Americans can use a self-directed IRA to hold a Swiss-managed international portfolio, but the assets must remain within a properly administered U.S. retirement structure. In WHVP’s typical setup, Advanta IRA administers the self-directed IRA, a Liechtenstein custodian bank holds the assets in the IRA’s name, and WHVP manages the portfolio under an agreed mandate.
A Swiss custodian bank holds financial assets, processes transactions and maintains the official account records, while an independent wealth manager manages the portfolio under a separate written mandate. For U.S. clients, opening and operating this type of account involves eligibility review, Know Your Customer and anti-money-laundering checks, source-of-wealth documentation, bank approval, funding, ongoing portfolio management and continued U.S. tax and account-reporting obligations.
Swiss banking is still surrounded by misconceptions. In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese address 12 common myths about Swiss banking for Americans, from legality and anonymity to minimums, international investing, IRS concerns and account control.
Cross-border wealth management means managing assets across more than one country, currency, custodian, or legal jurisdiction while complying with the relevant rules. For families planning beyond one generation, continuity depends not only on the portfolio, but also on access to decision-makers, clearly defined responsibilities, documented objectives, and a wealth manager with its own succession plan.
Markets have remained remarkably resilient despite geopolitical tensions, rising public debt, currency uncertainty, and growing concentration in areas such as artificial intelligence. In this edition of The Swiss View, we examine what current market optimism may be overlooking, rethink the role of fixed income and gold, consider the relationship between the U.S. dollar and Japan, and explain why disciplined portfolio construction and realistic expectations remain essential for long-term investors.
In the latest edition of The Swiss View, Urs Droese and Jess Roberson discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the Japanese yen, recent U.S. dollar strength, gold, and the forces currently shaping global currency markets.
Cross-border wealth management means managing assets across more than one country, currency, custodian or legal jurisdiction while complying with the relevant rules. For an American client, staying in control of assets managed through Switzerland depends on four practical things: knowing who owns and holds the assets, receiving useful reporting, understanding fees and decision-making authority, and having direct access to the people responsible for the portfolio.
In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson and Jamie Vrijhof speak with Darlene Hart, CEO of U.S. Tax & Financial Services, about the biggest U.S. tax mistakes Americans make when holding wealth internationally, including FBAR, FATCA, Form 8938, PFICs, foreign pensions, estate planning, and why proper coordination between tax, legal, and wealth management advisers matters.
Switzerland and the United States have developed financial centers with very different strengths. The U.S. is built around large, liquid capital markets; Switzerland is built around cross-border wealth management, multi-currency investing and long-term continuity. Understanding what each center does well can help American investors think more broadly about how their wealth is structured.
A single chart tells a striking story about the US economy. WHVP explores the US Net International Investment Position and what it means for American investors considering international diversification.
Why are markets so fragile right now? In our latest Economic Outlook, Urs Droese and Jess Roberson look at what has moved in the economy and where markets may head through the summer and into the US midterms.
The latest Swiss View looks at the record SpaceX IPO, the case for value investing alongside momentum, a strong US dollar, and why we see the precious metals pullback as a pause rather than a peak.
What sets Swiss wealth management apart? Jamie Vrijhof and Jess Roberson sit down with Vivien Jain, CEO of the Swiss Association of Independent Wealth Managers, to discuss Hong Kong, gold, banking secrecy, and the independent wealth manager model.
Offshore banking is gaining attention among US investors facing rising federal debt, persistent inflation, and heavy concentration in the US dollar and legal system. This checklist explains what affluent Americans need in place, financially, legally, and operationally, before opening a Swiss or Liechtenstein account, and how to approach the process in a compliant, structured way.
We are delighted to introduce Pamela Kurasinski, our new Office Manager at WHVP. With a broad international background and a genuine passion for finance and operations, Pamela brings fresh energy, versatility and a sharp eye for detail to our Zurich office.
History of U.S. Government Defaults: Gold, Debt and the Digital Dollar
As we move deeper into the year and look forward to longer days and brighter summer skies, the geopolitical climate remains anything but calm. From a Swiss perspective, grounded, observant, and traditionally neutral, the contrast could hardly be sharper.
In this episode of The Swiss View, Urs and Jess explore the economic realities shaping the United States, the European Union, and Switzerland. The conversation moves from GDP performance and what it reveals about the strength of each economy to the everyday impact Americans are feeling at the gas pump, tying it all back to the global price of oil per barrel and the broader energy market.
WHVP is a Swiss asset manager registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and licensed by FINMA. Operating under both U.S. and Swiss regulatory frameworks, the firm combines international perspective with disciplined oversight, offering clients a structured and transparent approach to global wealth management.
In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, the team sits down to discuss the often misunderstood world of private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, along with an overview of what account opening looks like for Americans and how they can prepare for it. On the episode, WHVP’s Jess Roberson and Jamie Vrijhof-Droese are joined by WHVP's newest member, Executive Assistant, Alisa Bektshi, who is a rising talent in the private banking and wealth management world for Americans looking to open an account offshore.