The firm unveiled the CEO's appointment today and he spoke exclusively to this news service about his ambitions for a business that focuses on serving those with US links.

The newly-appointed new CEO of REYL Overseas, Elias Bachmann (main picture), hopes to double the firm’s assets under management to more than $1 billion in the next five years as it continues to tap into demand for SEC-regulated advice for expat Americans and others with US links.

The firm announced Bachmann’s appointment today. In the role since 1 February, he oversees strategy, growth, governance and fiduciary leadership. A dual US/Swiss citizen, Bachmann took the helm from Roger Groebli, who had led REYL Overseas since 2011.

REYL Overseas Ltd is a subsidiary of REYL Intesa Sanpaolo.

“There’s a lot of business opportunity here in Switzerland and Europe in general. We could possibly double this business to $1 billion of assets in five years,” Bachmann told WealthBriefing in an exclusive call today. “The political winds and the level of policy uncertainties in the past couple of years,” he said, "have helped to encourage Americans to consider options outside their home country."

The firm wants to grow by working directly with clients in its network, CPAs and attorneys who are often first points of contact for people seeking solutions, and investment advisors in the US, he said.

The REYL Overseas business is a separate entity in the REYL Intesa Sanpaolo group. “Our sandbox is decidedly different from what is going on in the REYL and Intesa Sanpaolo side,” he said.

Before taking on the role, Bachmann spent nearly 16 years at BSW Wealth Partners in Boulder, Colorado, where he was a partner and head of the investment group.

“We are counting on his [Bachmann’s] international spirit and strong competencies to ensure the long-term development of our group and to continue our commercial development in the service of our US clients,” REYL Intesa Sanpaolo global head of wealth management, Lorenzo Rocco di Torrepadula, said in a statement. (He is also a member of the board of directors for REYL Overseas.)

REYL Overseas is a dually-registered investment advisor with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FINMA, the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority. Its services include long-term planning, asset protection, custodian diversification, investment and cash management, lending, and precious metals. The business was created in 2011 when access to financial services by expat US citizens was put into sharp relief by the US FATCA legislation of that time. Several SEC-registered businesses operate in Switzerland to serve this population.