Based on the Citywealth feature, including Dr Ariel Sergio Davidoff of Davidoff Law
Switzerland’s wealth ecosystem is facing one of its most closely watched moments in years. A proposed inheritance tax of 50% above CHF 50 million has stirred debate across the country, landing just as consolidation sweeps through the trust and fiduciary industry and international competition for UHNW families intensifies. While polls suggest the initiative is unlikely to pass, its chilling effect on relocation decisions, structuring and long-term planning is already visible.
Dr Ariel Sergio Davidoff, Founder of Davidoff Law in Zurich, outlines how global families, trustees and wealth owners are navigating these shifts – from FINMA’s stricter licensing environment and rising AML/ESG obligations, to the broader restructuring of the Swiss financial centre. The UBS capital debate, heightened regulatory density and the growing attractiveness of rival jurisdictions all form part of a changing landscape for advisers and clients alike.
Yet the fundamentals remain resilient: political stability, institutional reliability and a mature, rules-based framework that continues to attract internationally mobile capital. Whether through PTC planning, cross-border structuring or succession strategies, Switzerland’s private-wealth offering is adapting while preserving the qualities that made it a leading hub.
