Switzerland is gorgeously beautiful, civilized, clean and very safe. It also boasts reasonably good weather.
The Swiss are famous for their banking sector, of course, and rightfully so – Swiss banks are generally well-capitalized and efficient.
And until recently, banking in Switzerland could be discreet – but not anymore. Uncle Sam hobbled it with FATCA, and then the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) virtually destroyed the banking privacy the country was so famous for.
But generally speaking, Swiss banks are still a good option, albeit not for everyone. If you are not a local resident, opening an account usually requires a very hefty initial deposit.
Another bonus in Switzerland is safety. The country has not experienced the large-scale terrorist attacks its European neighbors have faced in recent years. You’ll see many journalists wondering why. The answer is not complicated – the Swiss simply don’t stick their noses in other countries’ affairs. And they don’t let a lot of immigrants in.
Nonetheless, becoming a Swiss resident is still possible, though it's not cheap. You can directly negotiate a “tax agreement” with one of the cantons of your liking. There, you will pay a predetermined flat amount of tax every year in return for residency. The sum varies among the cantons, and is typically measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
If that’s your cup of tea, we have a great contact on the ground who could help.
Switzerland could serve very well for affluent retirees, families looking for a good education for their kids, business people, etc.
The country also scores top marks for the excellent quality and low cost of its universities.
And you don't have to be super wealthy to live there. It’s not as expensive as Monaco, for example. However, you still need to be fairly well-off (or find a well-paying local job).
If not, you’ll feel the pain every time you go to the grocery store. Prices there are easily triple from what you would see in Spain or Portugal.
And don't go to Switzerland if you want to obtain European citizenship quickly. It takes at least ten year of residency to become eligible for naturalization.