Blog

Imagine the following scenario: the top decision makers at a central bank are sitting around the boardroom table in their suits wondering whether to press the magic interest rate button to stimulate the economy. The question they are asking themselves is something like this: “Should we be giving the economy a cup of regular coffee, or does it need a double espresso?” And when benchmark interest rates come down, hopes rise that companies and consumers will soon be spending happily once again and gross domestic product will go up.

Interview between Luca Carrozzo and the Swiss Association of Wealth Managers.

Every month we publish our opinion on the macroeconomic environment.

Every month we publish our opinion on the macroeconomic environment.

After a long period of negative interest rates and rising inflation, central banks have hiked interest rates. But how did we get to this turning point, what impact will it have on the global economy and what does the future hold? Find out more in our blog.

Saving for their old age is one of the things that worries Swiss people the most. Not just the more senior members of the population either; younger ones like Generation Z are equally concerned. Because sooner or later, it is the younger generations that will be carrying the Swiss retirement system on their shoulders. And the system is not as stable as it used to be. So if you want to be as comfortably off as possible in the future, you need to deal with the issue of saving for your retirement at an early stage. This blog post will explain what you need to know about the Swiss three-pillar system and how you can benefit from it as much as possible in future.

At a time when stock market indices all over the world are hitting new highs, the Swiss market is standing out for its remarkable restraint. The DAX, CAC 40, DJII and S&P500 have all been putting in impressive performances and setting new records, but the Swiss equity market is stuck some 10% below its all-time high at the end of 2021. This raises questions, especially as the Swiss franc has appreciated strongly against the dollar and the euro, and as major stocks like Roche and Nestlé show signs of weakness. In our interview with Chief Investment Officer Luca Carrozzo we investigate the reasons behind the poor performance of the Swiss market, discuss the role of the strong franc and consider whether the Swiss National Bank (SNB) needs to cut interest rates to get the equity markets going again. Find out why Swiss securities are out of favour at the moment and what this means for investors.

Voluntary 3a retirement savings are a key part of the Swiss pension system. They allow us to maintain our accustomed standard of living and keep up quality of life in our old age. But who actually determines how much we can pay in to pillar 3 every year? This post looks at how the annual maximum contribution is calculated, how often it changes and when it’s the best time to contribute.

The sooner you pay into pillar 3a, the more you profit later. Pillar 3a is worth it, regardless of the size of the annual contributions. The fact that payments are regular is crucial and each franc contributed is worthwhile. Not just because every franc is tax-deductible, but also because the effect of compound interest ensures that your savings grow each year without you having to do anything.

On 1 January 2023, Luca Carrozzo became the new Chief Investment Officer of Bank CIC, making him responsible for investment strategy. It’s time to take a look at the markets with him.

When it comes to saving, choosing the right investment matters. This article looks at two popular ways of investing: term deposits and savings accounts. Find out more and take a well-informed decision in order to make the most of your savings potential.

Are you planning renovation work in the garden of the home you own? Would you like to withdraw money from your retirement savings to do so? This article explains how you can use your pillar 3a savings to renovate residential property.