swiss wealth manager is able to actively promote wealth management services to Americans, individually, at conferences or on road shows, for example. Swiss wealth managers dedicated to working with American clients believe in the potential of the US market and an American investor’s growing need for international and jurisidictional diversification.

Swiss custodian banks

More and more Swiss banks are ready to accept American clients (see a list of the custodian banks here) – in collaboration with a Swiss SEC-registered investment adviser  (Swiss SEC RIA) despite a higher level of regulation. Based on a white money strategy and with FATCA in place, Swiss banks can act as a  custodian bank for American clients that work together with a Swiss SEC RIA. The set-up is compliant with SEC regulations and with the IRS…there will be no surprises along the way. A Swiss SEC RIA will assist you in the account opening process which you can do from the comfort of your home, you do not need to travel to Switzerland to do so (even if it is highly recommended that you visit Switzerland to see everything first hand).

A different perspective than your local adviser

With an international upbringing, education and professional wealth management experience, a Swiss wealth manager will have a different perspective than your local adviser. Swiss wealth managers are happy to  collaborate with your present local adviser to create an additional international portfolio that meets your needs and plans for the future.

An investment portfolio to complement the one you have at home

Your new international portfolio should complement the one you have at home. There is no need to duplicate investments. American investment portfolios are often one-sided with only American companies, American
financial institutions and the US dollar. Adding the component of international, jurisdictional diversification to your overall wealth planning is a prudent step to take…there’s no need to keep all of your eggs in the same basket.

Easy access

To get started, you need easy access to the Swiss SEC RIAs that are happy to work together with you and your local adviser. How do you choose the one that suits you best? Do you prefer a larger bank-associated wealth manager or a more personal independent investment adviser? Would you like one from the Geneva area, or do you prefer one from Zurich or even from Lugano? In any case, you will want to do your homework and check them out before you get in contact and establish a relationship.

You can easily do so using the new Swiss platform WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME (WAAW) at  americanswelcome.ch  which lists the over 40 Swiss SEC RIAs that welcome American private clients. They are listed individually, alphabetically and regionally. Some of the more entrepreneurial Swiss SEC RIAs provide direct access to their ADV Part 2 and other information, e.g. events they are participating in, in the US and publications they issue.

TheWAAW Cheat Sheet

will show you how easy it is to establish your Swiss bank account with
Swiss wealth management expertise. Any questions on how to get started?
The Q&A section will answer them!

Other wealth management-related services such as estate planning lawyers, Swiss trustees and US tax advisers can be found on WAAW too. Considering a second passport and a foreign residence? You can find out more on WAAW.

There is no sign-up procedure to access WAAW, no need to complete forms to make inquiries, you simply click right through to the experts of your choice. There is not an easier way to find out more and get started in Switzerland!

Anne Liebgott, CEO
WHERE AMERICANS ARE WELCOME

americanswelcome.ch

Are you still an un-international investor?

Living in, and a citizen of the United States, holding stocks of companies only doing business in the US, holding all your assets with financial institutions in the US, and holding all your cash in US dollars in the US makes you an un-international investor.

Would you call this a prudent wealth management strategy? No. Your future financial well-being is tied to one country, one market and one currency. This is un-international.

US investors often have exactly this kind of an “US only” investment portfolio. Holding some emerging market mutual funds, perhaps also in other currencies is not true international diversification. Going abroad, to another country, to other non-American financial institutions, holding other foreign investments, other currencies and working with wealth managers with an international outlook is the true way to international diversification.

While it is great to remain confident in your home market, the prudent investor should be prepared. With all eggs in one basket, the un-international investor stands lose it all if there is an unexpected turn for the worse. We don’t know exactly how the future will unfold but we do know that volatility is on the rise and everything is changing.

Becoming a prudent, international investor
There is nothing illegal, immoral or unethical in investing and holding assets outside your home territory. Just make sure you do so in a compliant manner and report your accounts and pay taxes as required by the IRS…just like you would do at home.

When going truly international, the signs point to Switzerland. Putting the old myths of secret Swiss bank accounts aside, Switzerland follows a white money strategy. Deloitte recently confirmed Switzerland as the world’s No. 1 financial center for private wealth management. The country's long-term political and economic stability earns Switzerland constant AAA-ratings with a stable outlook. Swiss state-of-the-art wealth management expertise attracts over 25% of the global cross-border wealth management business. And it’s a gorgeous place to be, your assets will feel good in Switzerland.

Getting started is easy!
Getting started is easier than you may think. There are over 40 Swiss wealth managers, registered with the SEC in the United States, able to provide unrestricted, compliant wealth management services to American clients domiciled in the US (and abroad too). They can be found on the new Swiss platform “Where Americans are Welcome” (WAAW) at americanswelcome.ch. You can browse around and check out their credentials before selecting the ones you would like to get to know better. Swiss lawyers, tax advisers, trust advisers and trusted advisers are also happy to help you get established in Switzerland…they provide easy access on WAAW too.

There’s not a more convenient way to get established in Switzerland!