Marc-André Sola, Chairman and Founder of the 1291 Group, leverages his experience and network, guided by his belief in family and long-term relationships, to help clients prioritize their peace of mind while creating win-win outcomes for all parties involved. With a Master of Law from the University of Zurich, he has gained over 30 years of experience in financial services and international wealth and tax planning, advising some of the wealthiest families from Europe, North & South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and serving on the board of various financial services companies.
From Visionary Beginnings to Global Leadership
In 2000, Marc-André laid the foundation for what would become a globally recognized financial institution He recalls that, in 2000, the financial world was still very much the “old world.” Advisors often disregarded regulatory frameworks and rarely considered clients’ tax situations. “As a lawyer, I wanted to help wealthy families protect and preserve their assets in a way that was both legal and fully compliant,” he remarks.
Since then, the environment has transformed dramatically – with cross-border regulations, global transparency, and international taxation becoming the new standard. Fortunately, the 1291Group was ahead of the curve from the start. “While our commitment to providing compliant, client-focused solutions remains unchanged, our ambition has evolved. From a small three-person team advising just a handful of families, we have grown into a global leader,” Marc-André observes.
Expanding Horizons While Empowering Global Leadership
In 2007, the 1291Group’s journey took a significant turn with the establishment of its Liechtenstein office, leveraging the Freedom to Provide Services provision to tap into the broader European market. This expansion was not just about geography but also strategic, setting the stage for future growth. “We chose a name that would honour our Swiss heritage and encapsulate our core values: 1291 Group was born, symbolising both the founding year of Switzerland and the company’s commitment to integrity, innovation, and independence,” Marc-André clarifies.
The vision didn’t stop there. In 2016, the board, with a clear eye towards global expansion, decided to broaden its horizons, going on to open new offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai, significantly enhancing its global footprint and diversifying its product and service offerings to cater to a wider audience.
Today, the 1291Group holds licenses in 38 countries, providing tax-compliant solutions to clients from more than 60 countries, and collaborating with leading insurers in 15 jurisdictions. Their next phase of expansion includes establishing a presence in India, the U.S., and Australia.
In addition to his role as Chairman, Marc-André also leads the 1291 Group DIFC Limited as SEO, which allows him to remain close to the market, personally overseeing and shaping the Middle Eastern part of the Group and transferring his knowledge and experience to the local team.
“I currently wear two hats: Chairman of the Group and SEO of our DIFC operation. My days are filled with meetings, calls, and strategy sessions. I hold weekly sessions with my direct reports, coach our advisory team – often in one-on-one meetings, and engage with key partners. My main priority is transferring knowledge, sharing experience, and embedding our values. Ultimately, my role is to empower every leader and team member at 1291 to become the best version of themselves,” he insists.
Safeguarding Wealth, Securing Legacies Worldwide
Today, the 1291 Group stands on the cusp of even more exciting developments, offering comprehensive services designed to help wealthy families safeguard their hard-earned wealth and fulfill their most significant wealth planning goals. Their tailored strategies protect assets and help clients navigate the complexities of wealth management, securing their legacy for future generations.
They help professionals minimize risk to provide robust solutions that foster trust and loyalty, ultimately strengthening their professional practice. Their tax-compliant wealth protection plans leverage advanced insurance products, including Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI), Variable Universal Life Insurance (VUL), and Universal Life Insurance (ULI).
“These instruments are integrated into our planning process to optimize your financial security and growth potential, ensuring you have a solid foundation to build upon as you pursue your personal and professional aspirations. With our dedicated support, you can rest easy knowing that your wealth is in capable hands and focus on the things that matter most in your life,” Marc-André affirms.
Driving Change, Raising Standards, and Modernizing Wealth Planning
Being a catalyst for change and driving higher standards of advice is how Marc-André defines influence in the financial services sector in the Middle East’s dynamic landscape. “At 1291, we focus on needs-based solutions rather than simply pushing products. Through our B2B model, we partner with top financial institutions – banks, asset managers, and law firms – and through these relationships, our way of thinking spreads widely,” he explains.
Education is central to the group’s influence. For example, when they entered Hong Kong in 2016, hardly anyone knew about Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI). After years of training and creating awareness, PPLI is now recognized as a powerful wealth planning tool. The same is happening in the Middle East.
“Since opening our DIFC office in 2022, we’ve helped elevate the level of planning sophistication, particularly in the UAE, where many global HNWIs are relocating. Multi-jurisdictional planning is no longer optional – and we’re enabling advisors in the region to deliver solutions that match the global complexity of their clients’ lives,” Marc-André observes.
His legal background plays a pivotal role in shaping financial strategies or solutions almost every day. In markets such as the Middle East and Asia, many clients still operate with outdated structures – handshake agreements, nominee arrangements, or incomplete family setups that fail to consider tax or succession laws. “My legal background enables me to guide them from this ‘old world’ into solid modern structures that ensure compliance, establish clear succession plans, and protect both privacy and assets without compromising on flexibility,” Marc-André elaborates.
Leading with Integrity, Compassion, and Collaboration
As leaders, Marc-André and his partners live by the mantra: “From our family to yours.” In a business built on long-term relationships that only thrive when grounded in strong values and integrity, he reinforces this internally through a “value mantra” that shapes leadership, training, and daily decision-making. The company aims to create a safe environment where business and personal lives can coexist, taking the same approach for clients and external partners, which is why their business relationships often turn into lifelong friendships.
“We take care of our people, and in return, expect performance and integrity. For example, we’ve covered life-saving medical expenses not included in insurance, sponsored personal and health coaching, and even supported employees with school fees for their children,” Marc-André shares.
The firm constantly works on strengthening collaboration and team spirit among its multi-disciplinary team of tax lawyers, wealth planners, and insurance specialists. “We do off-site meetings, or once a year, bring all 1291ers together for work and pleasure. The effect is mindblowing: Friendships form, knowledge is exchanged, opportunities are discovered, and problems are solved,” Marc-André explains.
Throughout the year, collaboration is enhanced with tools such as local and groupwide knowledge chats, sounding boards, an internal library, and a bi-weekly internal 360 survey where team members rate each other on teamwork, service, and ethics. In the DIFC office, the “Team Player of the Month” is recognized with a small financial incentive. “That said, no system replaces the importance of hiring the right people. Collaboration thrives when you start with values-aligned people,” Marc-André insists.
Celebrating Growth, Culture, and Lasting Trust
While he’s happy with their global reach, the 20% annual growth, and their role advising some of the world’s wealthiest families, the moment that stands out most for Marc-André was their 25th anniversary celebration, earlier this year.
“We brought all our 1291ers together in Switzerland for five days of work, learning, and celebration. What struck me most was the pride each person felt in being part of 1291. Despite our rapid growth, we’ve preserved a strong, supportive culture – and that is what I am most proud of. I also believe that our culture is recognized by our partners and clients, and we often get warm and positive feedback,” he affirms.
In terms of building trust with ultra-high-net-worth clients across diverse jurisdictions, Marc-André believes that trust often begins with referrals from respected professionals – law firms, banks, or wealth managers – which confers credibility from the start. From there on, it’s about listening carefully, understanding the client’s unique needs, and demonstrating expertise, which is easier given their decades of experience.
“Large families often bring their own professional networks to the table; we work closely with these advisors or introduce globally recognized experts to complement the team. When required, we provide legal opinions to confirm the validity of our structures, further strengthening trust,” he explains.
Balancing Compliance with Forward-Thinking Innovation
While compliance is non-negotiable in a heavily regulated financial environment like the DIFC, the 1291 Group pushes for innovation in every solution. “The fact that many of us are lawyers and tax professionals certainly helps, but through our daily interactions, we learn from other top advisers in all the different fields (tax, legal, compliance, wealth planning, wealth management, etc.),” Marc-André says.
The 1291 group’s compliance team blends local DIFC expertise with international best practices, ensuring they remain ahead of regulatory changes. Their Group Head of Legal, Daniel Koller, is among the most respected experts worldwide, and his leadership ensures that compliance and innovation go hand in hand. “We can also often foresee trends since what happens in one country may well happen in another shortly. This gives us a head start compared to advisers who only see what happens locally,” Marc-André observes.
Raising Global Standards for Smarter Wealth Management
One area that globally regulators consistently overlook is quality control on the investment side. Too often, wealth managers are former bankers with strong client relationships but little investment expertise, which often leads to poor long-term results for clients.
“If I were a regulator, I would require a minimum level of investment sophistication and regularly audit past performance. This would raise the global standard, ensure clients receive genuinely competent advice, and create more sustainable businesses. Ultimately, regulation must strike the right balance -protecting clients while allowing firms the freedom to offer creative, high-value solutions,” Marc-André states. The UAE has done a lot with respect to increasing the quality of the advisory firms, but still leaves excellent room for entreprenneurial spirit.
“One challenge in the region is that many wealthy families move here, while their wealth remains abroad. Considering the growing market and economy, it would be very interesting for investors to invest in local businesses, incl. young companies. It would be great to create different avenues that make such investments available to interested investors.
Adapting to Change and Building with Purpose
Marc-André observes that the field of wealth protection and legacy planning in the Middle East is in a period of transition, with many families – and even some advisors – still relying on outdated structures. “With growing regulation, international taxation, and automatic information exchange, these setups no longer work. The demand for sophisticated, compliant, and multi-jurisdictional solutions will only increase. Advisors who adapt will thrive; those who don’t will be left behind,” he predicts.
Marc-André sees it as his duty to pass on knowledge and mentor the next generation. A few years ago, he co-authored a book, “The Insured Portfolio,” as a starting point. Today, 1291Group uses an AI-based learning platform with training modules, exams, and certifications for their advisors, to ensure a consistently high standard of advice. The content was created mainly by Marc-André, his partners and other top inhouse specialists, assuring that the knowledge and experience is passed on.
To aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the wealth protection and insurance space, Marc-André shares these sage words of wisdom: Start small and focus. Pick a niche, become the best at it, and then scale. Wealth protection is a regulated, complex field – running a licensed business is expensive and demanding. When I started, legal and compliance teams weren’t a requirement, but today they are essential. Surround yourself with the right partners who share the same values, and don’t try to do everything alone. Collaboration is the key to building credibility and longevity in this industry.
Conclusion
As a business leader influencing future generations of financial professionals, Marc-André’s goal is to ensure that 1291ers are internationally recognized as the most professional and ethical in their approach and interaction with other professionals and clients. With regular training for external partners on topics like international taxation, asset protection, and succession planning, he hopes that his greatest legacy will be to instill a culture of compliance and long-term thinking to raise the overall quality of financial and wealth-planning advice in the Middle East.
