Spear’s Review

Wealthy families are not only diversifying their investments but also ‘adding residency and citizenship to their family planning’ as a ‘hedge against geopolitical risk’, says Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner, North America, at Henley & Partners. ‘I primarily work with Americans who are seeking alternative residencies and citizenships.’

The most in-demand programmes are those offered by European countries, specifically Portugal, Mohr-Elzeki explains, as they allow free movement across the Schengen zone and have similar health care, security and education standards as the US.

Mohr-Elzeki not only advises Americans aiming to plant a flag abroad, but also handles a smaller number of ‘inbound’ clients looking to obtain an EB-5 visa in the US. He strongly advocates that alternative residency or citizenship should be a key point on every HNW’s agenda: ‘How do you diversify your government? How do you diversify geopolitical risk? This is the only way.’