For Americans living in Switzerland
The bank that turned you away. The FATCA letter in your mailbox. The forum thread insisting pillar 3a is a trap. You're not imagining it — the two systems really do work against each other. But every one of these problems has a workable path, and we explain them in plain English. Free answers, no obligation, no sales pitch.
None of these are unsolvable. But each one punishes guessing — and rewards understanding the rules before you act.
Your Swiss colleagues buy a fund at their bank and move on with their lives. You can't — to the IRS, most Swiss funds are PFICs, taxed punitively with brutal paperwork. There are clean ways to invest as a US person in Switzerland. Knowing them before you buy is what matters.
Pillar 2 and pillar 3a make sense in the Swiss system — but the IRS doesn't treat them the way Switzerland does. “Just skip 3a, it's a trap” is the standard forum answer; the real answer depends on your tax bracket, your employer match and your plans. It deserves better than a rule of thumb.
Turned away by a bank for your passport. An FBAR deadline you learned about years too late. A FATCA letter that reads like an accusation. Frustrating — and manageable, once you know what's actually required of you and what isn't. Most horror stories come from not knowing the rules.
FEIE or foreign tax credit? Which deadlines actually apply abroad? And what if you've missed years — do you really owe back taxes on a life you already paid Swiss taxes on? US filing from Switzerland follows clear patterns, and there is a constructive path forward from almost any starting point.
Buying property, marrying a non-American, retiring in Switzerland vs. the US, even renouncing citizenship: each is a one-time decision with two tax systems attached. These deserve a clear picture before you commit — not after.
If it involves being American and having money in Switzerland, it's our territory. Ask us — the first answer is always free.
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Our insights explain the problems and the decision landscape in plain English — what the rules are, where the traps sit, and which directions a solution can take.
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Most readers finish an article knowing exactly which question applies to them. That question is personal — the concrete steps depend on your income, accounts, pension and plans.
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Request a callback and ask. We know you've seen the “expat advisor” pitches — this isn't that. Free, no-obligation answers and an honest read on your next step. If a call is all you need, that's a good outcome for us too.
Why we understand both sides: US Expat Wealth was founded by Chris Jon Graf — half Swiss, half American, with a father from Denver, Colorado. Living inside both systems isn't a case study for us; it's the family biography. That's the perspective everything on this site is written from.
If you're self-employed in Switzerland, you have no automatic accident insurance (UVG) and no automatic disability coverage beyond basic state pension contributions (AHV/IV). You need to arrange both privately — and the premiums and benefits carry specific US tax consequences worth understanding before you buy.
Starting in 2026, Switzerland lets you retroactively fund missed Pillar 3a years back to 2025, capped at CHF 7,258 per year. For US persons, the catch-up contribution isn't deductible on your US return, and the IRS still taxes the account's growth annually — so before you buy back a gap, understand the compliance and tax tradeoffs involved.
Indirect amortization lets you pledge a Pillar 3a retirement account against your mortgage instead of paying down debt directly. It maximizes Swiss tax deductions but triggers US reporting under FBAR and FATCA, plus annual US tax on account growth. Whether it's worth it depends on your tax bracket, timeline, and tolerance for cross-border paperwork.
Pick a day and a time window that suits you. We'll take the time for your questions about money, taxes and retirement as an American in Switzerland — free of charge and without obligation.
