Investing money in Switzerland - What options are there?

Do you want to invest your money in Switzerland but don't know which option is right for you? You're not alone. Many people know that inflation is higher than the interest on a savings account. But working through investment strategies and product comparisons in the evening after work? Hardly anyone wants to do that.

The biggest mistake in investing is not choosing the wrong investment. The biggest mistake is, not at all to invest. Anyone who wants to invest their money instead of leaving it in an account is therefore making a smart decision.

From traditional wealth management to robo-advisors: we show you what options are available in Switzerland, what they cost and which solution suits your situation.

Who makes money for make any sense at all throughout Switzerland?

Not everyone has to do everything themselves. Having your money invested is the right choice if you recognise yourself in one of these situations:

You have little time professionally and privately, to look after your portfolio on a regular basis.
You have No interest, to look after shares and funds yourself.
You feel Unsure about investment decisions and don't want to invest based on a gut feeling.
You would like a Professional strategy, that suits your life situation.

Leaving it on does not mean giving up control. It means getting a professional by your side to do the work while you set the direction.

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The 4 ways to invest your money in Switzerland

In Switzerland, you basically have four options for managing your assets. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Classic asset management at the bank

UBS, ZKB, Raiffeisen and Co. This is the way most people know: Your bank sees that you have money in your account, calls you and suggests an investment solution. You get an advisor in the branch who takes care of your portfolio. Sounds convenient. The problem: the fees are often between 1% and 2% per year, and in-house products are often used in which the bank makes a profit. This can lead to conflicts of interest, as the «best» recommendation is not always the best one for you.

Robo-Advisors

So-called robo-advisors invest your money automatically in broadly diversified funds. Depending on the provider, the fees are between 0.25% and 0.75% per year, and you can sometimes start from as little as CHF 500. Most providers offer support via chat or telephone if you have any questions. What is missing is proactive, personalised advice as an integral part of the process. You can find a detailed comparison in our Robo-Advisor Switzerland comparison.

Digital asset management with personalised advice

A newer category that combines the best of both worlds: digital convenience and personalised advice. Alpian describes itself as the first purely digital Private bank Switzerland with its own FINMA banking licence. It is backed by the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of the largest European banking groups, which creates an unusual amount of stability and trust for a young company.

Three mandates to choose from: «Essentials» from CHF 2,000 to get started, ’Managed« from CHF 30,000 with a fully personalised portfolio, and »Guided’ from CHF 10,000 as an advisory mandate for investors who want to make their own decisions.
Fees of 0.50-0.75% per year. In the same range as some robo-advisors, but with a personal contact person. And significantly cheaper than with a traditional bank (1-2%).
Open Architecture: Alpian is not tied to proprietary products and favours independently selected ETFs. All portfolios are in CHF hedged.
Your money is invested in so-called ETFs. These are broadly diversified funds that invest cost-effectively in hundreds of companies at the same time. If desired, sustainability is also taken into account (ESG criteria).

Independent asset managers

For larger assets from CHF 250,000 to 500,000, there are independent asset managers (AAMs) that are not tied to bank products. They offer maximum individualisation, but are neither accessible nor practical for smaller amounts. Good to know: Until 2023, independent asset managers were barely regulated in Switzerland. Only with the new Financial Institutions Act (FinIA) are they now also subject to FINMA supervision.

Asset management Switzerland in comparison: How much does it cost to have money invested?

To help you compare the options at a glance, we have summarised the most important criteria in an overview.

	Class. VV (Bank)	Robo-Advisors	Digital VV + consulting (e.g. Alpian)	Independent VV
Minimum amount	Mostly CHF 50,000-250,000	CHF 500-5’000	£2,000	CHF 250,000+
Fees per annum.	1.0-2.0%	0.25-0.75%	0.50-0.75%	0.5-1.5%
Personalised advice	Yes (branch)	No or minimal	Yes (Video/Chat in App)	Yes
investment products	Often in-house (expensive)	ETFs/index funds	ETFs/index funds	Independent
Regulation	FINMA	FINMA	FINMA	FINMA
Suitable for	Wealthy investors	Self-employed savers	If you want advice, but digitally	Large assets

Important for the fees: Make sure that the stated fee is really «all-in». Many providers add product costs (TER of the funds) and custody account fees in addition to the management fee. Stamp duty on securities transactions is always payable in addition as a federal tax.

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5 criteria you should pay attention to

Before you decide on a solution, it's worth checking these five points:

Fee transparency: Is there an all-in fee or are there hidden costs? Ask specifically about product costs and transaction fees.
Minimum investment: How much do you need to bring with you? Digital providers often start at CHF 500 to 2,000.
Personalised advice: Is an algorithm enough for you or do you want to reach a human when you have questions? This can make all the difference, especially in turbulent market phases.
investment strategy: Does the provider rely on passive ETFs (cheaper, scientifically based) or actively managed funds (more expensive, rarely better)?
Regulation and security: Is the provider FINMA-regulated? Account balances in Switzerland up to CHF 100,000 are regulated by the Deposit protection protected. Securities belong to you as separate assets and are not part of any bankruptcy estate.

Our experience with Alpian

To give you an idea of what digital asset management feels like in practice, here is a concrete example: We have Alpian tested in detail. What particularly struck us was that the account opening process was completely digital and was completed in just a few minutes. No paperwork, no waiting time for appointment confirmations.

We were particularly surprised by the personalised advice. Although Alpian is a digital bank, the service felt very personal. The wealth advisors are available on weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., speak German, English, Italian and French, and video consultation appointments can be booked directly in the app. Once, when we had simply forgotten our appointment, the advisor called on his own initiative and asked whether we would like to continue the call on the phone or via video in the app. During the call, we were able to discuss our risk profile and investment proposal together directly in the app.

The account itself has been fee-free since the end of 2024 and comes with a multi-currency account (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP) under a single IBAN. The exchange rates are among the best in Switzerland with a premium from 0.2%. Investments are made in broadly diversified funds, with sustainability criteria also being taken into account on request. This is an important decision criterion for many investors.

You can find all the details in our detailed Alpian Bank experience report.

A comparison of options for investing money throughout Switzerland

The right choice depends on your personal situation:

Do you have a smaller budget and just want to get started? A robo-advisor is a good place to start. Take a look at our Robo-Advisor comparison
Do you want personalised advice, but independent of your bank? Then digital asset management with advice like Alpian is the sweet spot.
Do you have a large fortune and are looking for all-round support? Traditional asset management from your bank or an independent asset manager can be useful here. Even if asset management costs are not entirely favourable throughout Switzerland, this approach can make sense for larger assets.

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Conclusion: It's better to hand over than to postpone

Not investing at all is the most expensive mistake. Having money invested can be slightly more expensive than doing it yourself with a Broker but it doesn't have to be. And it doesn't matter whether it's a robo-advisor, digital private bank or traditional asset management: The best solution is the one you actually start with.

For most of our readers with assets of between CHF 5,000 and CHF 100,000, digital solutions are the most sensible way to get started: low fees, low entry barriers and, with providers such as Alpian Even personal advice. If you want to take the first step, you can get started in just a few minutes.

Transparency notice: This article was created in collaboration with Alpian. Our opinion remains independent. You can find out more about our principles here.

Frequently asked questions about investing money in Switzerland

From what amount can I have my money invested throughout Switzerland?

With robo-advisors from CHF 500, with digital asset managers such as Alpian from CHF 2,000. With traditional banks, the minimum amount varies depending on the offering.

What does it cost to have your money managed?

If you want to have your money invested professionally, you will see the following cost range in Switzerland: Between 0.25% (cheapest robo-advisors) and 2% (traditional bank) per year. Depending on the provider, there are also product costs for the funds used and custody account fees. Stamp duty is always added as a federal tax. A transparent all-in fee, as with Alpian (0.50-0.75%), makes it easier to plan costs.

Having money invested or doing it yourself - which is better?

That depends on your situation. If you are interested in financial markets and can invest time on a regular basis, it is often cheaper to have your own custody account. If you don't want to take an active interest or are unsure about the best way to invest money in Switzerland, you are better off with a professional solution. The biggest mistake is not to invest at all out of uncertainty.

Is my money safe with a digital provider?

Yes, provided the provider is FINMA-regulated. Account balances up to CHF 100,000 are protected by the Swiss Deposit protection protected. Your securities belong to you as special assets and are also protected in the event of bankruptcy.

What is the difference between a robo-advisor and an asset manager?

A robo-advisor invests automatically according to an algorithm, usually without a personal contact person. Asset management (also digital) also offers personalised advice and more individual strategies.

So both are suitable for investing money throughout Switzerland and you can use our article to check which is better suited to you.

What is a digital private bank in Switzerland?

A digital private bank combines the personalised advice of a traditional private bank with the convenience of an app. In Switzerland, Alpian is the best-known provider in this category: FINMA-licensed, with personal wealth advisors and a starting point of CHF 2,000 instead of the usual CHF 250,000+.

Can I access my money at any time?

Yes, with most providers. At Alpian, for example, it takes three working days to close a portfolio. Check with your provider in advance whether there are any minimum holding periods or cancellation periods.

What does daily rebalancing mean?

Some providers such as Alpian automatically adjust your portfolio on a daily basis so that it always matches your target strategy. This can be an advantage, especially in volatile market phases. This happens much less frequently with most traditional asset management companies.

How can I have my assets managed in Switzerland?

You can have your money invested via a robo-advisor, a digital private bank, a traditional banking solution or an independent asset manager. Which option suits you best depends on your budget, your need for personalised advice and your experience. You can find all the details in our comparison above.

About the author

Eric is the founder of Schwiizerfranke.com and certified IAF wealth advisor. Since 2019, he has been helping Swiss citizens to organise their finances comprehensibly, independently and efficiently.

📌 Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised investment advice.

One Response

Margarete says:

27. March 2026 at 7:30

Merci for the contribution!
I feel the same way. After years with my bank, I want to get away from it. Even though I read your ETF newsletters, with my little knowledge I would rather give my savings to a (reasonably priced) professional. This article has confirmed my decision. Thank you very much!

Reply

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Investing money in Switzerland - What options are there?

Table of contents

Who makes money for make any sense at all throughout Switzerland?

Top recommendations for 2026

The 4 ways to invest your money in Switzerland

Classic asset management at the bank

Robo-Advisors

Digital asset management with personalised advice

Independent asset managers

Asset management Switzerland in comparison: How much does it cost to have money invested?

Our financial tips for 2026

5 criteria you should pay attention to

Our experience with Alpian

A comparison of options for investing money throughout Switzerland

Our financial tips for 2026

Conclusion: It's better to hand over than to postpone

Frequently asked questions about investing money in Switzerland

From what amount can I have my money invested throughout Switzerland?

What does it cost to have your money managed?

Having money invested or doing it yourself - which is better?

Is my money safe with a digital provider?

What is the difference between a robo-advisor and an asset manager?

What is a digital private bank in Switzerland?

Can I access my money at any time?

What does daily rebalancing mean?

How can I have my assets managed in Switzerland?

About the author

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