Tax and the City

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.

After more than a decade in global banking, Xenia made the decision to step into something new. Not a pivot, not a side hustle. A reinvention. In this episode, Julia Tatje sits down with Xenia to talk about what really happens when the professional identity you spent years building no longer fits, and what it actually takes, practically and personally, to build what comes next. It turns out the paperwork was never the hard part. They discuss the tax, pension, and structural questions that catch most people off guard, and why clarity in these areas is what gives you the freedom to focus on the work itself.

Leaving a long corporate career: Multiple income streams can be just as stable as one employer, often more so. The structure exists to support what you are building, not to complicate it.

Going independent in Switzerland: You do not need permission. You need receipts, the right social security setup, and someone who understands the difference between genuinely self-employed and what the Swiss authorities call Scheinselbstständigkeit, or fake freelancing. The distinction matters more than most people realise.

Feeling overwhelmed by the practicalities: That is exactly the moment to call an expert. Not your neighbour. Not the person in your old office who did it differently. An expert.

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

→ 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.

You've got your people. But are your people talking to each other? In this episode, Julia Tatje and Darlene Hart reveal the cross-border tax blunders quietly costing Americans in Switzerland, Swiss nationals with US investments, and green card holders who think they've escaped the IRS. Spoiler: you haven't.

In This Episode

The Bottom Line

Americans & green card holders in Switzerland: You owe US tax on worldwide income. Full stop. Your Pillar 3A won't save you. Your IRA can stay invested - even in Swiss francs -so don't touch it.

Swiss nationals & foreign investors: Owning US stocks personally? Your heirs may face a US estate tax bill. A simple holding structure fixes this before it becomes their problem.

Everyone: Get your advisors in the same room. Most of these disasters were entirely avoidable.

Your Hosts

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for foreign nationals in Switzerland.

Listen and Connect

→ 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.

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