In the search for the Best fund savings plan in Switzerland many automatically end up at Swissquote. But the market has changed – our ETF savings plan Switzerland comparison shows: There are now significantly cheaper ETF Savings Plan Switzerland Provider.
What should you pay attention to? The ETF fees comparison Switzerland shows big differences: while Swissquote charges from CHF 5 per order, Saxo offers free savings plans for over 100 ETFs. It's even easier with willbe ETFselect – here you can choose from 50 curated ETFs, pay no trading fees and, thanks to fractional trading, invest in a broadly diversified portfolio even with small amounts.
The Best ETF savings plans in SwitzerlandIt depends on your setup: Saxo scores highly in terms of costs, Swissquote in terms of ETF selection, and willbe in terms of convenience. Would you rather save up for individual securities? A Swiss share savings plan can be found at Saxo, Swissquote and Yuh. All details in the Savings plan comparison above.
Dear Eric,
Thank you very much for your helpful and informative content.
I would like to set up an ETF savings plan for my nephew, who lives in Germany. I have already done this for myself and my daughter in Switzerland with VIAC.
Do you have a recommendation as to how I can best set this up for him from Switzerland - is it better to use a provider in Switzerland or Germany? And how can I ensure that the custody account can be legally transferred to my nephew in around 10 years' time?
Are there any special legal aspects, tax pitfalls or other points that I should be aware of?
Many thanks in advance!
Hello Arndt,
Yes, it's basically possible - but I would keep it simple 😊
The cleanest way is usually for the parents to open a child custody account in Germany (e.g. with a German broker) and for you to deposit the money regularly as a gift. The custody account then legally belongs directly to your nephew.
A custody account in your name with subsequent transfer would also be possible, but depending on the amount, could give rise to tax issues in the case of gifts (especially because Germany is involved).
Since Swiss and German law come together here, I would certainly ask a tax expert for larger amounts.
Short: German child custody account via the parents = probably usually the most uncomplicated solution. (If anyone has any tips, please share!)
Dear Eric
Thank you for the always very helpful blog posts and sharing your in-depth knowledge and research. I'm a bit on the fence when it comes to providers. I have cancelled the low-cost Degiro because of the foreign risk as you mentioned and I bought 2 ETFs from Swissquote a few years ago, but the high custody account fees bother me here. I now want to invest a larger amount again and then invest regularly in ETFs (possibly via a savings plan). Since the costs for purchases are different with one-off/dimension/% or lump sum, I am unsure whether I should continue to stay with Swissquote or move everything to Saxo if there are no more custody account fees from 2025, but I don't know how it compares with the trading costs with a large one-off purchase + then standing order?
Many thanks and best regards
Hello Mikki
Thank you for your question!
I can't take the choice away from you, you have to choose the you personally choose the most suitable provider yourself.
Where I can help you is with fees etc.
At Saxo, savings plans for many ETFs are free of charge. A large sum could also be invested via a one-off savings plan ... 🙂
So set once, execute, then exit or, for example, switch to a smaller amount.
However, Swissquote vs Saxo (or any other comparison) should not only be made on the basis of fees. Functionality, support and much more should be considered. After all, you want to feel safe and in good hands when you invest significant sums of money.
I hope this helps you.
Much success!
(No investment advice)
I have decided to use Saxo Autoinvestor with 80% in iShares Core MSCI World UCITS and 20% iShares Core SPI (CH) ETF for asset protection with low risk.
I make profits with more aggressive investments, this serves to secure profits.
my only concern is the falling dollar, which doesn't seem to want to find a bottom.
does my strategy with 80% Msci World and 20% SPI make sense or is it total rubbish?
Thank you for your comment Mani 😊
80 % MSCI World and 20 % SPI is basically a broadly diversified equity strategy with a slight home bias - so it's not nonsense. But: It is 100 % shares and in this sense is not a hedging strategy, but highly aggressive. Historically, this has clearly meant fluctuations, sometimes even -30 % or more.
The dollar: Important to keep this on your radar. The 20 % SPI specifically reduce your USD exposure.
The ETF combination is less important than whether you can mentally withstand the fluctuations. Not investment advice - just a few thoughts on categorisation.
Good day
My question about the table of Robo Advicers (ETF savings plan with predefined strategies) in particular about the provider VIAC and the statement in the disadvantages that a redemption commission of up to 1,25% applies.
I have asked VIAC about this and the statement from VIAC is that there is no redemption commission for the «INVEST» product. The redemption value of the VIAC funds corresponds to the NAV or the NAV of the underlying investment funds (depending on who they are from). Does the 1.25% in the table refer to the assumption that redemption commission is incurred on the investment funds of the VIAC providers, if so, what is this assumption based on?
Hello Daniel
Many thanks for the precise enquiry and the additional details from the factsheet!
I went through a few factsheets again and found some where issue charges are declared. However, these are lower than 1.5% (have the funds changed?) and are accompanied by the note: «* Issue and redemption fees are only charged in the event of an overhang. In the case of weekly net inflows, for example, redemptions are serviced without charges.»
I will correct the table immediately and adjust this point in the disadvantages.
Thanks for your feedback - such community input helps enormously to improve the quality of the comparisons!
Best regards
Eric
Hello Eric
Many thanks for the feedback. Maybe a follow-up question, what is the reason that VIAC has no rating in the table, or is it the disadvantages you mentioned or is there another reason?
Best regards
Daniel
You're welcome, Daniel!
Viac Invest has not been in existence long enough for the rating to be clear, but as far as we can tell it will be very good: It will be very good.
Hello Eric
How do you come up with over 1,000 ETFs at Swissquote? I only found about 100 ETFs eligible for savings plans. Maybe I have overlooked something.
Hello Ecko,
That's right. Available ETFs and savings plans are two different things. The latter are becoming more and more, I'll try to find out the exact, current number.
I asked the provider directly about the Swissquote ETF savings plan: There are currently 131 ETFs listed for savings plans. They are divided into the following categories (approximately):
- 🌍 World / Global: 30+
- 🇺🇸 USA / S&P 500 / Nasdaq etc.: approx. 25
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland / Swiss ETFs: approx. 10
- 🇪🇺 Europe (DAX, EURO STOXX etc.): approx. 10
- 🌱 Thematic ETFs (e.g. clean energy, blockchain, robotics): approx. 25
- 🌎 Emerging markets / Asia: approx. 10
- 🪙 Commodities / gold / silver / platinum: approx. 10
- 💸 Dividend ETFs: approx. 5
- 📈 Bonds: approx. 7
Hello Eric
Someone would first have to explain to me how a financial blogger can recommend a provider with excessive currency exchange fees. Or is it perhaps the commission? Greetings, Gerhard
Hello Gerhard,
PostFinance has the highest exchange rate fees in the article - I assume you mean this provider. I've never received a single centime of commission from PoFi since 2019 🙂 but the provider is so big that it's hard to avoid it in a comparison. My job here is to create a relevant comparison that is as simple as possible.
Would you prefer not to see large providers and therefore not to have a "yardstick"?
Hello Eric
Thanks for the great website!
On 22 December 2023 you recommended a webinar on hedging ETF on CHF.
Is a recording of this webinar available?
I would be very interested in an answer to Ramon's question.
Kind regards
Sam
Hello Sam,
No, this was not recorded for data protection reasons. But there will be webinars on this topic again in September. You can already on the waiting list heree enter.
Hello 🙂
I am currently looking to buy my first ETF.
I would like to buy an ETF in CHF that is global and has max 60% USA.
What do you think about :iShares MSCI ACWI UCITS ETF USD (Acc) /IE00B6R52259 on Saxo with SIX
Or do you have a better alternative? You can also invest in Yuh.
Hello Oliver
The ETF is low-cost, accumulating, domiciled in Ireland and very broadly based (but slightly above 60% USA).
So it looks attractive! But I can't give you any investment advice here 🙂
Hey Eric
It's really funny that you describe Swissquote's ETF savings plan as the best. Compared to SaxoBank (many ETFs from IShares and Amundi, completely FREE), there is not a single advantage in my opinion. Can you briefly explain why you didn't point out these advantages? Is there a reason?😃
LG Sandro
Hello Sandro
SQ is for the customers the most popular provider among online brokers ... SQ is the largest CH online broker on the market.
There is no single provider that is best for EVERYONE. Every investor has their own needs and options (starting capital and monthly volume for the savings plan), which is why I leave the choice up to each person and do not make ONE recommendation 🙂
Hey Sandro
In my opinion Saxo the better solution.
Free savings plan and good platform and it's super easy to set up children's sub-accounts.
What's more, there are no annual account fees.
What more could you want?
LG Kili
Dear Eric
I am very interested in the following topic. For example, if I save an MSCI World ETF in dollars via Swissquote and at some point there is an extremely large dollar crash (keyword: over-indebtedness of the USA) and the dollar has lost a lot of value in recent years anyway and does not have a rosy future. To what extent will the currency crash then have an impact on the capital saved? Will a large part of the capital be gone as a result of the currency crash? What are the consequences?
There are also ETFs where the currency is hedged. What are the consequences of such an ETF in the event of a dollar crash? Is an ETF where the currency is hedged the best solution?
Thank you in advance for your explanation.
Hello Ramon,
Thank you for your question and the interesting consideration. This is exactly what we will be covering in the free webinar in January.
Swiss investors should definitely be aware of the currency risk. In the FinanzFahrplan, we therefore structure strategies in such a way that they are not exposed to an unnecessarily high USD or euro risk.
Unfortunately, some people on social media recommend that you should simply buy an all-world ETF and your portfolio will be complete. This advice is generally not good and is risky for people in Switzerland!
So take a look at the free webinar in January or in FinanzFahrplan (in german) over.
Kind regards,
Eric
Hello Eric
Extremely great platform you have here. My compliments on what you have created here! I'm brutally enthusiastic! The added value you offer here is incredible.
A year ago, I opened a custody account with VZ with a somewhat naive attitude. The sole reason for doing so was so that I could save in an ETF with lower fees than a fund at my house bank. At that time, I didn't have too much knowledge about ETFs. In the meantime I have learnt more and would like to manage the ETF myself and benefit from lower fees, as these eat into the return. I would like to save in an MSCI World with Swissquote. The fees at VZ in addition to the TER are 0.55% flat rate. So all in all around 0.75% in total.
What about the exchange rate fee at Swissquote if the ETF is in dollars? Don't the exchange rate fees (up to 1%) eat up a lot of the return? The trading centre would be the Swiss stock exchange. It is not clear to me what effective costs are to be expected in addition to the TER if, for example, CHF 1,500 is invested quarterly in the iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF IE00B4L5Y983. The currency of the fund is the dollar. Could you please clarify this for me with an example calculation? The TER is 0.20%. What additional costs are there in addition to custody account fees at Swissquote? I am asking because I could theoretically deposit the same ETF with VZ, but the annual costs are 0.75%, i.e. TER plus the VZ flat fee of 0.55%. Perhaps the package at VZ is not too bad after all with all the additional costs from other platforms when these are added together?
Thank you very much for the clarification, which I greatly appreciate.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback, Ramon, I'm delighted! 🙂
It's a bit difficult to extrapolate here in the comments section. But let's look at it in simplified terms: Purchase costs including exchange rate fees are only due once (or when buying and selling). On the other hand, ongoing high fees in the form of a TER or otherwise, burden your investments for all future years.
An exchange rate fee on purchase is therefore quickly exceeded by ongoing annual fees.
The VZ or other robo advisor naturally also pay these fees and therefore charge them to you in the form of their ongoing fees. If a provider engages in frequent rebalancing, even higher costs are incurred.
You can see the total fees for your ETF purchase here in the Swissquote contribution 🙂
Kind regards,
Eric
What do you think of fianzen.net zero? You can also open an account there as a Swiss citizen. But I'm not sure about the taxes.
Hello Rolf,
Thanks for the tip! I didn't know about the offer or that Swiss people are also allowed to invest there. I'd be happy to take a closer look. If it is relevant, there will be a blog post about it 🙂
I am also very interested in this provider. However, the account is held in EUR. As a Swiss citizen, isn't that a bit of a risk?
This is definitely a risk that should not be underestimated. In the last 30 years, the euro has lost a good 43% in value against the franc. Accordingly, the currency risk should always be considered when investing abroad.
What is the current situation with YUH and the savings plans? Which ETF would you recommend there as a beginner with 300 to 500 francs per month?
For reasons of diversification, it makes sense to have the Global Blue Chips in CHF (MSCI World) or in USD (FTSE All World). If you want to take a factor into account, there is also the FTSE All World High Dividend or the MSCI World Momentum.
Are they available at Yuh?