In this episode of Swiss Money Secrets, we sit down with Julia Fernandez, one of WHVP’s long-standing team members, to explore her unique perspective on the evolution of the family business over the past decades. Julia shares her story of joining WHVP in its early days under the leadership of Robert Vrijhof, reflecting on what attracted her to the boutique wealth management company and how the firm’s culture stood out from the start.
Julia offers insight into how WHVP has grown and adapted through two generations of leadership, from Robert to the current husband-and-wife team, Jamie Vrijhof-Droese and Urs Vrijhof-Droese. She discusses the differences in leadership styles, how the financial industry’s regulatory landscape and technology have shifted over time, and how WHVP has navigated these changes while remaining committed to its core values.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of what makes a family-owned Swiss wealth management firm like WHVP unique—particularly how a strong, supportive company culture fosters long-term relationships with both employees and clients. Julia also shares the challenges she’s witnessed the firm overcome, and what excites her about the future of WHVP and the Swiss private banking industry.
00:00 Intro
00:37 Women's Soccer World Cup is coming to Switzerland
02:50 What brought Julia to WHVP
05:30 The work environment and how it developed
07:00 How much impact an employee can have on a family business
10:00 Fond memories
11:01 Overcoming hurdles
13:40 Moving roles to be a relationship manager
19:50 Managing clients in a big institution vs. a family business
24:55 What's it like for an employee to go through a succession to the younger generation?
27:30 The biggest challenges WHVP has overcome
30:34 The future of WHVP
36:16 Advice for when your company passes on to the next generation
Contact WHVP:
Website: https://whvp.ch/
Email: info@whvp.ch
Telephone: +41 44 315 77 77
Schedule a Meeting: https://whvp.ch/get-started
About WHVP:
WHVP is not just another asset manager. We are an independent firm specializing in managing the funds of private clients. Registered with the SEC in the U.S. and located in Zurich, Switzerland, we are associated with several first-class private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which serve as custodian banks for our clients' accounts. Our asset management principles are rooted in conservative, long-term-oriented capital preservation strategies. We prioritize personalized service, crafting portfolios that are shielded against U.S. Dollar depreciation while leveraging overseas investment opportunities.
Disclaimer:
All posts and publications are for your information only and are not intended as an offer, promotion, or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument or perform any other financial transactions. All information and opinions expressed in posts and publications reflect our current views as of the date of the publication and may be liable to change without notice.
