Built for the complexity of life across two countries.
Cross Border Wealth Advisors is a multilingual, fee-only fiduciary firm founded specifically to serve Americans navigating the financial realities of living in Spain.
We work with outside counsel and other independent professionals as client situations require, and clients' assets are held in custody at Charles Schwab.
Years - Victor's experience in financial services
Founded
4
Countries lived in
"We are legally bound to work only for you, the client — not in the interest of any investment bank or third party."
Victor Evans Gersten, EA, CFP®, M.S., MPAS™
Victor founded Cross Border Wealth Advisors in 2020 after recognizing a clear gap: most financial advisors simply aren't equipped to handle the layered complexity faced by Americans living abroad. He set out to build a firm that could.
With over 19 years of financial services experience, Victor holds two master's degrees - one in business and one in finance - from San Diego State University and the College for Financial Planning. He is both a Certified Financial Planner® and an IRS Enrolled Agent, giving him the rare ability to coordinate investment strategy and cross-border tax planning under one roof.
Raised in Mexico City by a single mother, Victor has lived in Italy, Spain, Mexico, and the United States. That lived experience across borders shapes everything about how he approaches client relationships - with empathy, precision, and a genuine understanding of what it means to manage finances from afar. He also teaches finance at the university level.
Independent advice. No exceptions.
As a fee-only firm, we are compensated solely by my clients — never through
commissions, referral fees, or product sales. As a fiduciary, we are legally
obligated to place your interests above all else.
Fee-only
You pay us directly - no hidden commissions, no product incentives. My advice is shaped entirely by what is right for you.
Fiduciary standard
We are legally bound to act in your best interest - a higher standard than the suitability standard most advisors operate under.
Fully coordinated
Investment strategy and tax planning work together - not in silos - so decisions in one area don't create surprises in the other.
A network built for cross-border complexity.
One team, one strategy - investments and taxes decided together, not in silos.
Geo Wealth
Registered Investment Advisor
My portfolio management partner handles investment execution and strategy implementation under an SEC-registered structure, ensuring institutional-grade oversight of your assets.
Charles Schwab
Institutional custodian
Client assets are held at Charles Schwab, one of the world's most trusted custodians, providing security, transparency, and access to a broad range of investment vehicles.
Tax Network
CPAs, EAs & Tax Specialists
Over the years we have built working relationships with independent accountants, attorneys, and other specialists across the United States, Spain, and selected European jurisdictions. When a client engagement requires local tax or legal expertise — for example, succession planning under Spanish law, estate planning across two jurisdictions, residency and visa matters, or multi-country tax preparation — we identify and coordinate with the professional best suited to the matter.
These professionals are independent of Cross Border Wealth Advisors; they are not employees, agents, or affiliates of the firm, and CBWA neither pays nor receives referral fees in connection with their work. Before any introduction is made, the client is informed in writing of the professional being recommended, the scope proposed, and how the cost will be handled — absorbed by CBWA as part of the Settler Package at Tier 2 and above, or paid directly by the client to the professional outside the Settler fee. The client makes the final selection and engages the professional directly.
Held to the highest professional standards.
My affiliations reflect a commitment to accountability, ethics, and continuous development - not just credentials on a wall.
CFP Board
The Certified Financial Planner Board sets and enforces the standards for the CFP® designation - including the fiduciary requirement that governs every piece of advice we give.
FeeOnlyNetwork.com
The Fee-Only Network connects clients with advisors who never earn commissions. Membership is reserved for advisors who meet strict criteria around compensation transparency and fiduciary practice.
About us — straight answers.
Questions about my credentials, independence, and how I work. Can't find what you need? Send us a message or book a free intro call.
What does the "Enrolled Agent" credential mean, and why does it matter for expats?
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally licensed tax practitioner with unlimited representation rights before the IRS - the highest credential the IRS grants to non-attorney tax professionals. Unlike a CPA, an EA's credentials are purely tax-focused and are recognized nationally regardless of state. For American expats this means Victor can represent you in any IRS audit, correspondence, or penalty dispute - including matters involving FBAR penalties, FATCA non-compliance, and foreign income reporting on Form 1040.
Is Cross Border Wealth Advisors an independent firm, or affiliated with a bank or fund company?
Cross Border Wealth Advisors is a fully independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) registered with the SEC (IARD/CRD 309890). We have no affiliation with any bank, brokerage, fund company, or insurance provider. Our only financial relationship is with our clients - which is what makes genuine, unconflicted advice possible.
Does CBWA work with clients who are still in the US and planning to move to Spain?
Pre-move planning is often where we add the most value. Decisions about Spanish residency timing, Roth IRA conversion windows, state tax exit strategy, and retirement account positioning are significantly more tax-efficient when addressed before you become a Spanish tax resident - some cannot be undone once you've registered with the Spanish authorities. Many clients engage us 6–18 months before their planned move date. See our cross-border optimisation page for what pre-move planning covers.
Do you speak Spanish, and do you work with local Spanish advisors?
Victor Gersten is fluent in Spanish and works directly with Spanish tax and legal professionals as part of client engagements. For situations requiring local expertise - succession planning under Spanish law, residency visa applications, Spanish property transactions - we coordinate with vetted local specialists so clients receive coherent, coordinated advice across both jurisdictions rather than conflicting guidance from two separate advisory relationships.
What does the GFP® designation mean on Victor's credentials?
GFP® stands for Global Financial Planner, a designation from the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) - the body that licenses the CFP® designation outside the US. It recognises financial planners with demonstrated competency in cross-border financial planning: international tax treaties, multi-currency portfolios, and multi-jurisdiction regulatory environments. It is specifically relevant to the complexity American expats in Spain face when their financial lives span two legal and tax systems simultaneously.
How many clients does CBWA work with, and do you accept everyone who applies?
I maintain a deliberately limited client roster to preserve the depth and quality of service each client receives - cross-border financial planning is not a volume business. Not every prospective client is a fit: I work specifically with US citizens and green card holders who have meaningful financial ties to Spain. The free 15-minute introductory call exists precisely to establish mutual fit before either side commits. Book one here.