The generational transition in the wealth economy

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The private wealth economy of Zug is entering a period of generational transition. The families who built their wealth in the post-war decades, in the industries and trading businesses of the canton or abroad, are transferring it to the next generation. That generation often has different expectations: a greater interest in sustainable and impact investment, in private markets and in crypto-assets and Digital Assets, a greater willingness to use technology and a different relationship with the family business. The single family offices surveyed by the University of St. Gallen allocated about a fifth of their assets to private equity, reflecting a shift towards direct investment in companies.¹

For the professionals of Zug, the generational transition is both a risk and an opportunity. The risk is that the next generation will move its wealth to other advisers, other locations or other structures. The opportunity lies in the advice that the transition requires on succession, on the restructuring of family holdings, on the governance of family businesses and on the design of new investment strategies. Professionals who can offer this advice will gain the trust of the next generation. The canton's combination of a crypto industry, a private markets industry, a corporate ecosystem and a low-tax environment positions it well for the needs of the next generation of wealthy families.

Notes

University of St. Gallen, "Swiss Single Family Offices": private equity 21 per cent of the asset allocation of the surveyed single family offices. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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The generational transition in the wealth economy

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?