The One Where Relocation Is About Much More Than Moving Boxes

Moving to Switzerland often looks exciting from the outside.

Julia Kaufmann shares stories from years of guiding expats through one of life's biggest transitions, from housing searches and school choices to cultural misunderstandings and surprising administrative challenges.

In This Episode

The Bottom Line

Host and Guest

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals and founder of taxum AG.

Website: https://www.alliance-relocation.ch/

Listen and Connect

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ Alliance Relocation: https://www.alliance-relocation.ch/

Song: InRp – Golden Hour

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.

13 Jahre selbstständig. Buchhaltung selbst gemacht. Mehrwertsteuer brav abgeführt. Und trotzdem: Jahrelang zu viel Steuern bezahlt, weil niemand wirklich hingeschaut hat. Julia Tatje spricht mit Christine Manger, Kommunikationsdesignerin und Yoga-Lehrerin aus Zürich, über das Gefühl, bei der eigenen Steuererklärung nur eine Nummer zu sein, über einen Fehler, der mehrere tausend Franken kostete, und darüber, warum der Wechsel zu einem neuen Steuerberater einfacher war als gedacht.

Selbstständige in der Schweiz: Du musst kein Steuerprofi sein, aber du musst jemanden haben, der es ist, und der sich deine Unterlagen auch wirklich ansieht. Nicht jedes Jahr. Jedes Mal.

Wer schon länger bei derselben Kanzlei ist: Das Gefühl, eine Nummer zu sein, ist kein Zufall. Und der Wechsel ist meistens einfacher als die Angst davor.

Für alle, die es selbst versuchen: Struktur hilft. Quittungen auf Thermopapier sofort einscannen. Und zehn Jahre alles aufbewahren. Den Rest übernimmt jemand, dem es nicht egal ist.

Julia Tatje -- Steuerexpertin für Privatpersonen mit komplexen Lebensrealitäten. Gründerin von Taxum AG, Personal Tax Boutique in Zürich.

Sie entwickelt kommunikationsstarke und ganzheitliche Designlösungen mit klarer Leitidee, um emotionale Bindung für Kunden und Neukunden zu schaffen.

Seit 13 Jahren ist sie selbstständig in Zürich und Deutschland. Zudem ist sie ausgebildete Yogalehrerin. Ausserdem hat sie das Branding und den Gesamtauftritt von Taxum gestaltet.

Website: christinemanger.com  für Unternehmen: business.christinemanger.com 

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@tax_and_the_city?si=YE6SgrVTCu4pBUsc

→ Kontaktiere Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

Song: InRp - Golden Hour

Dieser Podcast dient ausschliesslich der Information und stellt keine Rechts- oder Steuerberatung dar. Bitte konsultiere eine qualifizierte Fachperson für deine individuelle Situation.

Most people think financial planning starts with investing.

An ETF. A pension buy-in. A Pillar 3a account. Maybe even a conversation about retirement.

But what if that's actually the roof of the house?

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Nadine Hunkeler, founder and CEO of Finance Phoenix, certified financial planner, educator, and passionate advocate for financial literacy in Switzerland.

Together, they explore why financial planning is often misunderstood, why so many people postpone it, and why true financial security starts long before investment decisions enter the picture.

Nadine shares her own journey of learning financial planning the hard way, despite growing up in a family deeply rooted in banking and finance. Through personal experience, professional expertise, and years of advising clients, she developed a holistic approach that combines education, risk management, financial planning, and practical implementation.

The conversation moves far beyond investments and tax deductions.

It explores the foundations that protect people when life doesn't go according to plan.

If you're waiting until retirement to think about financial planning: You're starting far too late. Good financial planning begins with protecting yourself today.

If you think investing is the first step: It isn't. Foundations come first: liquidity, protection, pension planning, legal safeguards, and awareness.

If you're relying on someone else to handle your finances: Understanding your own situation remains your responsibility.

If you keep postponing financial decisions: Time is often the most valuable asset in financial planning. Delays can become expensive.

For everyone: Financial planning isn't about predicting the future. It's about building enough clarity and protection to navigate whatever the future brings.

Julia Tatje – Swiss tax specialist for internationals and founder of taxum AG.

Nadine Hunkeler – Founder and CEO of Finance Phoenix, Certified Financial Planner, financial educator and consultant specialising in financial planning and personal risk management in Switzerland. Through a combination of education, expert advice, and personalised financial planning, Nadine helps individuals, couples and families build long-term financial security and make confident financial decisions.

Finance Phoenix focuses particularly on helping people understand the interaction between financial risks, pension planning, taxes, liquidity, and investments so they can create a sustainable financial strategy aligned with their life goals.

Website: https://www.financephoenix.ch/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-hunkeler/

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje – https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@tax_and_the_city

→ Contact Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

→ Finance Phoenix: https://www.financephoenix.ch/

→ Finance Phoenix: https://www.financephoenix.ch/workshop

→ LinkedIn: Nadine Hunkeler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-hunkeler/

Song: InRp – Golden Hour

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your individual circumstances.

It starts innocently enough. A form. A deadline. A reminder email sitting unopened in your inbox.

And somehow, something administrative begins to feel deeply personal.

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Catherine Peloquin, executive coach supporting leaders who communicate and perform under pressure, to explore why taxes trigger such intense stress responses, especially for highly capable, internationally mobile professionals who otherwise seem to handle everything.

Catherine has spent years working with executives navigating leadership pressure, burnout risk, communication challenges, and nervous system regulation. And somewhere between discussing leadership, performance, and human behaviour, Julia and Catherine realised something surprising: taxes often trigger the exact same pressure patterns people experience in high-stakes professional situations.

Because the issue is rarely just the paperwork.

It is the pressure, avoidance, uncertainty, and mental load we quietly carry around it.

If you feel irrationally stressed about taxes: You are probably not stressed about the numbers themselves. You are reacting to uncertainty, pressure, and fear of getting something wrong.

If you keep postponing administrative tasks: The task rarely gets heavier. The mental load does.

If you think stress is weakness: High-functioning people often carry enormous pressure silently — until the body eventually intervenes.

If you are living internationally: Foreign systems, language barriers, and complex compliance create additional layers of cognitive and emotional stress.

For everyone: Asking for support earlier is often the most responsible thing you can do — not the weakest.

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals. Founder, taxum AG.

Catherine Peloquin - Executive coach supporting leaders who communicate and perform under pressure. Catherine works with executives and professionals navigating stress, leadership pressure, communication challenges, and nervous system regulation in high-performance environments.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinepeloquin/

Website: https://catherinepeloquin.com/

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@tax_and_the_city?si=YE6SgrVTCu4pBUsc

→ Contact Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

→ Contact Catherine: 30 Minutes Initial Meeting (https://calendly.com/cat-quin-ch/30min?month=2026-05))

Song: InRp - Golden Hour

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.

Wir planen Hochzeiten, Immobilienkäufe und Karrieren bis ins Detail - aber bei Themen wie Ehevertrag, Testament oder Vorsorgeauftrag wird es plötzlich still. Warum eigentlich?

In dieser Folge von Tax and the City spricht Julia Tatje mit der Zürcher Rechtsanwältin Seraina Herold über genau die Gespräche, die viele Menschen zu lange aufschieben - obwohl gerade sie später über Ruhe, Konflikte oder finanzielle Sicherheit entscheiden können.

Die beiden sprechen über Eheverträge, gesetzliche Erbfolgen, internationale Familien, unverheiratete Paare und die oft unterschätzte Verbindung zwischen Recht, Steuern und persönlichen Beziehungen. Und darüber, warum „das Gesetz regelt das schon“ selten die Lösung ist, die man sich wirklich wünschen würde.

Zwischen persönlichen Geschichten, echten Fällen aus der Praxis und überraschend ehrlichen Momenten wird schnell klar:

Diese Themen haben nichts mit Pessimismus zu tun - sondern mit Verantwortung, Klarheit und Freiheit.

Für verheiratete Paare: Der gesetzliche Güterstand passt nicht automatisch zur eigenen Lebensrealität. Wer Vermögen, Unternehmen oder internationale Bezüge hat, sollte frühzeitig regeln, was im Ernstfall gelten soll.

Für Konkubinatspaare: Ohne klare Regelungen kann ein gemeinsames Leben rechtlich plötzlich sehr fragil werden. Besonders im Todesfall entstehen oft Situationen, mit denen niemand gerechnet hat.

Für internationale Familien und High Earners: Unterschiedliche Erbrechte, Steuerfolgen und Vermögensstrukturen machen pauschale Lösungen praktisch unmöglich. Hier braucht es Planung statt Annahmen.

Für alle: Eheverträge, Testamente und Vorsorgeaufträge sind keine romantischen Themen. Aber sie schaffen genau das, wonach sich die meisten Menschen eigentlich sehnen: Ruhe, Klarheit und Sicherheit.

Julia Tatje -- Swiss tax specialist for foreign nationals in Switzerland. Founder, Taxum AG, Zürichs Personal Tax Boutique für internationale und unternehmerisch geprägte Klientel.

Seraina Herold-- Rechtsanwältin in Zürich und Chur, Partnerin bei Baumgartner Mächler Rechtsanwälte AG

Website: https://bmlaw.ch/mitarbeiter/seraina-herold-rechtsanwaeltin/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seraina-herold-6683861b9

Gemeinsam sprechen Julia und Seraina darüber, warum rechtliche Vorsorge nichts mit Misstrauen zu tun hat - sondern mit Verantwortung gegenüber sich selbst und den Menschen, die man liebt.

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@taxandthe_city?si=YE6SgrVTCu4pBUsc

→ Kontaktiere Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

→ Kontaktiere Seraina at Baumgartner Mächler Rechtsanwälte AG: https://bmlaw.ch/mitarbeiter/seraina-herold-rechtsanwaeltin/

Song: InRp - Golden Hour

Dieser Podcast dient ausschliesslich der Information und stellt keine Rechts- oder Steuerberatung dar. Bitte konsultiere eine qualifizierte Fachperson für deine individuelle Situation.

There was a time when a passport was simply background. You were born somewhere, and that was that. But somewhere between global uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and a growing desire for optionality, something changed. Passports quietly became part of a life strategy.

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Liana Wäckerli from Henley and Partners Switzerland - a global firm with over 70 offices - to explore what residence and citizenship planning actually looks like in practice. Liana holds three citizenships herself, has lived in three countries, and has spent 12 years guiding high-net-worth families through some of the most personal and complex decisions of their lives.

This is not about collecting passports. It is about what comes with them: peace of mind, freedom of movement, and the quiet confidence of knowing you have options.

If you think this is only relevant for a few ultra-high-net-worth individuals: The conversation has shifted. Internationally mobile professionals, families living in Switzerland on permits, and people from outside Europe are all asking these questions now.

If you assume one passport is enough: Recent years have shown that access, flexibility, and optionality cannot be taken for granted. Even people living in Switzerland with stable careers are exploring European options -- not because they plan to leave, but because they want to know they could.

If you are living internationally or considering it: Residence, taxation, and legal status are deeply interconnected. A change in one area tends to quietly affect the others.

If this feels like a future decision: It is not a fast process. Seven months at the very minimum, often up to three years for European citizenship. Planning early is what creates freedom later.

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals. Founder, taxum AG.

Liana Wäckerli - Advisor at Henley and Partners Switzerland. 12 years in investment migration, three citizenships, three countries lived in. She helps international families build mobility portfolios that hold up when life gets complicated.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/liana-waeckerli

Henley and Partners: Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Henley & Partners

Listen and Connect

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@taxandthe_city?si=YE6SgrVTCu4pBUsc

→ Contact Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

→ Contact Liana at Henley and Partners: Contact Us Today | Henley & Partners

Song: InRp - Golden Hour

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.

It looks straightforward at first. A few lines in your contract. A promise of shares over time. A sign that you are doing well.

And then one day, they vest.

The value is real. The numbers look impressive. And shortly after, something else appears - the tax.

RSUs (Restricted Stock Units) are one of the most misunderstood forms of compensation, especially when it comes to how and when they are taxed.

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Willem Roux, a pharmaceutical executive, and Bastian Thurneysen, partner at Burkhardt Lawyers, to unpack what actually happens when RSUs vest and why even experienced professionals are often caught off guard.

Because the issue is not the shares themselves. It is the timing, the taxation, and the assumptions people make along the way.

If you receive RSUs as part of your compensation: They are taxed at vesting as income. Understanding that moment is critical.

If you assume you can deal with it later: Later often means reacting to a tax bill instead of planning for it.

If your shares fluctuate in value: You may be taxed on a value that no longer exists. That gap is where problems arise.

If you work internationally or relocate: RSU taxation can span multiple jurisdictions. Timing and structure matter.

For everyone: Equity compensation rewards performance, but without planning, it can create complexity. Clarity early on is what turns it into an advantage.

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals. Founder, taxum AG.

Willem Roux - Pharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of experience. Sharing a firsthand perspective on RSUs, vesting, and unexpected tax exposure.

Bastian Thurneysen - Partner at Burkhardt Lawyers. Tax expert specialising in employee participation plans and cross-border taxation.

Website: Bastian Thurneysen • burckhardt AG

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bastian-thurneysen-70505ba5

E-Mail: [email protected]

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje/

→ Blog "Tax and the City": https://www.taxum.ch/blog

→ Podcast "Tax and the City": https://youtube.com/@taxandthe_city

→ Contact Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

→ Contact Bastian: [email protected]

Song: InRp - Golden Hour

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.

The One Where the Dream Property Comes With a Permission Slip

The mountains are perfect. The infrastructure works. The idea of having a place here feels grounding. And then comes the sentence no one expects: you are actually not allowed to buy that.

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Peter Bloemsma, founder and Managing Partner of Swiss Advisory Services, to pull back the curtain on why buying a holiday home in Switzerland is far more restricted than most internationals expect and why understanding the rules early is the only thing that gives you back control.

Peter has been guiding international clients through Swiss real estate since 2009, combining global perspective with deep local expertise. He has heard every version of the wishlist. Freestanding chalet, ski in ski out, seven bedrooms, garage for five cars. And he has had to explain, more than once, that the problem is not the budget. It is the law.

Internationals looking to buy in Switzerland: Affordability is not the bottleneck. Permission is. The sooner you understand Lex Koller, the sooner you can plan around it rather than be stopped by it.

Anyone who has heard about company structures as a workaround: This is one of the most persistent myths in Swiss property. Lex Koller looks at the private person, not the company. Commercial property is a different conversation entirely.

Non-residents who already own property here: Switzerland will ask you to file a tax return and may require you to declare your worldwide income and assets, not just the property. It is manageable, but only if you do not ignore it.

For everyone: Good decisions start with honest conversations, ideally before you fall in love with a property you may never be allowed to own.

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals. Founder, taxum AG.

Swiss Advisory Services - swissadvisoryservices.com

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ Contact Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.

Somewhere between moving countries, building careers, and doing everything right, money becomes that quiet thing we promise we will deal with later. Later, when we know more. Later, when it feels less intimidating. Later, when we finally have time.

In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Cristina Jaeger, founder of Her Financial Freedom, to talk about why later has a way of getting very expensive and what internationally mobile women can actually do about it today.

Cristina spent over 14 years in international wealth management, from Zurich to Hong Kong, advising high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients building investment strategies and growing multi-million portfolios. Today, through Her Financial Freedom, Cristina helps women worldwide take ownership of their finances with the goal of strengthening financial education and enabling true independence through investing. Through her signature Wealth Mentoring program, she guides women step by step with clear strategies, practical tools, and a deeply supportive community.

And there is one number from this conversation you may want to write down: Waiting just two years to invest 500 francs a month can cost you around 50,000 francs over the next 20 years.

If you have been waiting until you understand everything: You will never feel fully ready. The cost of waiting is measurable, and it is significant. Two years costs you 50,000 francs. Start anyway.

If you invest but have never heard of DA-1 relief: You may be leaving money on the table every single year. This is a right, not a workaround, and it applies to many international investors in Switzerland.

If your pension is fragmented across countries: This is one of the most expensive blind spots for internationally mobile women, and one of the most fixable. The earlier you look at it, the better the outcome.

If you think this is just about money: It isn`t. It is about confidence, clarity, and the ability to make decisions in finances and far beyond.

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for internationals. Founder, taxum AG.

Website: https://herfinancialfreedom.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-jaeger-7449428a/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/her.financialfreedom/

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3T0ihuKjeYmrxfSY0rSP7l?si=bcf62338b706446d · Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tax-and-the-city/id1858716652

Her Financial Freedom: https://herfinancialfreedom.net/ · BOLD Podcast: https://herfinancialfreedom.net/bold · Free Finance Tracker: https://herfinancialfreedom.net/hff-finance-tracker

Der Eigenmietwert war jahrelang ungeliebt, oft missverstanden - und jetzt soll er abgeschafft werden. Plötzlich wollen alle wissen, was das für sie bedeutet. Julia Tatje spricht mit Bastian Thurneysen, Rechtsanwalt bei Burckhardt, über die Fehler, die gerade jetzt passieren, und darüber, warum die Entscheidungen von heute noch lange nachwirken werden - auch nach 2028.

Und ja, die beiden kennen sich seit einem Campingplatz irgendwo in den Bergen von Lesotho. Oder war es Südafrika? Egal - jetzt sind sie in Zürich, und das Thema ist ernst.

Wer bereits Wohneigentum besitzt: Das Fenster ist noch offen, aber es schliesst sich. Renovationen, Unterhalt und Energiesanierungen wollen zeitlich und steuerlich geplant sein. Wer jetzt handelt, spart nicht nur Steuern, sondern schafft Klarheit für die Zeit danach.

Wer über Kauf nachdenkt: Der Wegfall des Eigenmietwerts verändert die Rechnung. Szenarien für nach 2028 sollten heute schon mitgedacht werden.

Für alle: Steuern verzeihen keine Annahmen. Und dieses Thema ist keines für den Küchentisch, sondern für einen guten Plan.

Julia Tatje -- Swiss tax specialist for foreign nationals in Switzerland. Founder, Taxum AG, Zürichs Personal Tax Boutique für internationale und unternehmerisch geprägte Klientel.

Website: Bastian Thurneysen • burckhardt AG

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bastian-thurneysen-70505ba5

E-Mail: [email protected]

→ Website: https://www.taxum.ch/

→ Kontakt Julia: https://www.taxum.ch/kontakt

Dieser Podcast dient ausschliesslich der Information und stellt keine Rechts- oder Steuerberatung dar. Bitte konsultiere eine qualifizierte Fachperson für deine individuelle Situation.