WHVP Ltd.

03/09/2026

Why do many Swiss banks choose not to work with U.S. clients?

It is a question that can create confusion, particularly because some Americans assume this means having a Swiss account is not allowed.

In our latest video, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese explain why Swiss banking is legal for Americans, how FATCA and U.S. reporting requirements have made serving U.S. persons a specialized area, and why many banks simply choose not to operate in that market.

They also discuss whether Americans should approach a bank directly or first speak with a wealth manager experienced in cross-border relationships.

Watch here:
https://youtu.be/wq52w1PcgMc

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice.

Can Americans legally open a Swiss bank account?Yes. But that doe...

01/09/2026

Every story has a beginning.

For WHVP, that story began in 1991.

The world of international wealth management looked very different then. Communication was slower, technology played a much smaller role, and the international financial landscape was only beginning to resemble the one we know today.


This post marks the beginning of a two-month anniversary series, as WHVP celebrates its 35th anniversary, we will be looking back at some of the people, moments and changes that shaped our story. We will also be looking forward. Because while much has changed since 1991, the reasons U.S. investors seek out our services have remained remarkably consistent: access to international investments, diversification beyond the U.S. dollar, greater financial privacy, and access to one of the world’s safest, most stable and neutral financial jurisdictions.
And the responsibility that comes with helping our clients manage and preserve their wealth has not changed either.

35 Years of Preserving Legacies.

31/08/2026

🇺🇸 WHVP on the road in the U.S.

recently spent time traveling through Detroit, Chicago, and Colorado, meeting with clients, professional partners, and contacts.

Alongside a packed meeting schedule, the trip included stops around Chicago’s financial district, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Chicago Board of Trade, before heading west to Colorado.

For us at WHVP, these trips are about much more than crossing an ocean. They give us the opportunity to sit down face-to-face, strengthen long-standing relationships, and have meaningful conversations about the needs of U.S. clients with international wealth.

And we are not done traveling yet. Our team will be back in the U.S. several times over the coming months:

September 5–8: Tampa, Florida
September 14–16: Miami, Florida
October 5–19: Texas
November 11–12: Phoenix, Arizona
November 16–18: Scottsdale, Arizona

If you are based in one of these areas and would like to meet with us while we are in town, get in touch with our team to arrange a meeting.

As a Swiss wealth management firm focused on U.S. clients, staying connected on both sides of the Atlantic remains an important part of what we do.

27/08/2026

How much of what you have heard about Swiss banking is actually true?

Swiss accounts are illegal for Americans. They are anonymous. You need millions upon millions to open one. Holding money in Switzerland automatically attracts the IRS.

These are some of the myths Jess Roberson, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese tackle in the latest episode of Swiss Money Secrets.

Across 12 common misconceptions, they discuss what Swiss wealth management for Americans actually looks like today, including account minimums, transparency, international investing, currency exposure, account ownership and the practical process of establishing a relationship abroad.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rKApwVCktVE

You can also see WHVP's current minimums and fee structure on our website: https://whvp.ch/services

Have questions? Schedule a free consultation with our team:https://whvp.ch/get-started

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice.

Swiss bank accounts are illegal for Americans. They are anonymous. ...

26/08/2026

Missed our NextGen Wealth & Leadership webinar? The replay is now available.

Together with TFC Financial, we explored what it means to prepare the next generation not only to inherit wealth, but to understand the responsibility, decision-making, and leadership that come with it.

The conversation looked at the importance of involving the next generation early, creating space for financial education and open communication, and thinking about continuity as more than simply transferring assets from one generation to the next.

For families thinking about succession and long-term wealth, preparation can begin well before any formal transfer takes place.

Watch the full webinar replay here: https://youtu.be/WTOp55r314E

Thank you to TFC Financial for joining us for the conversation.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, legal advice, or tax advice.

What does it actually take to hand a business, or a family's wealth...

24/08/2026

Preserving wealth across generations takes more than a strong portfolio.

A family may work with the same financial institution for years, but real continuity depends on something deeper: clear responsibilities, documented objectives, access to decision-makers, and a wealth manager with its own succession plan.

For families with cross-border assets, another question matters too: does the next generation understand how the structure actually works?

Who manages the portfolio?
Where are the assets held?
Who provides the official account documentation?
Who should the family contact when circumstances change?

Our latest article explores how long-term wealth management relationships can be structured to remain clear and understandable as families evolve, including the distinct roles of the client, independent wealth manager, and custodian bank.

Read the full article: https://whvp.ch/blog/preserving-wealth-across-generations-the-family-approach-to-offshore-investing

If your family is thinking about international wealth management beyond the next market cycle, we would be happy to discuss how the structure works.

Schedule a free consultation with WHVP.

What do you think matters most when choosing a wealth manager for the next generation: continuity, direct access, investment philosophy, or the firm’s own succession plan?

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Long-term wealth management is about more than portfolio performance. Discover how continuity, succession planning, clear responsibilities, and the separation of portfolio management and custody can support families across generations.

21/08/2026

The U.S. national debt has officially crossed $40 trillion for the first time ever.

The number itself is striking, but for investors, the more important story is what is happening behind it.
According to U.S. Treasury data, total public debt outstanding reached approximately $40.047 trillion, including around $32.266 trillion held by the public and $7.782 trillion in intragovernmental holdings.
And the cost of carrying that debt is becoming increasingly significant.

The federal government is now spending roughly $1.1 trillion a year on interest payments. During the first ten months of the current fiscal year, interest costs became the second-largest federal spending category, behind Social Security.
At the same time, investors are demanding higher returns to lend money to the U.S. government for longer periods. A recent 30-year Treasury auction priced at a yield of approximately 5.22%, the highest borrowing cost at such an auction since 2001.

Why does this matter for investors?
Higher government borrowing costs can have consequences far beyond Washington. Long-term Treasury yields influence borrowing costs throughout the economy, including mortgages, corporate financing and other forms of credit.
Growing debt and interest costs can also raise longer-term questions around:
• interest rates
• inflation
• fiscal policy
• currency exposure
• bond markets
• future government spending and taxation

None of this means investors should panic or abandon U.S. assets.

But it does make concentration risk worth examining.

An investor may own hundreds of different securities and still have much of their wealth exposed to the same country, currency, financial institutions and economic system.
International diversification can therefore mean more than simply owning foreign stocks through a U.S. brokerage account. Depending on an investor's circumstances, it can also include diversification across currencies, custodians and established financial centers.

The $40 trillion milestone is a reminder to ask an important question: How diversified is your wealth beyond the United States?

At WHVP, we work with U.S. investors seeking compliant international wealth management and portfolio diversification through Switzerland.

20/08/2026

Can a great company be a bad investment? Yes.

A company can have a strong business model, an impressive track record, and a recognizable name, but that does not automatically make it the right investment at every price or for every portfolio.

In our latest short video, and Urs Droese discuss some of the factors that can change the answer:

• Management and corporate governance
• The price you pay
• Investment time horizon
• Opportunity cost
• Dividend income
• The role a holding plays within the wider portfolio

One point Urs raises is particularly important: a position does not necessarily need to deliver dramatic price growth to be useful. Some holdings may instead contribute income or stability when other parts of the market are under pressure.

Ultimately, “Is this a good company?” and “Is this a good investment for me?” are two different questions.

Watch the full discussion here: https://youtu.be/Zjh-rKQ7ThQ

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal.

A great company does not automatically make a great investment.In...

14/08/2026

The latest edition of The Swiss View is out.

Markets have continued to advance through a summer of elevated geopolitical tension, rising government debt, and severe wildfires across Europe and North America. None of it has been enough to unsettle investors.

In this edition, Urs Droese looks at why that matters. When expectations across many areas of the market are already optimistic, the margin for disappointment narrows. The edition covers the U.S. Treasury issuing 30-year bonds at their highest yield in roughly a quarter of a century, the concentration risk behind this year's rally in Korean equities, the debate over whether the traditional 60/40 portfolio still holds, why Japan rather than China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries, and the role precious metals continue to play in a diversified portfolio.

Managing expectations has always been part of investing. It may matter more now than it has for some time.

Read the full edition: https://whvp.ch/blog/the-swiss-view-managing-expectations

Markets remain resilient despite rising debt, geopolitical uncertainty, currency shifts, and concentrated enthusiasm around AI. In our latest Swiss View, we examine where risks may be building and why diversification, discipline, and realistic expectations still matter.

13/08/2026

What connects the Strait of Hormuz, the Japanese yen, U.S. Treasuries, gold, and the U.S. dollar?

More than might first appear.

In the latest edition of The Swiss View, Jess Roberson and Urs Vrijhof-Droese look at the relationships between geopolitical uncertainty, energy markets, currencies, central banks, and investor sentiment.

They also explain how the yen carry trade works, why developments in Japan matter to U.S. markets, and how they are interpreting the recent strength of the U.S. dollar from a longer-term perspective.

Watch the full discussion here:
https://youtu.be/Z6gHxQqTcLw

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal.

A lot has changed since the last edition of The Swiss View.In thi...