An investment fund is a basket of financial securities (usually stocks and bonds, and sometimes shares in other funds), and you can buy one or more shares in this basket.
There are many investment funds in Switzerland. There are equity (stock) funds, bond funds, and real estate funds, as well as asset allocation funds that invest in a mix of securities adapted to different investor profiles. Asset allocation funds are generally composed of investments in various asset classes, covering a range of regions and sectors. By diversifying in this way, you are exposed to less risk than if you invested in just one company or asset class. You can also choose funds based on their asset management style or their objective – such as to include ESG criteria in investment decisions. Investment funds are created and managed by specialists and sold through financial institutions that have been approved by the financial market supervisory authority.
Investment funds offer you a way to make your money work for you, in keeping with a widely recognized principle: the more risk you are willing to take on, the higher the potential return. Depending on the economic climate, your investor profile, and your investment horizon, the return on your investment may exceed the amount of interest that the same amount of money would earn in a savings account.
You don’t need to have a lot of money to start investing. What’s important is your savings capacity, which is how much money you can comfortably put away on a regular basis, and your investment horizon, which is how many years your money will work for you.
For as little as CHF 100 per month, you can invest in one of our BCV asset allocation funds. All you need to do is establish your investor profile, which will direct you towards the right fund for your needs, and select the amount you want to invest each month. We’ll take care of the rest. And with this kind of investment, you won’t even have to pay any transaction fees.
In terms of investment horizon, BCV Start Invest funds are an attractive option if you can keep your money invested for five or more years.
The value of a fund’s assets fluctuates depending on the financial markets. However, these swings can be limited in several ways. First, professionally managed funds spread risk across various asset classes, meaning that you won’t be putting all your eggs in one basket. Second, having a longer investment horizon normally allows you to ride out and eventually offset periods of market decline.
Before investing with us, you’ll speak with one of our advisors to determine your investor profile. To work out which investment fund is right for you, he or she will ask you key questions, such as:
What is your overall financial situation (income, savings, expenses, planned purchases in the short and medium term, dependents, etc.)? How much money do you have to invest? What is your investment horizon? How would you react if your investments lost value? What are your preferences in the area of socially responsible investing?
Based on your answers to these questions, you will discuss together what investment options might be right for you.
That depends on your financial situation and any major plans you may have. If you can set aside some money each month – for example, CHF 100 – your best option is to invest it in a Start Invest savings plan (see question 3 above). If you have a lump sum that you can invest in one go without affecting your day-to-day finances, CHF 10,000 is a good place to start.
Remember: it is important to meet with a banking advisor to discuss your personal situation and standard of living.
Yes, you can. You can select funds that incorporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their investment decisions. That reduces financial and reputational risk while taking advantage of environmental and social investment opportunities. And it has a positive impact on a fund’s risk-adjusted return. At BCV, we offer a specific range of ESG funds. You should keep in mind, however, that screening investments based on ESG criteria doesn’t necessarily mean that all activities potentially detrimental to the environment or society are excluded. Ask your banking advisor for further information.
