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Offshore wealth management – Overview

Expert cross border wealth management and international asset protection for US citizens and expats.

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Discretionary Portfolio Management

Designed for clients who want their assets holistically managed by the investment manager, but who do not wish to be involved in their management

Portfolio Advisory

The portfolio advisory service is designed for clients who would like their account to be holistically managed but still wish to be involved in every investment decision.

Hold Only

The hold-only service is for clients who do not want discretionary portfolio management or advisory. It applies only to accounts holding cash, precious metals, and commodities, with no securities included. No advisory services or risk monitoring are provided. Clients are solely responsible for asset allocation and all investment decisions.

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What offshore wealth management means

In an investment context, offshore wealth management generally refers to managing financial assets through a relationship outside the investor's home country. For a U.S. person, this might involve an investment advisor in Switzerland and assets held with a Swiss or Liechtenstein custodian bank. The portfolio itself does not have to be "offshore" in the sense of being invested in unusual or specialized assets. It may contain securities from the United States and other international markets, depending on the agreed investment strategy.

Setting up offshore wealth management

Before individual investments are considered, the parameters of the investment relationship need to be established. The investor's objectives, investment horizon, risk tolerance, and liquidity requirements help define the portfolio strategy. Existing holdings and currency exposures may also be relevant when determining the initial allocation. The client then decides how investment decisions should be handled. With Portfolio Advisory, the advisor can recommend investments, but transactions remain subject to client approval. Discretionary Portfolio Management allows the portfolio manager to make investment decisions within an agreed mandate. Hold Only does not include investment advice or portfolio risk monitoring. These choices determine how offshore wealth management operates on a day-to-day basis.

Where assets are held in offshore wealth management

The investment advisor does not necessarily hold the client's assets. In a structure using an independent advisor, the custodian bank and investment advisor perform separate functions. The bank holds the financial assets, settles transactions, and provides account reporting. The advisor provides investment recommendations or portfolio management, depending on the mandate. Kaiser Partner Financial Advisors Ltd. is a Zurich-based, SEC-registered investment advisor focused on U.S. persons. The firm works with specialist custodian banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and can assist clients in selecting a suitable custodian. This separation of responsibilities is an important practical feature of offshore wealth management.

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone. Discuss your needs with one of our experts. We are happy to assist you personally.

What goes into the offshore wealth management portfolio

Once the investment framework and custody relationship are established, attention turns to portfolio construction. Strategic asset allocation can distribute capital among suitable asset classes according to the agreed objectives and risk parameters. The resulting portfolio may provide exposure to different regions, sectors, issuers, and currencies. For U.S. persons, the available investment universe requires additional consideration. Some products commonly available to non-U.S. investors may have U.S. tax or reporting implications, including investments potentially subject to Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) rules. An offshore wealth management portfolio for a U.S. person can take these factors into account when investments are assessed for inclusion.

Investment process for offshore wealth management

Establishing the initial portfolio does not conclude the investment process. Market movements may alter allocations. A rise in one asset class can create a larger exposure than originally intended. Currency movements can also affect the composition and risk characteristics of an international portfolio. Under an advisory or discretionary mandate, portfolio reviews can assess these developments against the agreed investment strategy. Where an adjustment is considered appropriate, the process for implementing it depends on the mandate: the client approves recommendations under Portfolio Advisory, while changes within a Discretionary Portfolio Management mandate can be implemented by the portfolio manager. In practical terms, offshore wealth management is therefore a defined investment-management arrangement: assets are held with a custodian, investment responsibilities are established through the chosen mandate, and the portfolio is constructed and reviewed according to agreed parameters. We are happy to help you with your portfolio, so please do not hesitate to contact us.