Are you doing enough to protect your assets? I ask this question daily—for myself and for our Obris members.
New surplus taxes targeting high income earners and wealthy individuals are becoming the norm across countries. Simultaneously, persistent calls to “tax the rich” grow louder around the globe.
In the United States, multiple states have enacted or proposed “millionaire” taxes—wealth-focused taxes to raise revenue for public services. In the first months of 2026, Washington State approved a 9.9% tax on incomes greater than $1M/year. Meanwhile, the state of Maine signed a 2% millionaire surtax as part of its budget. These states join California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and others that impose surcharges on incomes above $1M.
The U.S. is not alone. Norway, Spain, and Switzerland impose annual net wealth taxes, and others have introduced temporary “solidarity” surcharges on high incomes or assets.
While the U.K. does not have a “wealth tax” per se, their tax structures include several taxes that specifically target wealthy individuals—including inheritance, capital gains, and property. Meanwhile, advocacy groups lobby for a targeted 2% wealth tax on individuals holding assets over £10M to “drastically reduce inequality,” and the Labour Party is currently devising its own proposals.
Let’s not forget our friends in Australia. The government proposed a “seismic” tax reform affecting high-income earners and wealthy individuals last month, specifically targeting capital gains and family trusts. After much protest, the government offered significant concessions, but not to worry—they will be back for more.
For those who choose to relocate to less onerous tax jurisdictions, exit and expatriate taxes are the norm. This form of taxation, too, is expanding country by country.
Official data from around the globe confirm that high earners already shoulder a disproportionate share of income taxes. I am currently writing a Global Investor article entitled “They are Coming for Us,” where I dig into this topic.
But taxation is only one of many threats to our wealth. We also face risks from geopolitics, public debt, currency instability, litigation from those who want what we have, and the ever-present challenge of keeping our assets safe in a world that is changing faster than ever.
Is anywhere truly safe for those of us with significant assets to protect? Are there strategies we haven’t considered?
The Obris Meet Up is returning to the U.S. from November 18-21, 2026 to tackle these questions head-on. Scottsdale, Arizona will be our host city. We are building the event around the theme, “Protect Your Assets – Grow Your Wealth.”
Day 1 focuses on Protecting Your Wealth, addressing asset protection, cross-border structuring, jurisdictional risk, and the realities of global capital defense.
Day 2 centers on Growing Your Wealth, with high-conviction discussions on resilient portfolio construction, real assets, alternative strategies and investments, diversification, and the next engines of durable growth.
We’ll conclude on Day 3 with an intimate fireside brunch roundtable, bringing participants together to synthesize ideas, share perspectives, and contribute directly to the conversation in a collaborative, peer-driven setting.
The event will also include sessions on longevity, actionable investment opportunities, and live updates from several of our North America-based portfolio companies.
As always, the Obris Meet Up is designed to be candid, practical, and globally relevant—focused on actionable insight, thoughtful dialogue, and meaningful connection among members.
To learn more about the Scottsdale Meet Up, click on the button below.
Please let us know if you are planning to join us.
We look forward to seeing you in Arizona.