The due diligence required to find the right registered investment advisor (RIA) to partner with can be daunting. People often think seeking the best possible return is the only thing they must consider. While understanding how an RIA handles its investments is important, it is only a piece of what needs to be researched on a company. You must understand and know the RIA fully and that a relationship of mutual trust can be built over time. For this reason, we have put together this guide for investors to use in vetting potential RIAs as their partners for the future of their wealth.

Since tax season is now upon us, it is important for Americans working with or looking to work with Swiss-registered investment advisors to know the tax considerations for their offshore accounts. A Swiss investment account is a popular choice for individuals looking to diversify their portfolios and protect their assets. Still, American citizens need to be aware of the U.S. tax implications. Swiss banks are required to report certain information about American citizens holding accounts in Switzerland to the IRS annually. Additionally, American citizens must report the existence of their Swiss bank accounts on their U.S. tax returns to avoid significant penalties and fines. This blog will help educate you on what you need to know.

WHVP, an SEC-registered investment advisor based out of Zurich Switzerland, received its FINMA license to continue operating as an asset manager in Switzerland. This achievment is a milestone in the company's 30 year history.

In this blog post, we'll explore the earliest offshore banking regulations from the 1930s to recent developments like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and new rules for anti-money laundering and sanctions against certain countries. Join us on a journey through history and discover the changing landscape of offshore banking regulations for Americans.

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.

On this episode of the podcast, the WHVP team sits down to discuss going beyond performance in terms of client care. The podcast will cover a bit of the Swiss perspective of the World Economic Forum and then will jump into the team discussing the importance of client communication and care. We hope you enjoy it.

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.

It is crucial for our clients to understand U.S. reporting and tax requirements in regard to an offshore bank account. While having a bank account overseas is absolutely legal, it is important to set the structure up in a compliant way and to report it properly. Our blog will cover the reporting requirements that apply to Americans with investment accounts held in offshore accounts.

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.

Taking the time to put down your financial and investment goals may seem easy, but it is vital to have a guild to start this process. Doing your due diligence will allow you to ensure you begin the road to achieving your goals in the right direction. So let's get back to the basics of financial and investment goals and, more importantly, an investment strategy to set yourself up for success.

We strive to have a company culture that is client focused. One that allows our expertise to be utilized on the client's behalf. Culture is not something we take lightly, as we know that the only way our clients will be truly happy working with us is if every team member is passionate about what they do, eager to help, and willing to go the extra mile. This blog post will give a bit of a background on our company culture, how we achieve it, and how we have fun together.

This article explains basic information about cryptocurrencies, including what they are and how to use them. It is a look at the basics and can act as a diving-in point to learn more. The world is changing fast, and understanding the things that are emerging is key to being able to adapt to the changing world.

For the June issue of the Simon Letter, our Managing Partner Jamie Vrijhof-Droese wrote a piece on how to choose an external asset manager. The piece covers what to consider when choosing a financial partner as well as specific questions to ask in the due diligence process.

When selecting a financial advisor there are many options an individual can choose from, whether they be an asset management branch of a bank, a private investor, a family office, or an independent investment advisor both domestic or offshore. Since we are based offshore we have already written extensively on why one might choose an offshore jurisdiction for financial services (Switzerland: Safe Haven during Crisis) and also how to choose a financial advisor (How to choose an External Asset Manager for U.S. Citizens). Both of those topics are important and worth spending some time thinking about. However, today we want to delve into what the benefits are of working with an independent registered investment advisor versus being served by the asset management branch of a larger bank.

This article will help your clients and prospects understand the basics of asset allocation, and how their portfolio balances risk and potential returns. Each asset class has its own set of risks and rewards, depending on your time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals. The asset allocation strategy you select will allow you and your financial advisor to create a framework that will be able to manage the level of risk your portfolio will hold based on the asset class. You and your financial advisor may make adjustments to your portfolio over the years as your needs change, however, having a selected strategy will help to keep the portfolio balanced and not stray from a healthy level of risk.

Test your own financial knowledge by reviewing these 5 must-know investment basics. Working with a trusted financial professional is important when it comes to strategizing and preparing to meet your financial goals. As most of us handle money on a daily basis, it’s important to have an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of financial literacy, especially when it comes to investing. In our blog post we’ve identified five financial basics everyone should know. Understanding these important concepts can serve as a basis for your financial investment standings.

You may be tempted to panic or sell when the stock market is down. However, with a wise strategy you may want to reconsider saying the course. Here's why. Billionaire and real estate magnate Warren Buffet told CNBC in 2016 that buying or selling in a rush may not be the best strategy. “If [worried investors are] trying to buy and sell stocks, and worry when they go down a little bit … and think they should maybe sell them when they go up, they're not going to have very good results." Such a panic move could unbalance your portfolio where you are either taking on more or less risk than you should.

Are you frustrated with the level of growth you experience when you attempt to invest on your own? Do you feel left out when your friends or coworkers talk about how much money they are making in the market while the value of your portfolio barely budges? If the answer is yes, it is probably a good time for you to take the next step in your investing journey and ditch DIY investing by finally hiring a professional. A good financial advisor can bring your portfolio to a higher level.

Recently inherited an IRA? The wrong move could cost a boat load in taxes and penalties, but you have options. Governing bodies like the IRS and legislation such as the SECURE Act have outlined important rules regarding an inherited IRA, such as how much you may owe in taxes as well as whether you will need to begin taking required minimum distributions. These can depend on several factors, such as your relationship to the deceased, whether the IRA inherited is Roth or traditional and more.

While an investment advisor can be helpful in any situation, hiring one is typically more important when you are nearing retirement or have complex issues and questions to sort out. From your needs and objectives to your risk tolerance and timeframe, there are a variety of factors your investment advisor will consider when designing your customized investment strategy. However, before you hire an investment advisor to help you grow your assets, it’s important to ask yourself these four key questions first.