Best digital wealth managers in Switzerland 2026

It is no secret that leaving your money in a savings account is not a good long-term strategy. There are different ways to put your savings to work properly. One of those options is working with a wealth manager. For many of us though, the term "wealth management" can feel big and opaque. So in this article we are going to look at how wealth management actually works, what you should watch out for, and who it is really suitable for.

What is a wealth manager?

The term wealth manager is fairly self-explanatory. A wealth manager is a person or company that manages the assets of their clients. They take the client's investment preferences into account but can - depending on the mandate - make investment decisions independently. Wealth management therefore goes beyond advice and takes on actual responsibility for your investments.

With that level of responsibility come some serious regulatory requirements. In Switzerland, wealth managers must hold a FINMA licence and meet specific conditions before they can operate in this field.

How does a wealth manager differ from a bank?

Wealth management can happen either through private banking or through an independent manager who is not affiliated with any bank.

Private banking refers to the management of your investments by a bank. This service is offered by private banks as well as universal and retail banks. It typically comes with very high costs and high minimum investment amounts - often you need somewhere between half a million and a million francs for it to make sense.

When you work directly with a bank, your money sits in the bank's custody and is managed and invested by them. The bank makes the investment decisions on your behalf.

Independent wealth managers, on the other hand, are not affiliated with any bank. Their work is of course still connected to banks since they manage client money that is held at a bank - but the key difference is that while the money sits at the bank, the investment decisions are made by the wealth manager.

In both cases you sign a wealth management mandate as a client, giving the bank or the wealth manager the authority to make decisions about your money.

Switzerland has around 2,000 independent wealth managers. Their work must be officially licensed by the state.

The clear advantage of an independent wealth manager is that they have no corporate interests to serve. What does that mean in practice? They can choose products freely without being tied to in-house products or sales targets.

In both cases clients typically have access to a wide range of investment strategies - from highly diversified to very niche and specific. Your money might be invested in ETFs and funds, but also in individual stocks, private equity, bonds and much more. The range of strategies varies depending on the bank or wealth manager and is often also linked to the amount being invested.

How does a digital wealth manager differ from a Robo Advisor?

If you are exploring the topic of wealth management you will almost certainly come across the term Robo Advisor. Robo advisors are digital wealth managers that operate based on algorithms. The main difference from an independent wealth manager is that the investment process is more or less fully automated. These investments typically focus on ETFs, sometimes also individual stocks or private equity through a fund.

Another key difference between Robo Advisor and traditional wealth management is the minimum investment amount. Robo advisors are accessible even with smaller amounts. So if you want to dip your toes into the world of wealth management for the first time, a Robo Ddvisor is a good place to start.

How does a wealth manager differ from an online broker?

The difference between a wealth manager and an online broker is significant. They are fundamentally different in what they do. While a wealth manager makes independent decisions about your money, an online broker is more of an intermediary.

An online broker simply provides you with the trading platform where you can buy and sell securities. They do not give you personal recommendations and they do not take any responsibility for your financial decisions. Working with an online broker is therefore best suited to independent investors who want to stay in full control of their own portfolio. 

Check out our comprehensive online broker overview here.

Wealth managers in Switzerland: an overview

Because there are so many wealth management providers in Switzerland - all targeting different client groups - we have focused on two carefully selected favourites: Everon and Alpian.

Why these two?

• Both have a low minimum investment, a digital onboarding process, a mobile app, and compared to the market average a competitive management fee of 1.32%.
• Both also offer additional services such as 3a, vested benefits accounts, a bank account and a card.

Choosing a wealth manager depends on many criteria: the amount you are investing, costs, available strategies, whether you prefer online or in-person service, and additional offerings such as 3a, vested benefits and banking options like cards and accounts.

If you are actively looking for a wealth manager and would like help with the search, you can contact FinGuide (minimum investment of CHF 500'000.-). For a fee they will gather suitable offers on your behalf. Alternatively you can run a cost comparison on Economico.ch.

From what level of assets does a wealth manager make sense?

In theory, working with a wealth manager is possible from as little as CHF 30'000.- for example with Everon or Alpian. In practice though, interest in wealth management tends to come from clients with CHF 500'000.- or more. Wealth management comes with fees that need to be weighed against your situation and income.

Typical wealth management clients are heirs and people aged 45 and over. But also people working in consulting who face many investment restrictions.

I recommend a wealth manager to anyone with assets of CHF 500'000.- or more who wants a personal point of contact.

Similar to working with a bank, you can ask your wealth manager individual questions and receive personal support. Your risk appetite, financial goals and portfolio management are all taken into account. Wealth management is particularly suited to those who want to invest in a more sophisticated way - including more exclusive asset classes such as private equity, direct investments in unlisted companies, hedge funds and crypto investments.

What is the difference between an advisory mandate and a wealth management mandate?

A wealth management mandate is granted by the client to the wealth manager and gives them full authority to make investment decisions. The defining feature of a discretionary mandate is that the wealth manager can implement decisions independently - while staying within the agreed strategies and respecting the client's agreed risk tolerance.

An advisory mandate on the other hand is limited to recommendations from a financial expert. The client makes all investment decisions themselves. The advisor can also execute transactions but only with the client's explicit approval.

Both banks and wealth managers offer advisory mandates. They are generally cheaper than discretionary mandates, although historically the average performance of discretionary mandates has been better.

Some banks also offer an execution-only option, similar to a broker, where they simply execute your own investment decisions without any advice.

Conclusion

When it comes to wealth management there are various options available. The key question is how involved you want to be in your own investments - or whether you want to hand the whole thing (or part of it) over to a professional.