Recommendations
(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links)
Here are some recommendations for the products I use and like. I know that many of these services can be helpful to you too! These are only services I use or services I would use myself.
The Best Foreign Broker
You must choose a broker if you want to invest in shares or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). There are many brokers available. It is essential to make a good choice regarding the broker. You have two choices: either you go with the best foreign broker or with the best Swiss broker.
You should use a foreign broker to minimize fees and access the best ETFs. You will save a lot on fees.
The broker you need to buy stocks and ETFs reliably and at extremely affordable prices. Trade U.S. stocks for as little as 0.5 USD!
- Extremely affordable
- Wide range of investing instruments
Interactive Brokers is the broker I am using. IB is a well-known broker from the United States, and they have an excellent reputation. Moreover, they have very cheap fees and have an incredible offer of products to invest in. If you are interested, I wrote a post about how to open an Interactive Brokers account.
The Best Swiss Broker
Foreign brokers are cheaper, but many people prefer Swiss brokers.
Start investing with a Swiss broker at incredible fees! Start trading with Saxo Bank and get 200 CHF in trading credits.
- Low currency conversion fee
- Swiss broker
Currently, Saxo Bank is the best Swiss broker for most investors. In the last few years, they have improved their prices considerably and are really affordable as far as Swiss brokers go. Indeed, they have no more custody fees and have reduced their transaction fees and currency conversion fees. They are also available on multiple platforms and devices.
Furthermore, they have been here for a while and are well-established. This broker is regulated by FINMA and established in Switzerland since 2008. You can read my review of Saxo Bank for more information.
Banks
WIR Bank Top is an excellent banking package without fees from a reputable bank.
Use our link to receive 50 CHF when you open an account.
- Interbank exchange rate
Everybody needs a bank account! But there is no need to pay expensive fees for this account. You can have a free account with WIR Bank Top. WIR Bank Top is a great account by a bank with a long reputation. It is currently our main joint account. For further information, you can read our WIR Bank Top review.
For more information on banks, learn about the Best Swiss Banks.
The Best Third Pillar
Having a good third pillar in Switzerland is essential. You will keep your third pillar for a long time, making it the perfect account to be invested in. Many third pillars are quite expensive, so, you have to be careful.
Finpension 3a is the best third pillar in Switzerland.
Use the FEYKV5 code to get a fee credit of 25 CHF!
- Invest 99% in stocks
I recommend Finpension 3a as the best third pillar for long-term investing. They have the best prices in Switzerland and allow you to invest up to 99% in stocks. If you want to multiply your returns on your third pillar, this is the best choice.
Robo-advisor
If you do not want to invest yourself or are not ready to do so, you can consider Robo-advisors.
An excellent and innovative Robo-advisor by Finpension.
- Most tax-efficient Robo-advisor
- Access to private markets
Finpension Invest is a very efficient Robo-advisor, with excellent fees and a high level of customization. Finpension is an experienced company, already providing the best third pillar. With Finpension Invest, they propose an excellent Robo-advisor with some unique features. To learn more, read my Finpension Invest Review.
Findependent is a very affordable Robo-advisor with a focus on sustainable investments. Invest your money easily! Get 20CHF in your account with code PoorSwiss.
- Excellent fees
Findependent is a nice Robo-advisor in Switzerland. It has been here for a few years and is very affordable. And the fees can go do down even more if you have large balances. You can invest automatically with this service. If you want to learn more, you can read our review of Findependent.
TrueWealth is an excellent Swiss robo-advisor with very affordable prices, making it a great robo-advisor for serious investors.
Use code SWISS100 to receive up to 100 CHF in fee credits.
- Very customizable
True Wealth is among the most affordable Robo-advisors available in Switzerland. You can invest very aggressively in the stock market with great control. You can read my review of True Wealth for more information. However, they have large minimums and require some prior knowledge. So, if you are a total beginner or want to start with lower amounts, you may want to check out another one.
If you are not ready to invest alone, investing with Robo-advisors is a good idea.
Vested Benefits Accounts
Finpension Vested Benefits is the best account in Switzerland.
Use the FEYKV5 code to get 25 CHF in your account!
- Invest 99% in stocks
In some cases in Switzerland, you can transfer your retirement assets to a vested benefits account. If you are in that case, you want to use the best vested benefits account available to you. Currently, the best account is offered by Finpension Vested Benefits. You can have a large allocation to stocks and invest at very low fees!
Credit Cards
A great Swiss credit card with excellent cashback (up to 1%!), very flexible, and with a good mobile application.
- No yearly fee
- 1% cashback in three shops
Using a good credit card is important. You should use a credit card without an annual fee. Additionally, you should then try to maximize your cash back. Currently, the best credit card is the Certo One credit card. You can read my article about the best credit cards in Switzerland.
The best platform to start investing in crypto
If you aim to invest in cryptocurrencies, you will need access to the crypto exchanges. For that, you require a cryptocurrency platform. The most important factor (before fees) for cryptocurrencies, is security.
SwissBorg is a Swiss cryptocurrency platform to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. It offers all the features you need to start investing in crypto.
Use code thepoorswiss up to 7 CHF in BTC (or gamble it for up to 50 CHF)!
- Transparent pricing
Swissborg is an excellent cryptocurrency platform, from Switzerland. It is not always the cheapest platform available, but it offers great value for money. Additionally, they offer many features and a high level of security. We are currently using this platform to invest a percentage of the spare cash of our company.
Side hustles
Ampuls is a great online survey platform where you can answer surveys to make some extra money!
One simple way to get some extra money is to answer surveys online. For that, I recommend using Ampuls. They are the best services I have found, and I have used them to generate several hundred CHF. For more details, I have an article about more options for online surveys.
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