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Wealth management in Switzerland: considerations

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 does wealth management in Switzerland include?

The term “wealth management” in Switzerland can describe different combinations of financial services. Depending on the provider and relationship, these may include banking, custody, investment advice, and Discretionary Portfolio Management. These functions do not necessarily have to be provided by the same institution. A bank may hold the client's assets and provide account reporting, while an independent investment advisor takes responsibility for investment recommendations or portfolio management. Alternatively, the bank itself may provide both custody and investment services. Understanding these distinctions is a useful starting point because it allows investors to determine which services they actually require and who will be responsible for providing them.

Who makes the decisions in wealth management in Switzerland?

One of the most practical choices in wealth management in Switzerland concerns the investor's own level of involvement. Some clients want to remain responsible for individual investment decisions. An advisory relationship can accommodate this by providing recommendations that the client considers before approving a transaction. Others prefer to delegate day-to-day portfolio decisions. Under a discretionary mandate, the portfolio manager can implement investment decisions within previously agreed objectives, risk parameters, and other mandate terms. Neither arrangement is inherently appropriate for every investor. The distinction is primarily about where responsibility for investment decisions should sit.

Wealth management in Switzerland with advisors

The investment universe can also depend on the business model of the provider. Some financial institutions manufacture their own investment products alongside providing investment services. Others operate under an open-architecture model and do not offer proprietary investment funds or products. Kaiser Partner Financial Advisors Ltd. follows the latter approach. The Zurich-based investment advisor is registered with the SEC and focused on U.S. persons. Its wealth management in Switzerland services are based on investments selected from the broader market rather than proprietary products. Open architecture does not remove the need to assess individual investments. Asset allocation, risk, liquidity, costs, and suitability remain relevant when determining whether an investment belongs in a particular portfolio.

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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.

Wealth management in Switzerland: where to hold assets

The location of the investment advisor and the location of the assets are separate questions.
When an independent advisor provides wealth management in Switzerland, client assets can remain with a specialist custodian bank. The bank is responsible for holding the assets, settling transactions, and providing account reporting. Kaiser Partner Financial Advisors Ltd., for example, works with specialist custodian banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and can assist clients in selecting a suitable custodian. This structure creates a clear division of responsibilities: the custodian provides the banking and custody infrastructure, while the investment advisor performs the investment-management function agreed with the client.

Is wealth management in Switzerland too restrictive?

Choosing wealth management in Switzerland does not mean restricting an investment portfolio to Swiss companies, Swiss francs, or the Swiss market. A portfolio can provide exposure to different international markets, sectors, currencies, and asset classes according to the client's investment objectives and agreed risk parameters. Switzerland may be the location of the advisor or custodian rather than the geographic focus of the investments. This distinction can be particularly relevant for U.S. persons. An internationally diversified investment strategy can be constructed while taking relevant U.S. considerations into account when assessing the available investment universe. For investors comparing Swiss providers, the useful questions are therefore practical ones: who holds the assets, who makes investment decisions, how are investments selected, and does the resulting arrangement correspond with the investor's requirements? Contact us if you would like to learn more about wealth management in Switzerland.