Swiss Money Secrets

Building a portfolio is not just about finding attractive investments. It is also about understanding the investor, separating short-term noise from long-term developments, and maintaining discipline when markets become emotional.

In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson and Jamie Vrijhof sit down with Dr. Barbara Kasper to explore portfolio construction from both the professional and private-investor perspective.

They discuss investor psychology, fundamentals, market cycles, debt and cash flow, U.S. home bias, international diversification, and the challenges of investing during periods dominated by themes such as AI and geopolitical uncertainty.

Dr. Kasper also shares her perspective on gold and cryptocurrencies, the importance of understanding what you own, and why investors should focus less on predicting every market move and more on building a strategy they can maintain.

Dr. Barbara Kasper has international experience in banking, finance research, portfolio construction, and family office investing across Europe and the United States.

Connect with Dr. Barbara Kasper on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-h-m-dr-kasper-mba-1384921a3/

Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/uwUwqBIbiCI

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.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 25 basis points as inflation remains elevated, while central banks around the world continue to weigh price pressures, economic growth and the impact of higher energy costs.

In this episode of The Swiss View, Jess Roberson and Urs Droese discuss the latest central-bank decisions, continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, oil supply, and the recent strength of the U.S. dollar.

They also take a step back from the short-term moves to consider the bigger picture: how currencies behave across different time horizons, why geopolitical uncertainty can influence demand for the dollar, and why international and currency diversification can still matter even during periods of U.S. dollar strength.

The Swiss View brings a Swiss perspective to the economic and market developments shaping international investors.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

Swiss bank accounts are illegal for Americans. They are anonymous. You need to be a billionaire. Opening one automatically triggers an IRS audit.These are some of the misconceptions that still come up when Americans explore Swiss banking and international wealth management.In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese take on 12 common myths and explain what Swiss wealth management for U.S. persons actually looks like today.The myths covered:0:00 - Intro05:45 - Myth #1: Swiss banking is illegal for Americans and is used for tax evasion07:40 - Myth #2: Offshore banking is becoming obsolete11:38 - Myth #3: Swiss wealth management is only for billionaires13:45 - Myth #4: Swiss bank accounts are anonymous15:39 - Myth #5: The U.S. is the only worthwhile investment market21:21 - Myth #6: The U.S. dollar and U.S. economy are so dominant that international diversification is unnecessary24:56 - Myth #7: Opening a Swiss account automatically triggers an IRS audit26:28 - Myth #8: A U.S. broker can provide exactly the same international investment access32:00 - Myth#9: A foreign account allows Americans to invest in anything outside the U.S.35:59 - Myth #10: Holding assets in Switzerland automatically creates Swiss income or wealth tax36:48 - Myth #11: Opening and maintaining a Swiss account requires frequent travel to Switzerland38:07 - Myth #12: Moving assets offshore means losing control of your moneyThe discussion also looks at currency exposure, direct international investing, portfolio diversification, account ownership, compliance, and why working with professionals who understand U.S. cross-border requirements matters.Wondering what it actually costs to work with WHVP?Our current account minimums, management fees and service structure are published transparently on our website:https://whvp.ch/servicesHave questions about whether Swiss wealth management could be relevant for your situation?Schedule a free 45-minute consultation with our team:https://whvp.ch/get-startedWHVP AG is regulated in Switzerland by FINMA and is an SEC-registered investment adviser.Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, legal advice, tax advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Account eligibility, investment restrictions, tax treatment and reporting obligations depend on individual circumstances. WHVP is not a tax adviser. U.S. persons should consult qualified tax and legal professionals regarding their individual cross-border obligations. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal.#SwissBanking #WealthManagement #InternationalInvesting #AmericansAbroad #WHVP

Global markets are being pulled in several directions at once.

In this edition of The Swiss View, Jess Roberson and Urs Droese discuss the continued uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the Japanese yen carry trade, the relationship between Japan and U.S. Treasury markets, central-bank policy, gold, and the recent strength of the U.S. dollar.

They also examine the Swiss franc and why short-term currency movements should be considered within a much longer-term economic picture.

Recorded August 12, 2026.

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. Views reflect information available at the time of recording and may change.

In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson and Jamie Vrijhof sit down with Darlene Hart from U.S. Tax & Financial Services to discuss the biggest U.S. tax mistakes Americans make when holding wealth internationally.

The conversation covers why U.S. citizens are generally taxed on worldwide income, what Americans need to know about foreign bank account reporting, and why FBAR, FATCA, and Form 8938 matter when holding assets outside the United States.

Darlene also explains common cross-border tax issues involving foreign pensions, trusts, wills, probate, U.S. estate tax exposure, and foreign entities. The episode then explores PFICs, or Passive Foreign Investment Companies, and why foreign mutual funds, ETFs, startups, and non-U.S. investment structures can create complex tax consequences for U.S. persons.

A key takeaway from the discussion is that international wealth planning is not only about where assets are held. It is also about proper reporting, tax coordination, estate planning, and making sure tax, legal, and wealth management advisers communicate with each other.

This episode is especially relevant for Americans abroad, U.S. persons with foreign accounts, and internationally connected families who want to better understand the tax considerations that may come with cross-border wealth.

Topics covered:
U.S. worldwide taxation, FBAR, FATCA, Form 8938, PFICs, foreign pensions, Swiss bank accounts, cross-border estate planning, U.S. estate tax, foreign investment funds, and international wealth planning.

Disclaimer:
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice, estate planning advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. WHVP AG is regulated in Switzerland by FINMA and is an SEC-registered investment adviser. U.S. persons and internationally connected clients should consult qualified tax, legal, and estate planning advisers regarding their individual circumstances.

U.S. tax mistakes, international wealth, Americans abroad, U.S. expat tax, FBAR, FATCA, Form 8938, PFIC, foreign bank accounts, foreign pensions, cross-border tax planning, Swiss bank account, Swiss banking for Americans, international wealth planning, U.S. estate tax, foreign investment funds, Americans with foreign accounts, tax reporting for Americans abroad

Why are markets so fragile right now? Jess Roberson and Urs Droese break down what has moved in the economy and where markets may head into the summer and the US midterms. They cover the US dollar's recent strength within a longer-term downward trend, the role of oil and gold, Switzerland's low inflation and unemployment, Europe's growth challenge, the Federal Reserve's new tone under Chair Warsh, and why stretched AI valuations and a wave of IPOs call for discipline and careful risk management.

WHVP AG is regulated by FINMA and is an SEC-registered investment adviser. For informational purposes only. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.

What actually sets Swiss wealth management apart? In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jamie Vrijhof and Jess Roberson are joined by Vivien Jain, CEO of the Swiss Association of Independent Wealth Managers, for a wide-ranging conversation about the Swiss model and where the industry is heading.

The discussion opens with two timely topics: a recent Boston Consulting Group report suggesting Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland as a cross-border wealth hub, and a Financial Times report that gold has overtaken the US dollar as the most highly allocated reserve asset among central banks. Vivien, Jamie, and Jess put both into context.

From there, the conversation turns to the world of independent wealth management:

- What an independent wealth manager actually is, and how it differs from a bank- Why the limited power of attorney model matters for client security- The size and growth of Switzerland's independent wealth management industry- Why US persons typically need to work with an SEC-registered independent manager rather than a bank directly- How Swiss banking secrecy actually works today, and why it does not apply to tax authorities such as the IRS- The role of trust, privacy culture, and cybersecurity in protecting clients

About our guest:

Vivien Jain is the CEO of the Swiss Association of Independent Wealth Managers, which represents around 1,400 independent wealth managers across Switzerland and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Contact WHVPWebsite: https://whvp.ch/Email: [email protected]: +41 44 315 77 77Schedule a Meeting: https://whvp.ch/get-startedAbout WHVPWHVP is not just another asset manager. We are an independent firm specializing in managing the funds of private clients. Registered with the SEC in the U.S. and located in Zurich, Switzerland, we are associated with several first-class private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which serve as custodian banks for our clients' accounts. Our asset management principles are rooted in conservative, long-term-oriented capital preservation strategies. We prioritize personalized service, crafting portfolios that are shielded against U.S. Dollar depreciation while leveraging overseas investment opportunities.

Disclaimer: All posts and publications are for your information only and are not intended as an offer, promotion, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or perform any other financial transactions. All information and opinions expressed in posts and publications reflect our current views as of the date of the publication and may be liable to change without notice.

Jess Roberson sits down with Jamie Vrijhof to answer a question WHVP hears from clients and prospects alike: what can Americans actually hold in a Swiss bank account?

From stocks and bonds to precious metals, foreign currencies, and the transfer of existing US titles — Jamie gives a straightforward breakdown of the investment universe available through a Swiss portfolio. The episode also covers why WHVP excludes the US market from its mandates, and how US regulation shapes which non-US products are accessible to American investors.

A practical and honest look at what offshore wealth management means in practice.

In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, Jess Roberson, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese explore one of the most pressing questions in global finance: will the US default on its debt and has it already done so in the past?The conversation begins with a look at Switzerland's position as the world leader in AI research per capita, before diving into the main topic. Jess Roberson, Jamie Vrijhof and Urs Droese walk through the historical moments that reshaped the US monetary system: the 1933 gold revaluation under FDR, the 1971 Nixon shock and the end of Bretton Woods, and the 1979 gold revaluation, examining whether each represented a quiet form of default through monetary manipulation rather than an outright failure to pay.From there the discussion moves to today: the US debt is growing at an unsustainable pace, foreign holders are dropping treasury bills, and one in every five government dollars is now spent on interest payments alone. The team explores the possible paths forward, including a return to the gold standard, the rise of stablecoins backed by treasury bills, and what a shift to a multipolar reserve currency world could look like.The episode closes with a practical message for American investors: regardless of how the monetary system evolves, diversification and currency consideration are essential tools for protecting purchasing power across generations.Contact WHVPWebsite: https://whvp.ch/Email: [email protected]: +41 44 315 77 77Schedule a Meeting: https://whvp.ch/get-startedAbout WHVPWHVP is not just another asset manager. We are an independent firm specializing in managing the funds of private clients. Registered with the SEC in the U.S. and located in Zurich, Switzerland, we are associated with several first-class private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which serve as custodian banks for our clients' accounts. Our asset management principles are rooted in conservative, long-term-oriented capital preservation strategies. We prioritize personalized service, crafting portfolios that are shielded against U.S. Dollar depreciation while leveraging overseas investment opportunities.Disclaimer: All posts and publications are for your information only and are not intended as an offer, promotion, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or perform any other financial transactions. All information and opinions expressed in posts and publications reflect our current views as of the date of the publication and may be liable to change without notice.

In this episode of The Swiss View, Urs and Jess explore the economic realities shaping the United States, the European Union, and Switzerland. The conversation moves from GDP performance and what it reveals about the strength of each economy to the everyday impact Americans are feeling at the gas pump, tying it all back to the global price of oil per barrel and the broader energy market.

Along the way, they unpack the increasingly difficult position central banks find themselves in as they try to balance inflation, interest rates, slowing growth, and market stability. With a Swiss perspective on global economics, the discussion offers a thoughtful look at the pressures facing policymakers and consumers alike in an uncertain financial environment.

Contact WHVP

Website: https://whvp.ch/

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +41 44 315 77 77

Schedule a Meeting: https://whvp.ch/get-started

About WHVP

WHVP is not just another asset manager. We are an independent firm specializing in managing the funds of private clients. Registered with the SEC in the U.S. and located in Zurich, Switzerland, we are associated with several first-class private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which serve as custodian banks for our clients' accounts. Our asset management principles are rooted in conservative, long-term-oriented capital preservation strategies. We prioritize personalized service, crafting portfolios that are shielded against U.S. Dollar depreciation while leveraging overseas investment opportunities.

Disclaimer: All posts and publications are for your information only and are not intended as an offer, promotion, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or perform any other financial transactions. All information and opinions expressed in posts and publications reflect our current views as of the date of the publication and may be liable to change without notice.