This open access book provides a thorough explanation of Swiss financial markets and the banking secrecy rules for which this country has become known. It covers key topics, which are essential for practitioners and academics to understand about this powerhouse in world financial markets, in general, and private wealth administration, in particular. If there were an overriding goal, it would be to answer this question: “How could a small country in the middle of Europe and surrounded by economic and financial giants, like Germany and France, develop financial markets that are globally competitive?” explains the dramatic pressures brought to bear on the Swiss financial markets during past two decades, perhaps none of them so great as the competitive challenges caused by changes in Switzerland's banking secrecy laws and practices, as well the shifting tide of new wealth generation toward Asia (e.g., China, Singapore, and South Korea) and large emerging markets. In doing so, it separates myth from reality, providing an excellent basis for predicting future changes the nation will need to make in order to stay competitive. weiterlesen