Investing from Switzerland

A Comprehensive Analysis of Cross-Border Wealth Management for U.S. Persons Domiciled in Switzerland

Why U.S. Expats in Switzerland Need a Different Financial Playbook

For a United States citizen, a move to Switzerland offers an exceptional quality of life, but it often comes with a hidden financial price tag. While your colleagues enjoy seamless access to local financial tools, you may find yourself walking into a regulatory collision between two of the world’s most powerful financial systems.

Our latest report, "Investing from Switzerland," provides a comprehensive analysis of this unique friction. It details how the U.S. citizenship-based taxation model clashes with Swiss securities laws, creating a scenario where standard local advice can lead to confiscatory tax penalties.

Key Insights from the Report:

  • The Banking Blockade: We explain why popular Swiss neo-banks like Neon and Yuh are forced to shut their digital doors to U.S. citizens due to FATCA compliance costs, effectively barring Americans from the low-fee fintech revolution.  

  • The "Double Lock" on Investing: The report defines the catch-22 facing U.S. expats: U.S. tax rules (PFIC) make European funds toxic, while Swiss regulations (FIDLEG) make U.S. funds difficult to access. We explore the specific "execution-only" strategies and professional client opt-ins that can reopen these doors.  

  • The Pension Minefield: Swiss retirement accounts are not always what they seem to the IRS. We analyze why mandatory Pillar 2 contributions can generate taxable "phantom income" on U.S. returns and why Pillar 3a accounts often carry hidden reporting risks.  

  • Estate Planning Gaps: With the U.S. estate tax exemption set to sunset in 2026, we highlight the dangerous mismatches between U.S. estate taxes and Swiss cantonal inheritance laws that can lead to double taxation.  

This document is more than a summary of regulations; it is a strategic map for preserving wealth in a cross-border environment that was not designed with the U.S. expat in mind.

Investing in Switzerland

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