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Swiss franc as a getaway currency in a euro crash or euro crisis: Saving money in a crash

Saving money in Crash:
You want to hold Swiss Francs in case of a Euro Crash?

The question of whether there will be a crash is superfluous. Rather, the question of WHEN there will be a crash makes sense. This is not pessimism and we are not predicting stock market prices. But an intelligent investor deals with the matter and ensures a correct "asset allocation" to be prepared in the event of a correction in the stock market. We would therefore like to use the quote from Warren Buffett as an introduction: The stock market is an excellent means of transferring money from the impatient to the patient

In this article, we will of course look at how Buffett prepares for a crash. We will also look at the Security of the Swiss franc in a euro crash and the franc as a refuge currency. Whether gold or even cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are safe assets in a financial crisis is also examined. If you're still missing something, let us know in the comments! 

Is there a financial crash in Switzerland?

Nobody likes crash prophets and we don't want to stir up fear here. So one thing in advance: let your blood pressure drop again, because by the end of the article you'll know how you can financial capacity no matter what the next years and decades may bring. 

Historically speaking, a recession is long overdue and there are more than enough other reasons for a correction on the stock market. However, we do not want to predict a financial crash in Switzerland in 2023. That there will always be stronger downturns on the financial market in the future is as certain as the Amen in the Church. In this article we will discuss how you can best prepare yourself and ideally even take advantage of a crash.

Our financial tips 2024

"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".

We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:

How to protect against a financial crisis?

Those who are prepared for a financial crisis need not fear it, but can even look forward to it. Because the art of investing is to be greedy when others are cautious and to be cautious when others are greedy. 

Those who allow themselves to be infected by strong euphoria have to pay expensive prices for their investments and are not infrequently punished with a subsequent price collapse. 

But when everyone is shocked and frightened by the crisis and wants to sell their investments at any price, the calm, long-term investor can go shopping for bargains at the "clearance sale". To be prepared, these basic rules make sense:

  • Keeping debts as low as possiblein order to protect themselves from a financial crisis. After all, if deflation occurs, the real interest burden will increase and it will then be difficult to afford highly leveraged properties, for example. 
  • In order to benefit from the favourable prices, i.e. to make cheap but very lucrative long-term investments, you must be solventLiquidity means having quickly available funds available. However, if you want to save money in a crash, even cash is not an absolute guarantee for you, as a crash can happen with a euro or Swiss franc and the purchasing power of the currency decreases dramatically. Different currencies on different accounts is therefore very important. To be protected in the event of a banking crisis, keep your cash holdings per bank below CHF 100,000, i.e. within the deposit protection scheme.
  • They may not always be liquid, but in a financial crisis it always makes sense to hold material assets. Here, however, you should not buy blindly, but bring in real knowledge. Do you have a particularly refined palate and are you interested in wines? Then this would be a possible investment for you against a financial crisis. Luxury watches such as Rolex or Audemars Piguet, as well as vintage cars or works of art, can be tangible assets with a stable value. 
  • Precious metals such as gold or silver are literally a blessing in a crash. However, should an extreme crash occur, gold certificates or ETF's should not be used. It is questionable whether the issuers of securities are really still liquid in the crash, so we clearly recommend physical precious metal. Whether this is to be stored in the safe deposit box or under the pillow is something everyone has to decide for themselves. The prices of precious metals are as far as possible FIAT Currencies and are therefore seen by many as a safe haven in crises. The prices
  • Human Capital maximize to generate new sources of income in the event of a crisis. So invest time and resources in your further education in order to be able to react flexibly to changes on the job market. Learning a new language or programming not only keeps your mind fit, but can even secure your existence. The fact that you are reading this already shows that you are advancing your financial education - congratulations!

Are Swiss Francs Really Useful in a Euro Crash?

For citizens of the Eurozone, the question is whether the Swiss franc is safe as a refuge currency in a euro crisis. For the Swiss, the question is whether the franc would also go down if the euro fell. Let's take a look at how the franc is currently coupled to the euro and how the Swiss National Bank (SNB) is set up:

  • The SNB invests in the foreign exchange market mainly in euros and US dollars. As shown in the chart, the euro share is declining in percentage terms year after year, but it is still immense
List of SNB currencies Euro crisis Swiss francs

To Doom could, in fact, change the orientation of the Swiss franc to the euro, which the SNB (Swiss National Bank) imposed. The aim was to avoid a further appreciation of the franc after 2008 in order to revive the Swiss economy. To this end, the SNB invested CHF 450 billion in the euro and introduced a negative interest rate of -0.75%. More than 90% of the balance sheet is therefore currently invested in foreign currency investmentswhich puts you at enormous risk. If, for example, the US dollar or the euro were to depreciate or even fall, the SNB would start to fluctuate. Saving money in a Swiss franc crash is no longer recommended since this new financial policy has been in place since 2008

SNB balance sheet total 2023 and historical development

SNB balance sheet National Bank UBS rescue Credit Suisse rescue SNB balance sheet total CS current
SNB balance sheet total from 1996 - 2023. Source data: SNB
  • In addition to foreign exchange, broad diversified in stocks invested. The SNB can be praised for this, especially when one relies heavily on trust in FAANG Shares nurtures. Because the SNB is the largest investor in Apple with 19 million shares and even holds more Facebook shares than Zuckerberg himself!

 

The SNB's foreign exchange and equity investments are debatable, but the SNB must also be praised. For example, for the fact that it came out of the UBS bank bailout during the last financial crisis in a positive light. But whether such a peg to the euro can remain unscathed in the long term remains to be seen.

However, if you keep the majority of your income in Swiss francs, you should be aware of this fact. Whether you hedge your assets in gold or other investments depends on your personal risk tolerance. Recommendations for asset allocation vary depending on age, personal goals and risk tolerance.

Current correction on the financial market

Except for a small update, the this article will be published in December 2019.

A Corona Pandemic was of course just as unpredictable as the takeover of the Credit Suisse by UBS, but a stock market correction does. Your portfolio should therefore always austomized to your personal circumstances be

Those who had not maintained their asset allocation should not now react hastily and make mistakes. There are several scenarios for the further course of the crisis and the financial markets! We recommend to stay calm, to think about it and to act rationally only after you have gained an overview.

Make sure that your Return Risk Ratio is within the scope.

Conclusion

Reviews and crashes are simply part of the financial market. You don't have to be paranoid about it, but if you're unprepared, it's your own fault. Since 2008, the Swiss National Bank has been pursuing a new currency strategy and investing heavily in foreign currencies and strongly in the euro. If you want to protect yourself against a euro crisis and save your money in a crash, you should not exclusively bet on the Swiss franc. After all, the peg to the euro could also put pressure on the franc in such a scenario. As always: Not to put all your eggs in one basket. Physical gold, different currencies, Bonds or tangible assets can help to spread the risk.

Studies clearly show that one should not time the market. So the best way to drive is to broadly diversified and regularly invested in the index. Then you can sleep peacefully, don't have to be afraid of a crash and take a good return with you. You can find out how this works in this article.

 

Our financial tips 2024

"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".

We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:

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