Client Journeys

Anonymized case studies from real relocations

All case studies are anonymized. Names, identifying details, and specific figures have been altered to protect client confidentiality.

Case 01

The Tech Founder

Dubai to Zug in 9 months

We needed a jurisdiction that understood both our digital business model and our family's long-term security needs. Switzerland delivered on both.

Starting point

Dubai, post-exit founder

Swiss base

Zug family residence

Core risk

Crypto wealth documentation

Result

Permit, school, banking, office active

Dubai-based tech entrepreneur, family of 4, post-exit with significant liquidity event

Timeline

Month 1

Initial consultation and canton assessment

Month 2

Pre-immigration asset restructuring

Month 3

Forfait fiscal negotiation initiated with Zug authorities

Month 4

B-permit application submitted

Month 5

International school secured (ISZL)

Month 6

Real estate acquisition — lakeside property in Zug

Month 7

Swiss private banking relationship established

Month 8

Family relocation executed

Month 9

Family office structure established, all services operational

Key Challenges

Complex multi-jurisdictional corporate structure requiring restructuring

Crypto holdings requiring specialized banking documentation

School placement mid-academic year

Coordinating dual tax residency transition

Services Engaged

Pre-Immigration Asset StructuringLump-Sum Taxation (Forfait Fiscal)Residency & ImmigrationFamily Office EstablishmentReal Estate AdvisoryLifestyle Coordination

Outcome

Full family relocation completed. Forfait fiscal approved. Children enrolled at ISZL. Family office operational with Swiss governance framework. Fee: undisclosed.

Case 02

The Banking Family

Beirut to Schwyz — emergency relocation

When the banks collapsed, we had 72 hours to make a decision. Our advisors had the Swiss infrastructure ready.

Starting point

Beirut, emergency relocation

Swiss base

Schwyz privacy-first settlement

Core risk

Three-generation estate complexity

Result

Family settled with Swiss governance

Lebanese family, 3 generations, significant banking and real estate portfolio, emergency circumstances

Timeline

Week 1

Emergency consultation — immediate threat assessment

Week 2

Expedited B-permit application initiated

Month 1

Temporary accommodation secured in Schwyz

Month 2

Private banking onboarding (assets transferred from non-Lebanese holdings)

Month 3

Permanent residence established

Month 4

Children enrolled in international school

Month 6

Estate restructuring completed

Month 9

Full settlement — all three generations established

Month 12

Ongoing retainer — estate management and succession planning

Key Challenges

Emergency timeline requiring parallel processing of all workstreams

Complex multi-generational estate structure

Assets trapped in Lebanese banking system

Three generations with different residency and care needs

Services Engaged

Residency & ImmigrationPrivate Banking & Wealth ManagementReal Estate AdvisoryFamily Office EstablishmentHealth & Wellness ConciergeLifestyle Coordination

Outcome

All three generations successfully relocated. Private banking relationships established. Estate restructured under Swiss governance. Ongoing succession planning retainer in place.

Case 03

The Digital Nomad

Riyadh to Zurich in 4 months

I needed a country that treated crypto as a legitimate asset class and offered real infrastructure for building a business. Zurich was the obvious choice.

Starting point

Riyadh, crypto investor

Swiss base

Zurich apartment and GmbH

Core risk

Non-traditional wealth profile

Result

Permit and dual banking setup

34-year-old Saudi national, significant cryptocurrency portfolio, active trader and investor, single

Timeline

Month 1

Consultation, canton selection, crypto wealth documentation strategy

Month 1.5

B-permit application with detailed source-of-wealth documentation

Month 2

Company formation (Swiss GmbH) for consulting operations

Month 3

Crypto-friendly banking setup (SEBA Bank + traditional private bank)

Month 4

Apartment secured in Zurich, full relocation completed

Key Challenges

Documenting crypto wealth chain from mining/early-stage purchases to current portfolio

Finding banking partners comfortable with 90%+ crypto-derived wealth

Navigating Swiss crypto tax classification for active trading vs. investment

B-permit for non-EU national with non-traditional wealth profile

Services Engaged

Residency & ImmigrationCompany Formation & Corporate StructuringPrivate Banking & Wealth ManagementLifestyle Coordination

Outcome

B-permit granted. Swiss GmbH operational. Dual banking relationship (crypto + traditional) established. Full compliance framework for ongoing crypto trading. 4 months start to finish.

Case 04

The Gulf Family Office

Kuwaiti family office — Swiss SFO established

We had wealth management in four jurisdictions, but no unified governance. Switzerland gave us the structure our family needed for the next generation.

Starting point

Kuwait, multi-jurisdiction office

Swiss base

Zug single family office

Core risk

Governance across generations

Result

Swiss board and reporting live

Kuwaiti family office, CHF 200M+ AUM, multi-generational, operating across GCC, London, and Switzerland

Timeline

Month 1

Scoping: governance audit, jurisdictional review, family charter assessment

Month 2

Swiss SFO structure designed — AG incorporated in Zug

Month 3

Board formation — 3 Swiss-resident independent directors placed

Month 4

Investment committee established, banking mandates restructured

Month 5

Governance framework documented and ratified by family council

Month 6

Operational — all reporting lines, compliance, and audit frameworks active

Ongoing

Ongoing retainer: quarterly board meetings, annual governance review, ad-hoc advisory

Key Challenges

Aligning governance expectations across three generations with different investment philosophies

Consolidating reporting from four jurisdictions into unified Swiss framework

Placing qualified independent directors who understood both Swiss and GCC business culture

Designing succession framework acceptable to all family branches

Services Engaged

Family Office EstablishmentIndependent Directorship & Board ServicesCompany Formation & Corporate StructuringPrivate Banking & Wealth Management

Outcome

Swiss SFO fully operational in Zug. 3 independent directors placed. Governance framework ratified by all family branches. Consolidated reporting across all jurisdictions. Ongoing retainer for quarterly governance and annual review.

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Client Case Studies — Move to Switzerland