TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS
Trusts & Foundations:
Your Gateway to Global Legacy Protection
Today’s international families face unprecedented complexity. From cross-border tax exposure to protecting digital assets, traditional estate planning is no longer enough. At Horizon Associates, we provide tailored trust and foundation solutions that transcend borders, align with your values, and adapt to the modern world.
Why Expats Need Strategic Structuring
Living internationally brings both opportunity and risk. Your wealth is exposed to different legal systems, volatile currencies, and ever-changing tax laws. Without a multi-jurisdictional strategy, your estate may fall into legal conflict, face avoidable taxation, or end up among the $80 billion in unclaimed global assets.
Understanding the Expat Challenge
- Multi-jurisdictional complexity: Different countries mean different rules, and they rarely work in harmony.
- Tax chaos: Residency and domicile changes can trigger unintended liabilities.
- Currency & regulatory risk: FX exposure and unstable regimes threaten long-term preservation.
- Digital disruption: Crypto, NFTs, and online businesses require secure digital estate planning.
Choosing Between a Trust and a Foundation
Trusts work well in common law jurisdictions (e.g. BVI, Jersey, Cayman) and offer flexibility, confidentiality, and settlor control through reserved powers. Foundations—used in civil law jurisdictions—offer legal personality, continuity, and separation between assets and founder.
At Horizon Associates, we help you choose the right structure based on your goals, jurisdiction, and family dynamics.
Top Jurisdictions for 2025
Each trust jurisdiction offers different strengths:
- Cook Islands: Maximum asset protection and lawsuit resistance.
- Nevis: Strong privacy laws and creditor barriers.
- Cayman Islands: STAR trusts, tax exemptions, global credibility.
- Jersey: Regulatory excellence and enforced heirship firewalls.
Modern Wealth Structures, Modern Expectations
2025 clients expect more than paper files and silence. Today’s trusts and foundations are digital-first and values-aligned:
- ESG & impact investing: Align your legacy with sustainability and ethical growth.
- Full transparency: Clear fees, real-time reporting, global dashboards.
- Cyber-secure access: Encrypted, mobile-friendly, and regulator-ready.
- Integration with digital assets: We plan for crypto, online business continuity, and smart contract governance.
Next Steps: Build Your Global Legacy
We recommend starting with:
- Mapping assets across jurisdictions
- Reviewing residency and tax exposure
- Clarifying family and beneficiary citizenship
- Reviewing or replacing outdated wills and planning documents
Then, engage a qualified cross-border advisor. At Horizon Associates, we collaborate with licensed global providers to deliver compliant, flexible structures that grow with you and safeguard your legacy for generations to come.
Make the Right Move
UK Trusts – Highly Regulated
The gold standard in wealth protection, offering strong legal backing and tax-efficient solutions for UK residents and expats. 👀 SEE MORE
Life Interest Trusts – Protecting Wealth & Health
A Life Interest Trust ensures a loved one benefits from your assets during their lifetime while safeguarding wealth for future generations. Maintain control, protect inheritance, and secure financial stability for those who matter most. 👀 SEE MORE
Jersey Trusts – Offshore Excellence
A world-leading offshore trust jurisdiction, combining confidentiality, tax neutrality, and robust financial infrastructure. 👀 SEE MORE
Cyprus International Trusts – Tax Efficiency
With a progressive legal framework, Cyprus offers flexible and cost-effective trust solutions for global investors. 👀 SEE MORE
BVI Trusts - Privacy & Control
Favoured by high-net-worth individuals, BVI trusts provide absolute discretion, wealth preservation, and investment freedom. 👀 SEE MORE
Jersey Foundations – A Modern Approach
Bridging the gap between trusts and corporate entities, Jersey Foundations offer structured wealth management with legal personality. 👀 SEE MORE
Seychelles Foundations – Asset Protection
A strategic solution for international clients, offering secure, tax-efficient wealth structuring with complete ownership control. 👀 SEE MORE
Trusting the Right Trustee
Why Experience Matters
In the labyrinthine world of wealth management, where fortunes can be made or lost with the turn of a market, the choice of a trustee holds profound significance. It's a decision laden with emotion and apprehension, as affluent families grapple with the daunting task of safeguarding their assets for future generations. Yet, amidst the sea of options, one factor stands out as a beacon of stability and security: the established legacy of success of a professional trustee. 👀 SEE MORE ▶️
-
1. Which Jurisdiction Aligns Best with Your Estate Planning Needs?
· Have you considered the benefits of establishing a trust or foundation in jurisdictions like the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Jersey, or the UK, each offering unique legal frameworks and advantages?
2. Are You Familiar with the Distinctions Between Trusts and Foundations?
· Do you understand how a trust, a legal arrangement where trustees manage assets for beneficiaries, differs from a foundation, an incorporated entity without shareholders, often appealing to those from civil law jurisdictions?
3. How Can a Jersey Foundation Serve Your Succession Planning?
· Have you explored how a Jersey Foundation combines elements of both companies and trusts, providing flexibility for tax and succession planning, charitable purposes, and holding assets "off balance sheet"?
4. Is a Seychelles Foundation Suitable for Your Asset Protection Needs?
· Have you considered the advantages of a Seychelles Foundation, particularly if you reside in a jurisdiction unfamiliar with Anglo-Saxon trusts, for purposes such as holding assets, owning private trust companies, and facilitating tax planning?
5. Are You Considering the VISTA Trust for Company Shareholdings?
· Have you evaluated the Virgin Islands Special Trusts Act (VISTA) trust, designed for holding shares in companies indefinitely, where trustees are not obligated to interfere in the management of the company, aligning with specific investment strategies?
At Horizon Associates, we offer unparalleled expertise in forming and managing trusts and foundations, tailored to your unique needs. Our comprehensive services include ongoing support and maintenance, ensuring your wealth is structured effectively for future generations.