As a U.S. investor, you may be curious, and perhaps a bit overwhelmed, by the many questions that come up when exploring Swiss wealth management. Below you’ll find an accessible and transparent overview of the most common questions, designed to give you clarity and serve as a helpful starting point for your research.
Is this legal?
Yes. Opening and maintaining a Swiss investment account is fully legal for U.S. persons, as long as it is done correctly and in accordance with U.S. and Swiss regulations. When choosing a firm, it is essential to verify that the advisor is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). WHVP is SEC-registered and licensed by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), meaning we are held to strict oversight in both jurisdictions. Your account remains tax-compliant and is reported to the IRS under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
Is there a minimum investment volume, and if so, why?
Yes. Our minimum investment size is USD 500,000, with around USD 800,000 recommended to achieve full fee efficiency. Swiss and Liechtenstein private banks set their own minimums for U.S. clients, and global diversification is simply more cost-effective at higher asset levels. In addition, serving U.S. clients requires a high level of cross-border expertise and a significant administrative workload. Operating within two regulatory and compliance regimes creates fixed costs that must be covered to ensure we can deliver the level of service, oversight, and specialized knowledge this mandate requires.
What kind of account types are available?
We offer a range of account structures to accommodate different personal, legal, and estate-planning needs. You can open an individual account in your own name or a joint account together with a spouse or partner. For clients with estate-planning vehicles, we work with domestic and offshore trusts as well as LLCs and other legal entities.
Retirement assets can also be managed internationally through a self-directed Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
Can I move retirement assets overseas?
Yes, retirement assets can be managed in Switzerland through a self-directed IRA structure. While U.S. law does not allow IRA assets to be held directly offshore, a self-directed IRA custodian can open a dedicated IRA account for you at a Swiss or Liechtenstein private bank. The funds remain fully within the U.S. retirement system, preserving all tax advantages and regulatory protections, but the custody and investment management take place offshore.
What kind of investments will I hold?
Your portfolio will consist of high-quality international stocks, solid corporate bonds, various foreign currencies, and selected precious metals. We fully exclude U.S. markets and USD-denominated investments so that your offshore portfolio provides true global and currency diversification, rather than duplicating your U.S. holdings.
Each portfolio is tailor-made based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, preferences, and any restrictions you may have. We invest only in direct securities—not products or structured notes—to ensure full transparency and cost efficiency.
Are my assets insured or protected?
Yes. Swiss and Liechtenstein banks operate under some of the strictest regulatory standards worldwide. Client assets are fully segregated from the bank’s own balance sheet, which means that your stocks, bonds, and physical precious metals remain your legal property. Even in the unlikely event of a bank failure. Cash holdings are additionally insured up to CHF 100,000 under the Swiss depositor-protection scheme.
We are extremely selective when choosing our partner banks. We typically work with family-owned institutions that take a prudent, conservative, and long-term approach to risk. These banks think in generations rather than quarters, maintain exceptionally strong capital ratios, and hold robust insurance coverage. Their stability, structure, and philosophy align with the needs of international clients seeking safety and continuity.
Do I need to report my Swiss account to the IRS?
Yes. As a U.S. person, you are required to report your foreign financial accounts. All the banks we work with issue U.S. tax statements on a yearly basis, making the reporting process straightforward for you and your CPA. While we do not provide tax advice or tax-preparation services ourselves, we are happy to connect you with qualified experts in Switzerland or the U.S. who specialize in international reporting and understand the requirements around foreign bank accounts.
Will this reduce my U.S. taxes?
No. Holding assets abroad is tax neutral. You will not pay more tax, and you will not pay less tax simply because your assets are custodied international. The purpose of an offshore account is diversification, stability, and access to international markets—not tax reduction. All accounts are fully tax-compliant under U.S. law.
Is my privacy protected?
Yes. Switzerland and Liechtenstein are known for having some of the strongest privacy and data-protection laws in the world. The Swiss Banking Secrecy Act remain in force and continue to protect clients from unauthorized access, information brokers, commercial use of personal data, and curious third parties. In practical terms, your financial information is shielded from the public, from private companies, and from nosy neighbors.
However, this privacy does not extend to the IRS. As a U.S. person, your account must be reported under FATCA, and banks in both Switzerland and Liechtenstein are required to provide specific information to U.S. authorities. Within these legal frameworks, your data is handled strictly, confidentially, and in full compliance with both jurisdictions’ regulations.
What makes Swiss banks safer?
Swiss banks benefit from a combination of structural, regulatory, and geopolitical factors that make Switzerland—and neighboring Liechtenstein—among the world’s safest and most stable financial jurisdictions. Banks maintain exceptionally high capital ratios, operate under strict prudential regulation, and follow conservative lending and risk-management practices.
Beyond the banking system itself, the strength comes from the stability of the countries. Switzerland and Liechtenstein are fiscally responsible, politically neutral, and not part of any larger power bloc. They have long-standing traditions of rule of law, strong property rights, and predictable regulatory environments. This combination of financial conservatism, geopolitical neutrality, and institutional stability provides a level of safety that is difficult to match elsewhere.
Do I need to travel to Switzerland?
No. You can complete the entire onboarding process remotely. If we do not meet in person, either during one of our business trips to the U.S. or at our office in Switzerland, you will simply need to complete a formal identification process. This involves having your passport copy notarized by a notary public. If the account is opened through a trust, LLC, or other structure, the relevant documents will need to be notarized as well.
While a visit to Switzerland is not required, we always enjoy meeting clients and prospective clients in person. If you do decide to come, we would be delighted to welcome you to our office and can provide recommendations for activities, restaurants, and local sights.
What happens to my account if something happens to me?
Your account remains part of your U.S. estate, and Swiss and Liechtenstein banks will only act once formal documentation—such as a death certificate or estate paperwork—is provided. Your beneficiaries can choose to continue the relationship or close the account and transfer the assets back to the U.S.
Because these situations can be emotionally and administratively demanding, we encourage clients to involve their spouse, adult children, or other beneficiaries early in the process. This ensures they know exactly whom to contact and how the relationship works. We regularly work with families across generations and provide full support to heirs to ensure a smooth and transparent transition.
Will opening a Swiss account help me move to Switzerland?
No. Opening a Swiss bank account has no influence on your ability to obtain residency or move to Switzerland. Immigration is handled entirely by Swiss authorities and is governed by strict legal criteria.
For U.S. citizens, moving to Switzerland is generally difficult. The most straightforward path is through marriage to a Swiss or EU/EFTA citizen. Outside of that, options are limited: you can only relocate as a highly skilled worker—where the threshold for qualification is extremely high—or under Switzerland’s lump-sum taxation regime, which requires substantial wealth and is only available in certain cantons.
While we do not offer relocation consulting or immigration advice, we are happy to point you toward qualified experts if this is something you wish to explore further.
What documents are required?
The exact documentation depends on your personal situation and the type of account you are opening, but there are a few items that almost every client will need. To begin the process, we typically require a valid, signed U.S. passport, your residential address, and a brief overview of your professional background—this can be a CV, résumé, or even your LinkedIn profile.
We also require a source-of-funds explanation. This can be a recent tax return, employment contract, business ownership documentation, or other evidence showing how your wealth was accumulated. In addition, we ask you to complete our short three-page intake form so we can prepare the correct bank and regulatory paperwork.
Depending on whether you are opening an individual, joint, trust, LLC, or IRA account, additional documents may be needed (such as trust deeds or operating agreements). After our initial consultation, we provide you with a personalized checklist that outlines exactly what is required for your specific setup, making the process clear and manageable from the start.
How long does account opening take?
The timeline depends on the type of account you are opening and how quickly documents can be reviewed and returned. For a personal account, joint account, or domestic trust, the process typically takes around four weeks. Self-directed IRA accounts usually require about five weeks, while offshore trusts or more complex structures take roughly six weeks.
Can I hold U.S. securities in Switzerland?
Yes, this is possible, and if you have a specific reason for wanting to hold U.S. securities in your offshore account, we can accommodate that. However, most clients choose to keep their U.S. investments in the United States and work with us for the international portion of their portfolio. This approach avoids duplication and ensures the offshore account provides true global and currency diversification.
Can I transfer my existing portfolio to Switzerland in kind?
Yes, an in-kind transfer is often possible. Whether all positions can be transferred depends on the specific securities you hold and the policies of the custodian bank, so we review each portfolio individually to determine what can be moved directly and what may need to be sold or replaced.
That said, we usually recommend this only when there is a strong reason to do so. Sending a USD international wire transfer is typically more straightforward, cost-efficient, and allows us to build a clean, fully international portfolio without unnecessary constraints from legacy positions.
How is WHVP compensated?
We operate on a straightforward and transparent fee structure. Our compensation comes solely from an all-in asset management fee based on the value of the assets we manage for you. The fee is calculated on the last day of each quarter and charged quarterly in arrears.
The exact fee depends on your investment volume and decreases as assets grow. We do not receive commissions, retrocessions, or incentives from banks or product providers, and we do not offer any in-house products. Our advice is fully independent, aligned with your interests, and focused exclusively on managing your international portfolio responsibly.
Is there a lock-up period?
No. You can close the account or transfer assets at any time.
What if I already work with a U.S. advisor?
Many clients maintain a U.S. advisor for domestic assets and use WHVP for international diversification.
Do you have access to my money?
No. Your account always remains fully in your name, and we do not have the ability to withdraw or transfer funds out of it. The only authorization we receive is a limited power of attorney, which allows us to manage the investments within the account and to deduct our agreed-upon management fee automatically.
This limited authority does not permit us to move money, make payments, or access your cash for any other purpose. All incoming and outgoing transfers can only be initiated by you.
What are the typical fees at the Swiss banks?
Private banks apply their own fees independently from our management fee. These typically include custody fees for holding your assets, transaction fees for buying and selling securities, and spreads when purchasing foreign currencies or precious metals. Annual tax statements are also charged separately by the bank.
During onboarding, we provide you with a detailed overview of the exact fees of the bank you choose so you know precisely what to expect.
What is the role of WHVP vs. the bank?
WHVP manages your investments and acts as your main contact. The bank holds your assets, provides statements, and ensures custody.
What happens if WHVP ceases operations?
Your account stays intact at the Swiss bank. You can appoint a new investment advisor or take it back to the U.S.
Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation
If you have a question that wasn’t covered here or would simply like to get to know us, you’re welcome to schedule a free initial consultation. We’d be glad to speak with you.