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Combining Investments, Industry News and a Swiss Perspective

Resources and Insights

Global Intelligence Letter's Expert Insights:  Why Did Credit Suisse Fail... and What Does it Mean for Swiss Banks? Thumbnail

Global Intelligence Letter's Expert Insights: Why Did Credit Suisse Fail... and What Does it Mean for Swiss Banks?

As the banking crisis in the U.S. rages on, our managing partner Jamie Vrijhof-Droese was asked to write an explanation of what is happening with the Swiss banking system for the Global Intelligence Letter. The article covers Switzerland's long banking tradition and major structural advantages, including its well-managed public finances, strong and stable currency, and very low debt levels. It discusses the fall of Credit Suisse and how WHVP approaches selecting the custodian banks we partner with. The article will help the reader understand why the Swiss banking system is still one of the world's largest and most popular wealth management sectors.

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Can Customers Still Trust the Swiss Banking System?  Thumbnail

Can Customers Still Trust the Swiss Banking System?

Ted Baumann, International Living’s Global Diversification Expert, and Jamie Vrijhof-Droese discuss the recent situation with the Credit Suisse bank, the effectiveness of the Swiss Financial sector management and regulatory structures, and if customers of the Swiss banking system can still have trust in the sector. If you’re interested in a safe nest egg outside the U.S. or even just exploring your options, you’ll want to hear what Jamie and Ted have to say.

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Miller on the Money: Are All Banks Going Broke? Thumbnail

Miller on the Money: Are All Banks Going Broke?

Managing Partner Urs Vrijhof-Droese was recently featured in the Miller on the Money article to discuss how the Swiss banking system is set up and how it runs. Shortly after the Fed bailed out the Silicon Valley bank depositors, Reuters reported that Credit Suisse failed: “ZURICH, March 20 (Reuters) – Credit Suisse and UBS could benefit from more than 260 billion Swiss francs ($280 billion) in state and central bank support, a third of the country’s gross domestic product, as part of their merger to buffer Switzerland against global financial turmoil. …. The deal,…involves…a pledge from the Swiss government to absorb up to 9 billion francs in potential losses from the takeover.”

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Podcast: The U.S. Bank Crisis and Credit Suisse Thumbnail

Podcast: The U.S. Bank Crisis and Credit Suisse

On this podcast episode, the WHVP team sits down together to talk about the U.S. bank crisis and the merger between UBS and Credit Suisse. In addition, the podcast will cover the stability of the Swiss banking system and the differences between the U.S. and Swiss banking industries and systems, and what Americans can do to ensure they select the right banks to partner with. We hope you enjoy it!

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What You Need to Know About Swiss Banks with Jamie Vrijhof-Droese and Blake Harris  Thumbnail

What You Need to Know About Swiss Banks with Jamie Vrijhof-Droese and Blake Harris

WHVP's CEO Jamie Vrijhof-Droese sits down with renowned Asset Protection Attorney Blake Harris to discuss what Americans need to know about Swiss Banks and how they can access them through a Swiss independent asset manager. The interview is one that can help Americans start their due diligence in wading into the water of international diversification and capital preservation.

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The Most Significant Bank Collapse Since 2008 Hits The U.S. Financial System Thumbnail

The Most Significant Bank Collapse Since 2008 Hits The U.S. Financial System

On Friday, March 10, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed after experiencing a classical bank run. Because of it, we are now confronted with a new collapse of the 16th biggest bank in the U.S... All of us need to understand how this has happened and learn about the banks we use. Further in this blog, we will explore the SVB collapse and the differences between banks in the U.S. and Switzerland. Finally, for individuals with personal wealth in banks, it will be informative about what Swiss banks can offer you amid uncertainty in the U.S. financial situation.

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Podcast: Proposed Beneficial Owner Registry in Switzerland with Jessica Schaedler Thumbnail

Podcast: Proposed Beneficial Owner Registry in Switzerland with Jessica Schaedler

On this episode of the podcast, the WHVP team sits down with special guest Jessica Schaedler, Leading Trust Advisor at Capital Trustees AG, to discuss the proposed bill to the Swiss government on creating a beneficial owner registry. The podcast will cover what changes have been proposed to the government, what may come from such a change and the opinion on how the Swiss population may react to such a bill. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone seeking a better understanding of the potential impact on the financial industry and individuals with Swiss bank accounts. We hope you enjoy it!

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The Laws and Regulations of Investing Offshore as an American Thumbnail

The Laws and Regulations of Investing Offshore as an American

Understanding the legal and regulatory environment surrounding offshore investing, including the reporting requirements and potential benefits, is essential. This week's blog is a summary guide to help Americans understand the legal framework and reporting requirements of offshore investment accounts. It will also discuss the main reasons to invest offshore as an American. Investing offshore can be a valuable part of a diversified investment strategy when building a portfolio fit for the global economic environment. It is our goal to inform you of all the considerations you need to consider when moving outside your domestic markets when establishing an offshore investment account.

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True Portfolio Diversification for Americans  Thumbnail

True Portfolio Diversification for Americans

Diversification is a topic that often comes up when investing. However, for Americans attaining true portfolio diversification can take time and effort. However, some good options are available to Americans when looking to invest outside of the U.S. investment market, dollar, and economy. This blog will cover the challenges Americans face in building a truly diversified portfolio and what they can do to overcome them.

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Miller on the Money: The Global Outlook for 2023 Thumbnail

Miller on the Money: The Global Outlook for 2023

January is the time to look ahead to the year. Sadly, way too much depends on the Federal Reserve and world central banks. Michael Howell writes: “It has been a bleak year for many investors. Global investors have lost $23tn of wealth…so far in 2022. …. That is equivalent to 22 percent of global gross domestic product” When bureaucrats create money out of thin air, they create a mess. Alasdair Macleod tells us: “Monetary policymakers face an acute dilemma: do they prioritize inflation of prices by raising interest rates, or do they lean towards yet more monetary stimulation to ensure that financial markets stabilize, their economies do not suffer a recession, and government finances are not driven into crisis? …. The inconvenient truth is that policies of monetary stimulation invariably end with the impoverishment of everyone.”

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Moving Offshore: A Strategic Decision For Americans Thumbnail

Moving Offshore: A Strategic Decision For Americans

Thinking about moving investments offshore is a big decision. It takes time and effort to conduct the due diligence needed to find the right partner and set up an offshore investment account. However, the strategic move can offer many positive qualities to an investment portfolio. So, is it worth making a move for the opportunities, risk mitigation, time, and effort to gain the benefits of capital preservation, risk mitigation, asset protection, and true diversification?

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The Safety and Privacy of Swiss Investment Accounts for Americans  Thumbnail

The Safety and Privacy of Swiss Investment Accounts for Americans

For international day of banks, we wanted to talk about what Swiss private banks offer Americans in terms of safety and privacy for their personal wealth information. The reality is that Swiss bank accounts are 100% legal for Americans to hold financial assets in, and there are some incredible perks that come with having a Swiss investment account as an American. The two benefits we will be focusing on today are safety and privacy.

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Establishing A Swiss Investment Account For Americans Thumbnail

Establishing A Swiss Investment Account For Americans

It is crucial to understand how things work for any administrative process, especially when it comes to setting up an offshore investment account as an American. This blog will cover the due diligence needed to find the right Swiss independent asset manager for your situation. It will also cover the documents required to start the process and the paperwork that can be expected when establishing a private offshore investment account.

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Private Banking Paradise: Switzerland or Liechtenstein?  Thumbnail

Private Banking Paradise: Switzerland or Liechtenstein?

One of the questions we get asked by prospective clients seeking offshore investment diversification through us as an independent asset management firm is: "How do you determine which custodian banks to work with?" The answer to this question is quite complex, so we will use this blog to give insight into how we determine where to begin our search for top-level private banks. We will briefly cover why we find Switzerland and Liechtenstein to be premiere economic environments for finding the right custodian bank for our clients.

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Interview with Managing Partner and COO of WHVP, Julia Fernandez Thumbnail

Interview with Managing Partner and COO of WHVP, Julia Fernandez

In this interview, Managing Partner and COO Julia Fernandez will share what it has been like for her working in the Swiss financial service industry for over thirty years. Those reading this interview will get an inside look into Swiss asset management and get to know Julia better, both professionally and personally. She will share how she transitioned from private banking to working in asset management and how the Swiss financial service industry has evolved over her career. She will also discuss what it has been like going through a business succession from one generation to the next.

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Will The Metaverse Change The World Of Finance?  Thumbnail

Will The Metaverse Change The World Of Finance?

In this blog, we will describe the impact the metaverse may have on the financial world and asset managers. The metaverse is an exciting topic due to recent trends and developments in technology, pandemic restrictions, and the evolution of cryptocurrencies. In addition, working remotely and connecting with loved ones became difficult for many, but the metaverse proposed an interesting solution for these issues, even proposing an independent economy.

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Understanding the S&P 500 as a Benchmark for an Offshore Portfolio Thumbnail

Understanding the S&P 500 as a Benchmark for an Offshore Portfolio

Since the S&P 500 represents a large portion of the value of the U.S. equity market, it may be worth understanding for Americans with offshore investments. The index's performance gives a good representation of the state of the U.S. market, but it does not fully represent it. Further, it does not represent the other markets around the world. Therefore, we will also endeavor with this blog to describe how Americans can utilize Swiss investment advisors to diversify out of the U.S. market.

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