A Swiss Family Office for the preservation of wealth through the generations

At Five Keys, our clients are seen as members of an exclusive body of individuals who rest knowing their wealth is being managed by a team which requires and expects excellence. This boutique manner of management leads to an unparalleled and tailored level of service.

We offer a discreet, elevated, and personalized experience.

A Five Keys' client family office provides, on a global basis: independent oversight to asset management; aggregated and consolidated asset reporting; advice on tax planning, trust and corporate structures; turn key financial, non-financial asset management and custodial arrangements; and provision of equitable distributions to future generations.

office

Switzerland as a family office base

Swiss private banks are renowned as global leaders in wealth management.  Confidentiality and professionalism are at the highest levels. Discreet, independent asset managers are very well established in the major financial centers, and there is a wide choice of tax, legal and wealth planning organizations.  

All of these factors make Switzerland one of the best locations in the world to establish a family office structure.

At every turn, in every detail, with every interaction, we will be excellent.

Services

Service, at an elite level, must be truly tailored.

Global Jurisdictions

01

Advice on tax planning and the incorporation of trusts, companies and foundations in one or multiple jurisdictions globally and the provision of trustees and directors to manage and administer structures from simple trusts to complex multi-level multi-generational arrangements.

Estate Planning

02

Advice on estate planning, the preparation of wills and the structuring of testamentary dispositions. Financial planning on prenuptial and marital contracts and appointment of independent Executors and Trustees.

Portfolio and Asset Management

03

Portfolio and asset management either from the beginning where we will work with you to determine investment and risk objectives, asset allocation etc. to consolidated reporting, including performance, risk and benchmark comparisons etc. We have access to some of the best asset managers globally but are also happy to deal with your existing advisors, take over the risk and performance monitoring and aggregate this on a total family asset basis.

Property and Real Estate Management

04

We have many years of experience in residential and commercial real estate across the globe and are able to create a portfolio of properties or manage and administer them on a one to one basis. Real estate management and financing can also be arranged.

Non-Financial Assets Management

05

Management, administration and custodial arrangements for all type of non-financial assets including yachts, aircraft, super cars, horses, artwork, wine and other valuables. Structuring assets from a tax planning perspective and dealing with all administrative aspects, including insurance, valuations, servicing and maintenance and sales.

Cash Management

06

Cash management, including the opening and operation of bank accounts with segregation and pooling for all family members. Monitoring liquidity requirements and cash flow. Calculating all foreign exchange requirements and consolidated reporting into the home currency. Arranging finance and generally advising on all banking relationships.

Asset Reporting

07

Consolidation and aggregated reporting of all assets from liquid bank accounts, through investment and property portfolios to non financial assets such as yachts, cars, artwork etc.

Concierge Services

08

All types of concierge services, tailored to suit your specific needs.

The principals of Five Keys have over 200 years of collective experience in international finance, asset management, property, taxation and legal services around the globe and have variously been responsible for wide portfolios of assets and property in the billions of dollars.

Principals

Bryan Stott attended public school in the Isle of Man and continued his education at London University, where he gained a BSc degree. From university, Bryan joined a local Isle of Man firm, who were predominantly Agricultural Auctioneers, as a lorry driver. He worked his way to eventually become a partner in the firm, moving the business into Antique Auctions and Estate Agency – opening several branches across the Island. He also developed commercial, retail and residential properties in USA, Australia and U.K.

Bryan joined the Isle of Man Bank, aged 27 years, as the youngest ever director and went on to become Chairman, followed by becoming Chairman of NatWest Offshore – covering eight different global jurisdictions – one of the largest offshore banks in the world.

He was also Chairman of two Bank pension funds. Bryan formed a quoted Investment Trust which he sold out successfully. He also served as a Commissioner on the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission, for 14 years.

Eddie joined a subsidiary of the National Westminster Group where he undertook many roles ranging from credit management, marketing, to Head of Credit Risk dealing with major corporate and High Net Worth Individuals. He was also briefly attached to other NatWest Group Companies undertaking specialist roles. When the Group was taken over by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Eddie left to join a legal practice in 2002. He entered Isle of Man National Politics in 2004 and the following year was appointed Chairman of the publicly owned electricity utility company. After the 2006 General Election he was appointed the Minister for Health & Social Security where he remained for over three years. This was followed by Minister for Education and Children for 18 months. After the 2011 election Eddie was appointed Minister for the Treasury and as such was responsible for all income raising and expenditure for the Isle of Man Government. He represented the Island at the highest level both in the UK and Internationally, on occasions deputizing for the Chief Minister. In 2016 Eddie decided not to offer himself for re-election and he is now a non executive director of a small portfolio of companies and charities.

Greg took law degrees from the University of Manchester and London School of Economics. He qualified as a barrister in 1982 and was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn. In 1987 he became a member of the Institute of Taxation as a Chartered Tax Adviser. After working in accountancy firms in the City of London Greg moved to the Isle of Man in 1990 to join KPMG, becoming a partner in 1993. He has been responsible for the KPMG’s tax practice in the Isle of Man since the year 2000, and between 2008 and 2018 was also responsible for the KPMG tax practice in Gibraltar.

Greg specializes in all manner of international taxation and private client-related tax work, including capital taxes, death duties, trusts, and residence and domicile issues. He also advises on tax treaty relationships and EU company tax matters, and has been involved in negotiating and settling disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities.

He has been involved in numerous tax “think tanks” and working parties over the years. Greg is a frequent speaker at tax conferences and contributor of taxation articles to the business press.

Matt is a licensed attorney based in Dallas, Texas where he serves as both a partner in his and his father's legal practice and also as chief executive of Kennedy Private Client Services, a multi-family office made up of both US and non-US based clients. A large part of Matt's legal experience has been primarily serving as associate general counsel and ultimately as general counsel to a large family office focused on the management of a variety of global investments, with an emphasis in private equity, hedge funds, separately managed accounts, as well as commercial real estate ventures mainly in the UK and US.

Alan has extensive experience in Trust, Company and Fund Administration and Banking and has worked in the Finance Sector for over 48 years.  

After 11 years with Lloyds Bank Trust Division administering executorships and managing Pension Funds, he was appointed Manager of a subsidiary of Bank of Bermuda, an 'A' Licenced bank and trust company in Grand Cayman in 1981.  

He moved to the Isle of Man in 1987 with Bank of Bermuda and was appointed Managing Director of Bank of Bermuda (Isle of Man) Limited in 1994 and was directly responsible for all banking, treasury, custody, trust and company administration and fund administration activities on the Island. In 1999 he joined the Global Management Committee of the Global Fund Services Division of The Bank of Bermuda, which was acquired by HSBC in 2003. He held a number of positions on this committee including Global Head of Product Management, Global Head of Client Relationship Management and Global Head of Marketing and Strategy, until his retirement in September 2005.

He retains non-executive directorships and consultancies with a limited number of companies within the Finance Industry in various jurisdictions. He was Chairman of the Isle of Man Fund Management Association in 2007 and was a Commissioner with the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Authority from 2007 until June 2018.

Contact

Do not put off taking the first step towards easing the burden upon yourself.

You are invited to contact any one of us now, to see what we can do for you.

Geneva

Boulevard Georges-Favon 18
1204 Geneva, Switzerland

London

23-24, Berkeley Square
Mayfair London W1J 6HE UK
020 7929 9193

matt kennedy

alan smith