Earlier this month the FED held its latest press meeting where another interest rate hike of 0.75% was announced. This was the fourth consecutive rate hike. During the press conference, a reporter asked about the expected positive reaction from the stock market to the announcement (it turned out after the conference the stock market has not reacted positively to the rate hike news at all) and Powell replied: “…We have a ways to go. And the last thing I'll say is that I would want people to understand our commitment to getting this done. And to not making the mistake of not doing enough or the mistake of withdrawing our strong policy and doing that too soon….”. This statement led most market participants to conclude that the FED is going to continue tightening for quite some more time. Consequently, while we do already asses the current situation as a technical recession, we do expect that in 2023 a formal U.S. recession will be announced and generally accepted.

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.

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.

With a recession looming over the U.S. economy and high market volatility, investors can be left scratching their heads on how to proceed with their investment activities. Moreover, once the recession does hit the U.S., more fear could seize the markets. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what can be done when planning to invest during a recession. The blog post will cover how U.S. Investors can act in times of economic turmoil and find the right partners to help them find the right opportunities and manage their emotions.

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.

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.

After inflation started to pick up last year due to supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine started threatening western stability even more. Long story short, we slid from one crisis into another, and then another. Investors, governments, and central banks seem to have erased the concept of economic cycles from their memory. They desperately try to dispute and fight an economic contraction, which is a normal, sometimes even healthy, short-term development. We are convinced that big economies such as the U.S. and the European Union (EU) are in a recession already despite them trying to change the definition in an effort to make the situation look less dire. Nonetheless, it is important to not let fear take over our decision-making abilities and long-term investment strategy. Times of crisis, no matter how painful they may be, also always offer opportunities.

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.

This article is designed to help you understand the basics of investing by breaking down the four types of financial markets. It will allow you to learn about the basics and start your journey to increasing your financial competency. Expanding your knowledge of the various markets where investors can build investment portfolios is vital.

In this webinar, you will learn how to utilize the Swiss economy, financial services, and registered investment advisors to bring stability to your existing or new investment portfolio. The presentation will cover the reasons for today's inflationary environment, how and why the Swiss economy differs from the United States, and how Americans can access the Swiss markets. In addition, it will be a chance to learn more about Switzerland's economic facts and figures and the relevant details that pertain to holding an offshore account in its jurisdiction.

For the August issue of the Simon Letter, our Managing Partner Jamie Vrijhof-Droese wrote a piece on how to move an individual retirement account offshore. The article will show Americans that it is possible to move their retirement assets offshore to benefit from international diversification and an enhanced level of privacy and asset protection. This way, your retirement assets can access global markets and various international opportunities.

The Jackson Hole Symposium has drawn a lot of attention because of Jerome Powell's speech in which he re-stated that the Fed will continue to lift interest rates in their fight against inflation. However, some of you may not have seen the inputs of the event given by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), Thomas J. Jordan. Therefore, it is the intention of this blog to provide you with the highlights of the contribution he made to the event.

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.

It is done… after a challenging first half of the year, the U.S. economy added an overwhelming 528,000 jobs in July and brought the unemployment rate down to 3.5%. Additionally, the consumer price index rose by “only” 8.5% instead of the expected 8.9%. Having this news in mind, one could think that the technical recession (two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth) in the U.S. is already resolved. However, on the other side, we are hearing that big companies like Amazon, Shopify, or Microsoft started sending blue letters to their employees and will probably continue to do so. These days, there is many different, mutually contradictory news out there. This can be frustrating when trying to make sense of the current global situation.

In this podcast episode, Jamie Vrijhof-Droese, Urs Vrijhof-Droese, and Jess Roberson sit down to discuss the differences between the U.S. and Switzerland when it comes to inflation, interest rates, and recession definitions. The team will start the podcast by discussing the recent celebration of Swiss National Day, the equivalent of Independence Day in the U.S. We hope you enjoy it.

For the July issue of the Simon Letter, our Managing Partner Jamie Vrijhof-Droese wrote a piece on Switzerland as a safe haven country during times of crisis. The piece covers what sets Switzerland apart and makes it such a popular country for banking.

When investing, many things are not easy, especially when it comes to creating a portfolio ready to deal with market downturns, political instability, domestic unease, and economic turmoil. At the same time, it can also be challenging to trust a financial professional with your wealth, especially if they are located in a foreign country. This inspired us to create an authentic company video that gives you an idea of who we are and what our company culture is while at the same time showing you how we can help you achieve your financial goals.

Swiss National Day is upon us! So what is the history of Swiss independence and direct democracy? The Swiss gather together on the 1st of August to have grill parties, watch fireworks, and sit around bonfires. But the Swiss are also reflecting and celebrating a unique history that has led the country from poverty to where it is today as a wealthy and prosperous nation.