Retirement Planning
Combining the benefits of two systems
Saving efficiently for retirement by managing
and coordinating across countries
Working in different countries allows you to build wealth and social security credits in multiple systems. Although this is a good thing, understanding how to best navigate the opportunities provided by several countries rules can be challenging.
The US and Swiss systems have differences and similarities. Both countries rely on three pillars: Pillar I or social security, Pillar II or employer-sponsored retirement accounts and Pillar III or individual retirement accounts. Two tax treaties, a Totalization Agreement for social security taxes and the Income Tax Convention for income taxes, help maximize benefits and avoid double taxation in both the accumulation and distribution stage.
Wealth can also be built beyond the three pillars, in taxable investment accounts, real estate and business investments and other income generating assets.
But of course, retirement planning is not just about building and spending assets after a traditional professional career. Planning can take many forms: changing careers or taking a career break, starting a new business, switching to part-time work, taking a sabbatical….there are infinite possibilities. We can help you make the best use of your resources to allow you to become financially independent and live your life intentionally in alignment with your values.
- Understand the differences and similarities between the US social security system and the Swiss AVS/AHV Pillar I system.
- Understand how the US-Swiss Totalization Agreement works, and the benefits available to you if you have made contributions in both countries.
- Plan your US and Swiss social security claiming strategies to ensure you receive the highest level of benefits available to you individually, or to you and your spouse.
- Understand the Windfall Elimination Provision and estimate its impact on your US social security benefits.
- Understand Swiss Pillar 2 occupational pensions and their difference with vested benefits accounts such as LPP and Freizügigkeitskonto.
- Properly report your Pillar 2 account balances and contributions and keep track of their cost basis.
- Understand the US tax consequences of rolling over a Pillar 2 to a new employer when changing jobs, or to a vested benefits account when you have a gap in Swiss employment.
- Understand the US tax consequences of making Pillar 2 buy-backs and help you evaluate if a buy-back makes sense for you.
- Understand your 401K, 403(b) or other employer sponsored deferred benefit plans, and the investment choices offered by your US employer.
- Understand the similarities and differences of Swiss Pillar 3 accounts and US IRAs, the US implications of Pillar 3 investment choices, and the Swiss tax treatment of IRAs, including Roth IRAs.
- Build a retirement plan that takes into consideration your values, priorities and goals, and makes the best use of all your wealth assets.
- Put together a cost and tax efficient withdrawal strategy to support your lifestyle during your work-optional years.
- Project your retirement cashflows, monitor your retirement plan progress and stress test your plan regularly to help you stay on track.
- Plan for the unexpected so that, no matter what the future brings, you have clarity in your financial picture and in your options going forward.
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Still Have More Questions?
No Problem. Read the FAQs.
We offer US tax return preparation services through our sister firm, MHTax. This is an optional service available exclusively to clients of Swiss American Wealth Advisors, and it requires a separate engagement with MHTax. Tax services provided are considered an outside business activity and are not offered through Dynamic Wealth Advisors.
We have teamed up with Swiss tax advisors to offer coordinated US and Swiss tax preparation services. This requires a separate engagement with the Swiss tax preparation firms and is available exclusively to clients of both Swiss American Wealth Advisors and MHTax. Tax services are considered an outside business activity and are not offered through Dynamic Wealth Advisors.
Yes. In addition to traditional portfolio solutions, we offer sustainable investment portfolios that account for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors. ESG data on companies has become increasingly available over the last few years. This allows us to offer portfolios built with ETFs (exchange-traded funds) that exclude certain industries such as weapons manufacturers or tobacco companies. Industries included might focus on a particular theme, or aim to have a positive impact by promoting positive and limiting negative externalities. Investing in ESG portfolios involves risks, please refer to our ADV for more details.
Yes. We offer alternative investments such as private investments, hedge funds, and cryptocurrencies if you qualify as an accredited investor and when these investments are appropriate for your situation and are aligned with your financial plan. Some of these alternative investments may also be available to non-accredited investors. Investing in alternatives and cryptocurrencies involves risks, please refer to our ADV for more details.
Yes. We offer direct/personalized indexing when this investment strategy is appropriate for your situation. With direct/personalized indexing, you own the underlying securities in the portfolio, rather than shares of an investment fund. This approach provides additional opportunities to personalize your investments and potentially gain greater tax efficiency through daily tax-loss harvesting. Direct indexing involves risks, please refer to our ADV for more details.
We believe that every person deserves access to quality financial education that can empower them to make good financial decisions. For individuals and families who are unable to engage us for our professional services, our blog and educational videos provide free educational resources. Additionally, we regularly conduct educational workshops, covering topics like tax reporting, tax planning, saving for retirement, risk management, and legacy planning. To inquire about our next educational workshop, please email us at info@swissamericanwealth.com
To minimize conflicts of interest and seek better alignment with our clients, we do not accept sales commissions or referral fees from investment product providers or independent professionals. We only receive compensation in the form of financial advisory fees paid by our clients as detailed in their financial planning advisory agreements. Our clients pay us a transparent fee for our advice.
We work hard to make sure your money is safe. We are affiliates of a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with over $4.8 billion in assets under advisory (Dec. 2023) serving more than 5,000 families. We work only with top financial institutions like Charles Schwab and Fidelity as our independent custodians, and we use leading industry technology for investment management and financial planning. We hold multiple professional credentials, and we are held to a fiduciary standard, which means that we are required to always provide advice that is in your best interest, even when it’s against our own.
We offer US insurance services through our sister firm, Swiss American Risk Advisors. We have teamed up with Ash Brokerage to offer independent insurance solutions when needed. Insurance products offered are considered an outside business activity and are not offered through Dynamic Wealth Advisors.
