Real estate, a lever for asset performance

1. To begin with, could you briefly tell us about your career path and your current role as a wealth management adviser?

Who am I?
I am Antoine Ducroux, co-founder of RidgeRock, an independent wealth management consultancy based in Switzerland. After several years working for a specialist firm and then in banking, my partners and I are now creating a modern alternative, both human and digital, to support Swiss residents and cross-border workers.
My role: to assist our clients in structuring, protecting and growing their wealth, combining financial, tax and property expertise.

Why RidgeRock?
The conclusion is simple:

• The traditional banks often offer expensive, poorly performing products and lack personalised support.
  
  
• The fintech companies, although innovative, neglect the human aspect that is essential to a relationship of trust.
  
  

Our positioning: RidgeRock sits between these two worlds:

• From high-performance and innovative products, available from CHF 50,000.
  
  
• One human and digital support.
  
  
• One 360° wealth management expertise, covering asset management, pensions, real estate, taxation, private equity and structured products.
  
  

Our vision:
To be the Neo Wealth Manager A benchmark in Switzerland and then internationally: a hybrid and modern model, focused on clients' objectives, with a clear, transparent and effective approach.

2. In your opinion, why does property play such a central role in building and managing wealth?

Real estate is an essential pillar of wealth. It is a tangible, useful and reassuring asset that combines security, potential for appreciation and diversification. In Switzerland, it is particularly perceived as a safe haven, capable of protecting against inflation and generating stable returns over the long term.

3. What are the main advantages for an individual investor of incorporating property into their asset management strategy?

There are numerous benefits:

• Leverage effect thanks to mortgage financing, allowing you to invest with a limited down payment.
  
  
• Tax optimisation, through the deductibility of mortgage interest and certain expenses.
  
  
• Supplementary income with rental investment, generating regular cash flow.
  
  
• Transmission and sustainability, because property is part of an intergenerational approach.
  
  
• Diversification, supplementing financial assets with real, tangible assets.

4. Conversely, what are the limitations or risks that one should be particularly mindful of when investing in property?

Real estate remains a restrictive asset. Its liquidity is limited: selling a property takes time and depends on market conditions. The risks of rental vacancies or depreciation, although lower in Switzerland, do exist. Excessive debt can also weaken a household. Finally, property taxation (rental value, property tax, capital gains) must be anticipated to avoid unpleasant surprises.

5. How can you determine the optimal share of property in a diversified asset strategy?

There is no universal rule. It all depends on your family situation, income, risk tolerance and long-term goals. At RidgeRock, we take a tailored approach: we analyse debt capacity, cash flow and taxation before determining the ideal weighting of property in the overall portfolio. The aim is to maintain a balance between property and financial assets in order to preserve flexibility and liquidity.

6. What specific skills or knowledge must a wealth management adviser develop in order to effectively support their clients in this area of real estate?

A good adviser must possess:

• One financial and tax expertise to assess the overall impact of a project.
  
  
• One knowledge of the Swiss and cross-border property market, to guide you towards the right choices (primary residence, secondary residence or rental property in Switzerland or abroad, particularly in France, for example).
  
  
• One expertise in mortgage financing, including very specific Swiss rules (equity capital, depreciation, ratios).
  
  
• One coordination ability with key players: banks, solicitors, estate agents, tax specialists.
  
  

7. Finally, what advice would you give to a wealth management professional in training or changing careers to better integrate property into their recommendations?

I would advise him to take a holistic view: property should always be considered as an integral part of a coherent wealth management strategy. Continuous training on Swiss tax and regulatory aspects is essential, as these are subject to regular change. 

Finally, building a solid network of partners (banks, solicitors, estate agents) is a major asset: the added value of the adviser lies as much in their expertise as in their ability to support the client at every stage of their project.

At RidgeRock, we believe that well-managed wealth is more than just a matter of returns: it is a source of peace of mind, inheritance and opportunities for the future.

Trust OSAM for your tailor-made training in real estate.

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