Helping US clients preserve and grow their wealth

What you need to know

• An overseas wealth manager can help you diversify your assets
• Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Limited is registered with the SEC as a Retail Investment Advisor, managing investments for US clients on a discretionary basis
• We build globally diversified portfolios focused on wealth preservation in real terms
• Our US team in London and extensive global network can accommodate US tax and reporting requirements

For some, wealth starts with a business idea that takes root and flourishes. For others, it’s a legacy, carried from one generation to the next. And every so often, it comes as an unexpected surprise — the quiet work of serendipity.

However wealth is acquired, the real challenge lies in how it is managed.

There is an old American adage: wealthy families often go from ‘shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves’ in three generations. It’s a poignant reminder that even significant wealth, without careful stewardship, can slip away over time.

Here, we explain how our investment approach and broader wealth management services seek to provide long-term security and peace of mind for our US clients.

A global perspective

A question we’re frequently asked is why someone would need an overseas wealth manager, particularly if they already have a trusted adviser closer to home.

One of the clearest benefits is greater diversification. Most investors recognise the risks of concentrating their capital too heavily in one area, which is why it’s common to hold a mix of investments across different asset
classes and holdings.

But genuine diversification requires a broader view. It’s not just about what assets are held, but where and how they are held. Many wealthy families and individuals can therefore benefit from placing their wealth with a manager outside their home country who can offer a different approach. At Rothschild & Co Wealth Management, we work with many people seeking a more global perspective.

That said, choosing a wealth manager doesn’t have to be an either/or decision. We see our services as complementary – they sit well alongside any existing relationships you have with asset or wealth managers in the US.

But before we delve deeper into our services for US clients, we’d first like to outline our investment philosophy and approach.

Preservation-first wealth management

We recognise that wealth is precious, and often irreplaceable. Many people come to us because they want to protect what they have spent years, often decades, building.

So when they invest, they’re not looking to create a second fortune – they want a portfolio they can rely on. That means preserving wealth in real terms, which we seek to achieve by:

• Pursuing prudent growth
• Outpacing inflation
• Avoiding large losses
• Maintaining a long-term view

Crucially, unlike many US managers, our portfolios are built from the ‘bottom up’ rather than the ‘top down’.

A bottom-up approach means we focus on the fundamentals of individual securities and funds. Using our own deep research and independent analysis, we identify investments that we’re confident will perform well over the long term.

These growth-oriented ‘return’ assets sit alongside diversifying assets that are designed to offer downside protection and avoid large losses during markets downturns.

By contrast, top-down investors typically try to anticipate macroeconomic movements, analyse the downstream effects, and buy or sell assets in line with these expectations.

However, we do not place a lot of faith in the accuracy of market forecasts. Our view is these will only ever be educated guesses. As the economist Paul Samuelson once said:

“Wall Street indexes have predicted nine out of the last five recessions.”

Investing globally and avoiding rigid asset allocations allows us to select investments on their own merits. This naturally includes ample exposure to the US, home to many of the world’s best companies, and they remain
well represented in our portfolios.

Our aim is to hold investments for at least 10 years, although preferably longer. Put simply, we believe time in the markets is better than timing the markets.

As a result, our performance may not track industry benchmarks, but this is by design. It reflects a deliberate effort to build genuinely diversified global portfolios that preserve wealth over the long term.

How we support US clients from London

At Rothschild & Co, we have been managing wealth for more than 200 years and have extensive experience supporting US clients with their investment management needs.

Our family ownership, now in its seventh generation, gives us the independence to provide impartial, unconflicted advice.

And because both the family’s money and our own are invested alongside yours, our interests are always aligned.

To keep you fully informed about your portfolio, we provide:

• Regular updates: Monthly and quarterly performance statements and contract notes, available by post or online
• Bespoke reviews: Periodic portfolio reviews tailored to your individual requirements
• An online portal: Access to portfolio value, performance and statements via our secure online portal

More broadly, our team can act as a sounding board for your financial questions and ideas, whether you’re saving for retirement, selling a business or preparing the next generation for wealth.

As a wealth manager, we do not provide tax advice but can accommodate US tax and reporting requirements. Any relevant tax implications are carefully considered when structuring portfolios, though every portfolio decision is ultimately guided by the strength of the investment case.

We are also well-placed to support those eligible for the UK’s Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime, enabling you to plan effectively from Day One with help from our extensive network of legal and accounting professionals.

While our portfolio management team and client advisers are London-based, we regularly travel to meet clients across the US, typically once a quarter. Between trips, however, we’re always happy to speak by phone or video, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

^{Past performance is not a guide to future performance and nothing in this article constitutes advice. Although the information and data herein are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is or will be made and, save in the case of fraud, no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Limited as to or in relation to the fairness, accuracy or completeness of this document or the information forming the basis of this document or for any reliance placed on this document by any person whatsoever. In particular, no representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of any future projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this document. Furthermore, all opinions and data used in this document are subject to change without prior notice.}