A potential Third World War would not only open up military fronts, but also severely shake the global financial and legal systems. This would mean an increased risk of capital flight, expropriations, disruptions to payment flows and legal uncertainty.
Historical experience shows that such risks are by no means merely theoretical. During the Second World War, bank accounts were frozen in many countries, foreign assets were confiscated, or property and company stakes were placed under compulsory administration. In many war and crisis regions, capital controls meant money could no longer be transferred freely, while currency reforms and inflation significantly reduced real purchasing power. Liquid bank balances and securities accounts were particularly at risk, as states had direct access to the domestic financial system. At the same time, in various countries there were expropriations or state control of industrial plants, raw-materials companies and agricultural land. Even in countries that were not directly a theatre of war, restrictions on foreign-exchange transactions or special levies on wealth could be introduced to secure war financing.
At the same time, historical examples show that certain asset classes proved more resilient. Precious metals held physically, diversified foreign assets, and property in politically stable or geographically remote regions were in many cases able to preserve their value better, or at least recover more quickly.
Anyone who strategically spreads their asset base today can absorb future shocks more effectively while also benefiting from stable markets. This is not only about protecting digital assets and bank balances, but also about the physical protection of property. It is crucial not to focus exclusively on banks, as in severe crises they are, as experience shows, among the first institutions to implement capital controls or temporary account freezes. A well-designed network of holding, operating and liquidity structures reduces dependence on individual legal systems and creates redundancies that can be vital in the event of geopolitical turbulence.
This article provides a selection of country-specific analyses on how to secure assets such as property, bank balances or digital values so that they are both tax-efficient and legally robust. The worldwide examples below are structured and assessed using five dimensions.
• Legal protection: strength of property rights, availability of trust and foundation models, and mechanisms against political interference.
• Tax optimisation: effective tax rates, double taxation treaties and structuring options.
• Financial system: stability of capital markets and regulatory clarity.
• Investment stability: availability of crisis-resistant assets such as property or physical gold.
• Geopolitical security: likelihood of becoming involved in military conflicts, taking account of alliance commitments and regional flashpoints.
Legal protection: Singapore has a transparent, common-law-based legal system that is internationally regarded as one of the most efficient and reliable. Property rights are consistently enforced, and the courts operate quickly and with a high level of specialist expertise in commercial and corporate law. Particularly relevant for entrepreneurs is the broad availability of internationally common structures such as holding companies, family offices and trusts. These can be managed with long-term stability, as protection of existing arrangements plays an important role. In addition, the registry and compliance system is considered clearly structured and transparent, which makes managing international holdings easier.
Tax optimisation: Singapore’s tax system is territorial, meaning income earned outside the country is, under certain conditions, not taxed or only taxed to a limited extent. The corporation tax rate is moderate. There are numerous tax incentive schemes for holding and investment structures. Singapore also has a dense network of double taxation treaties. Tax administration is considered efficient and predictable, which is particularly important for long-term corporate or wealth structures.
Financial system: The country is one of the world’s financial centres and hosts a large number of banks and asset managers. Access to global capital markets and precious-metals markets is excellent. Particularly strong is the infrastructure for safeguarding physical assets, for example in high-security vaults for precious metals or in free-trade zones. Financial supervision is regarded as strict but efficient. This promotes stability and trust in the system. Historically, this financial centre has also proven resilient in times of crisis.
Investment stability: Alongside property, physical gold, storage solutions in free-trade zones, and stakes in real-economy assets are considered well protected.
Geopolitical security: For decades, Singapore has pursued a pragmatic and balanced foreign policy. The country is highly integrated economically without binding itself entirely to any single geopolitical power centre. This strategic balance reduces the risk of being drawn directly into military conflicts. At the same time, Singapore lies on one of the world’s most important trade routes. In a global conflict, maritime trade routes, energy supplies or supply chains could be disrupted. Nevertheless, the city-state has high state reserves, a strong administration and very efficient crisis planning, meaning the functioning of state institutions is regarded as robust even under stress. The combination of economic importance, political stability and military defensive capability makes Singapore a location that is not isolated, but does have a high degree of structural resilience.
Legal protection: Switzerland has one of the most stable legal systems in the world and a long tradition of protecting private property. Foundations, assets, structures and international holding companies are clearly regulated in law and internationally recognised. The courts operate independently and efficiently. Regulatory changes are generally introduced with long transition periods, which facilitates long-term planning. For entrepreneurial families, the stability of inheritance law is particularly significant.
Tax optimisation: The tax framework is predictable and varies by canton, which can create scope for structuring. Holding companies and internationally structured wealth often benefit from clearly defined rules and a wide network of double taxation treaties. The mix of moderate tax rates and high legal certainty has made Switzerland a major hub for long-term wealth structures for decades.
Financial system: The country is among the world’s leading locations for private banking and wealth management. In addition to banks, there is an exceptionally developed infrastructure for physical precious metals. Financial supervision is regarded as stability-focused. Access to international capital markets and investment funds is also excellent.
Investment stability: Property and physical assets are historically regarded as particularly well protected.
Geopolitical security: For centuries, Switzerland has pursued a policy of neutrality that is internationally recognised and has historically played a key role in keeping the country out of direct military conflicts. The Alpine topography, strong infrastructure and a well-organised civil protection system further increase structural resilience. At the same time, Switzerland lies at the centre of Europe, so the economic effects of a large-scale conflict on the continent would be hard to avoid. Even so, the combination of political stability, neutrality and robust infrastructure is considered one of the strongest security factors worldwide.
Legal protection: Iceland has a transparent legal system, stable property rights and a clearly structured land registry. Real estate and business ownership are well protected legally, and the courts are considered independent and reliable. For international investors, the clear administrative procedures and relatively low regulatory complexity are particularly advantageous.
Tax optimisation: Tax rates are moderate. The rules are regarded as transparent and stable. International investments can be processed through established structures, while double taxation treaties facilitate cross-border activities. In addition, companies and investors benefit from comparatively high planning certainty thanks to an efficiently operating tax authority.
Financial system: After the banking crisis, the financial system was comprehensively reformed and made more conservative. Banks are now subject to stricter capital requirements and stability-oriented supervision. The financial sector is smaller than in major industrial nations, but is distinguished by transparency.
Investment stability: Property and real assets benefit from political stability and low population density.
Geopolitical security: Iceland has an exceptionally isolated location in the North Atlantic and has only limited strategic importance as an industrial or military target. This significantly reduces the risk of military confrontation. Low population density, stable political institutions and a largely self-sufficient energy supply further contribute to structural stability. At the same time, Iceland is heavily dependent on sea and air transport, which could lead to supply bottlenecks if global logistics are disrupted. However, the low strategic relevance in any potential war and political stability make it a safe place for long-term tangible assets.
Legal protection: New Zealand has a transparent common-law system with clearly defined property rights and a long tradition of independent courts. Corporate structures, trusts and holding companies can be established relatively straightforwardly and managed with long-term stability. The land registry and registration system is considered particularly reliable and transparent, which is especially relevant for property investments. International investors also benefit from clear regulatory processes and an administration regarded as efficient and predictable.
Tax optimisation: The tax system is territorial in key areas. Certain foreign income can be treated favourably under the right conditions. Capital returns from certain investment types are in some cases treated differently than in many other industrial nations, which can make investments more predictable. In addition, New Zealand has a number of double taxation treaties that reduce international tax burdens and facilitate structuring global portfolios. Tax administration is regarded as transparent and relatively stable.
Financial system: New Zealand’s financial sector is smaller than that of major industrial nations, but is characterised by solid regulation and conservative lending standards. Large banks are well capitalised and supervision is considered efficient. The domestic market for property, agriculture and real assets is stable. For investors who place greater emphasis on real assets, the country therefore offers a strong combination of stability and transparency.
Geopolitical security: New Zealand is among the most geographically isolated countries in the world. This significantly reduces the risk of direct military attacks. The country has stable political institutions, a functioning administration and a well-developed civilian disaster management system. In the past, New Zealand has repeatedly shown that it remains capable of action even during natural disasters. At the same time, distance from major industrial centres and production locations brings potential risks, particularly with regard to supply chains, energy imports and technical infrastructure. Nevertheless, the great physical distance from the main geopolitical flashpoints has acted as a structural security factor.
The analysis shows that each of the countries considered meets the dimensions described with different weighting, yet each has its own strengths and risks in the context of a potential world war. What matters is not a single perfect location, but the combination of complementary jurisdictions that can offset differing geopolitical, legal and economic risk factors. Such diversification not only increases security, but also strategic flexibility in uncertain times. In doing so, three functions should be distinguished: legal structure, operational activity and physical assets. These functions are subject to different risk profiles. While operating companies depend on infrastructure, markets and logistics, long-term tangible assets tend to benefit more from political stability, legal certainty and geographical distance from conflict regions.
Singapore offers advantages above all as an international structuring and financial location with high institutional stability and excellent connectivity to global markets. At the same time, it should be taken into account that its position in such a crucial trading region can bring exposure to the effects of global conflicts, particularly in maritime trade and supply chains.
New Zealand stands out for territorial taxation and exceptional geographical isolation. While long supply chains can be challenging in a crisis, this very distance from many conflict zones can represent a significant protective factor for tangible assets such as property.
Switzerland combines stable institutions with a long tradition of political neutrality. In the past, this combination has played a key role in preserving economic stability even in times of tension. At the same time, Switzerland is closely intertwined economically with Europe. Economic upheaval on the continent would not be without consequences for the country.
Iceland, in turn, offers a blend of geographical isolation and low strategic relevance. This greatly reduces the risk of direct military impacts. At the same time, potential dependencies on imports should be taken into account. For long-term tangible assets, Iceland can be an interesting addition within a diversified structure.
From these considerations, a possible structure for international holdings emerges. Physical assets and property could be held in geographically isolated regions. Operational activities, in turn, can be located in countries that offer access to markets, resources or infrastructure and at the same time provide stable political frameworks. Through such multi-layered diversification, a redundant network is created that spreads legal, financial and geopolitical risks across multiple levels. If one part of the system is impaired, the remaining network remains functional. Over the long term, such a structure preserves not only the security of wealth, but also strategic capacity to act. Especially in times of growing geopolitical tensions, this form of structural resilience is increasingly becoming a decisive competitive factor for internationally active entrepreneurs.
No single location can completely rule out global crises. What matters is a structure that distributes assets, operational activities and liquid funds across several stable jurisdictions. Particularly important is the combination of legally stable locations, geographically isolated regions and an appropriate share of physically held assets. History shows that this combination has the greatest resilience to systemic crises. Practical implementation requires careful planning, qualified legal and tax advice, and regular review of the chosen structure. This makes it highly likely that you will remain capable of entrepreneurial action even under uncertain conditions.
