SwissIRATM
Swiss Banking and Asset Management Through Your IRA
Asset Diversification with Tax Advantages
Many US clients are surprised to learn that they can use their IRA funds to hold foreign investments in Switzerland with a Swiss bank.
But it’s true and becoming ever more popular.
We call it a SwissIRATM. It’s not a standalone financial product but rather a structured approach that allows US clients to hold multiple currencies, stocks, bonds, funds, precious metals and other assets in Switzerland in the following ways:
- Through a traditional IRA
- Through a Roth IRA
- Through a “Checkbook” IRA
- Through a 401(k) rolled over into a traditional IRA
Who This Is For
A Flexible, Tax-Advantaged Way to Hold International Assets
Our SwissIRA™ clients are typically Americans who have built up large retirement savings and want some – or all – of it to be invested internationally.
- You have an IRA – or 401(k) plan that can be rolled over – and wish to build a diversified international portfolio kept in an established private bank in Switzerland.
- You want to move your retirement assets overseas without triggering a large tax bill.
- You are concerned about having your retirement funds concentrated in one financial system, one banking system, and (usually) one currency.
The Problem
How Do You Diversify Your Retirement Assets Without Losing the Tax Benefits?
Many US clients are waking up to the risk of keeping all of their assets within a single financial system, single banking system, and single currency.
But a large portion of their wealth is held in IRAs or 401(k)s, which are typically tied up with custodians who only offer standard US-based investment options.
It’s not uncommon for them to hear the following:
“Retirement assets can’t leave the US.”
That’s not true, of course. In fact, IRAs support a wide variety of asset classes in virtually any jurisdiction that will have them.
“No one overseas will deal with a retirement account.”
This is partially true – many foreign firms don’t know how to deal with the paperwork that comes with having US clients. But many does not mean all. In fact, there is a vibrant industry of service professionals who will be happy to help you.
“Moving these funds internationally would trigger taxes or penalties.”
If you simply distribute your retirement assets to yourself, then generally, yes. But we’ve helped many clients use IRA assets to invest overseas. When handled correctly, there should not be any tax or penalties of any kind, the same as switching one custodian for another in the US creates no tax obligations, if managed correctly.
“There’s no practical way to diversify these assets outside the US.”
Not true at all. In fact, for those Swiss advisors who support them, IRAs are actually more flexible than Swiss accounts held personally or through a trust or LLC. The paperwork burden to the advisor is actually lower than on other account types, giving you more practical diversification options than you would otherwise have.
The Truth: There are established ways to internationalize retirement assets
However, they are not widely understood and must be handled carefully.
That’s where we come in. We’ve helped US clients successfully place millions of dollars of their IRA funds into Switzerland.
What This Is
SwissIRA™ is not a specific product but rather a structured process we’ve refined over years to make it easy for US clients to take some – or all – of their IRA funds and invest them through Swiss advisors into a wide variety of international assets. There are three key phases.
IRA or 401(k) fund preparation
Depending on the current setup, your IRA or 401(k) funds may need a restructure. We help prepare it for moving internationally.
Account Set Up Process
Most accounts require three separate resources to make the structure work.
Ongoing Compliance
Retirement accounts have annual compliance requirements. We work with our partners to review that any international holdings are properly accounted for.
What We Do
A Summary of the Step-by-Step Process
There are multiple steps involved in using your domestic IRA to invest internationally through a private Swiss bank and asset manager. Here are the key steps to be aware of.
Review your existing retirement setup
We look at your IRA or 401(k) to determine whether it can be used as-is or needs adjustment. Existing IRA structure, current custodian, account size, employment status, and how the account is held all play a factor in what’s possible and practical.
Coordinate with US custodians
We handle rollover and setup requirements needed to move funds internationally.
Introduce you to an asset manager
We work with a number of asset managers. You make the final selection based on what you feel is best for you.
Identify the right Swiss bank fit
Certain Swiss private banks support IRA structures. You’ll select one that best fits your needs.
Set up the account
We coordinate with all parties to establish the required accounts.
Move the IRA funds to Switzerland
We coordinate the transfer from the US into the Swiss structure.
Help coordinate US compliance matters
We coordinate with your advisors on US reporting requirements.
Ongoing client support
We remain involved to handle requests and prevent miscommunication between parties.
Outcome
By the end of this process, you will have:
A functioning IRA structure with assets custodied in Switzerland.
Your IRA assets are held in a Swiss bank, managed day-to-day by a Swiss asset manager, and able to easily access a range of currencies and non-US investment opportunities.
Ongoing support no matter how the account changes over time.
You won’t have to guess how to keep your account compliant. We work with all the parties ongoing to coordinate the processing of any tax and regulatory issues, including voluntary distributions and RMDs.
Fee Structure
We are compensated in two ways:
Initial Review
Before taking on a new client, we may charge a one-time review fee to review your goals, existing structure, reporting considerations, and whether Switzerland makes sense.
In most cases, this review fee may be credited toward implementation fees.
Implementation
We work with all parties involved to guide your application from initial agreement to proceed all the way through to funding of the account.
Ongoing Referral Fee
This is a referral fee paid by the asset manager to us in exchange for providing ongoing planning, compliance, and governance support for your account.
You have full transparency on how we receive compensation, how much, and on what schedule.
It’s important to note that our receipt of any referral fee does not increase your asset management fees. At the same time, the removal of fees will not result in a lower fee either. Rather, it only affects how much the asset manager retains.
The exact fees depend on your account size, the asset manager selected, and the overall structure. All fees are clearly outlined before any work begins.
FAQ
Common Questions about the SwissIRA™ Process
Answers to important questions potential clients have about this program.
Can you recommend specific Swiss investments or portfolios?
No. We are not licensed to provide personalized investment advice. We coordinate access and structure — investment decisions are made with the asset manager.
Do I need a specific type of IRA?
It depends. Part of this process is determining whether your current IRA setup supports this structure or needs to be adjusted.
Is a 401(k) acceptable?
Swiss banks generally do not accept 401(k)s directly. However, we routinely help our clients roll over a 401(k) into a traditional IRA. Swiss advisors are set up to support this type of retirement account.
Will this trigger taxes or penalties?
No. When structured and maintained properly, moving an IRA into a SwissIRA™ setup should not trigger taxes or penalties.
The account keeps its existing tax treatment — tax-deferred in the case of a traditional IRA, and tax-free in the case of a Roth IRA.
Can you help move a Checkbook IRA overseas?
Yes, we can, although it’s often a bit more of a process than other types of IRAs. Please get in touch so we can confirm we can help you.
Who manages the assets once everything is set up?
The Swiss asset manager is responsible for managing the assets. We are involved in structuring and coordination, not ongoing asset management.
How easy or hard is the process?
The process involves multiple steps but is generally straightforward when coordinated properly.
Does Swiss asset management provide asset protection?
No. Swiss asset management on its own does not create asset protection.
However, holding assets overseas can introduce additional practical barriers. In many cases, accessing those assets requires formal legal action — typically involving US court proceedings directed at the account holder or related parties — rather than immediate enforcement.
This can change how claims are pursued, but should not be relied on as a standalone asset protection strategy. Proper asset protection depends on how assets are structured and held.
It’s worth noting that, depending on which state you live in, your IRA may enjoy certain statutory protection as well.
Do I still need a US custodian with a SwissIRA™?
Yes. The rules require a US custodian to administer an IRA, so even with your retirement assets in Switzerland, the legal representative of your IRA is still based in the US.
But understand what this structure actually accomplishes: your retirement assets are diversified outside the US — different currencies in different markets not exposed to the US banking and financial system. That’s dollar diversification, market diversification, and financial diversification, all within the protections of a tax-deferred account.
The US custodian is the legal wrapper. The Swiss side is where the assets live, where the investment decisions happen, and where your money actually sits.
Some clients will then note that this creates a weak point in the structure – that the US connection creates risk. And it’s true to the degree that IRAs are protected under the laws of the state you live in.
The only way to fully sever US control over the account is to distribute the IRA outright. That’s a big step with real tax consequences, and it should only be done under the guidance of your tax advisor.
What the SwissIRA™ does is give you meaningful international diversification now, while keeping the door open to take that bigger step later if and when it makes sense for you.
Don't see your question? Contact us - we're happy to help.
Schedule a Complimentary Introductory Call
If you’re looking to access Swiss asset management through your IRA or 401(k), let’s see whether SwissIRA™ makes sense in your situation and what would be required to implement it properly.
During the call, we'll:
Learn about your goals and what you're trying to accomplish
Discuss what your existing IRA / 401(k) setup looks like and whether having it managed in Switzerland may make sense or not
Answer questions about our services and how we work
Explain what working with Nestmann Group typically looks like
Determine whether it makes sense to move forward
There’s no obligation. If we believe we can help, we’ll explain the next steps. If not, we’ll tell you that too.
Schedule Your Introductory Call
The easiest way to get started is to schedule a conversation with one of our associates.
Call us directly:
(602) 767-1717
Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm MT