Building an investment portfolio is one of the most fundamental steps toward achieving long-term financial goals. Whether you’re saving for retirement, accumulating wealth, or preserving capital, understanding how to construct and manage a portfolio is key to sustainable financial success.

The abolition of the imputed rental value (“Eigenmietwert”) in Switzerland marks a significant shift in the taxation of homeownership. Many homeowners are now wondering whether they should hurry to renovate before the reform takes effect.
However, this approach is not necessarily the most rational one — especially when comparing it with alternatives such as extra pension fund (BVG) contributions or stock market investments.

In the national referendum of September 28, 2025, Swiss voters approved a fundamental reform of the residential property taxation system. This change will significantly affect homeowners, property investors, and those planning to buy a home in the coming years.

At thinkIMPACT Consulting, we help our clients understand and strategically adapt to these shifts — ensuring that both private individuals and investors can maintain optimal financial and tax efficiency in the new environment.

Der Eigenmietwert hat nichts mit Fairness zwischen Mietern und Wohneigentümern zu tun.
Tatsächlich haben Wohneigentümer im Vergleich zu Mietern in derselben finanziellen Situation oft weniger verfügbares Einkommen – insbesondere dann, wenn sie nur geringe oder gar keine Hypothekarschulden mehr haben. Der Nachteil entsteht ausschließlich durch das Eigentum.

Aber woher kommt dieser Eigenmietwert überhaupt?

When people think about career success or financial stability, they often focus on education, networks, investments, and ambition. Yet one of the most important—and often underestimated—factors is the partner you choose to share your life with.

Your spouse does not just influence your personal happiness; their mindset, habits, and support play a decisive role in shaping your professional trajectory and long-term financial health.

In Switzerland, homeowners are often surprised to learn that they must pay taxes not only on their actual income but also on something called the Eigenmietwert, or “deemed rental value.” This is a unique feature of the Swiss tax system, a relic from World War I. It was introduced as a temporary measure to stabilize state finances — and more than 100 years later, we are still paying taxes on fictitious income that homeowners never actually receive.

Coming to the end of the year, employees start envisioning their bonuses and asking themselves whether it might be worth making a pension fund contribution to reduce their tax burden. The question is straightforward, but the answer is not. Should CHF 50'000 go into the BVG, or would it be wiser to invest the same amount in a stock portfolio?

I am a firm advocate of investing in a globally diversified equity portfolio. Within my own investments, the United States has always been overweighted – simply because it has historically been the most reliable market when it comes to returns.

However, when measured in Swiss francs (CHF), recent dollar weakness can easily test an investor’s patience.

For generations, saving was seen as the golden rule of financial security. In the 1980s, Swiss savings accounts offered returns of up to 6%—a reward for prudence and patience. Back then, the choice was clear: why take risks when the bank paid you handsomely for simply keeping your money safe?

But times have changed. Interest rates have been on a steady downward slide, even dipping into negative territory.

The earlier the wake-up call, the higher your chances of building enough wealth during your working years so that one day you can transform it into a portfolio of dividend-paying stocks – and live off the regular cash flow they provide.

But before you celebrate financial freedom too early, let’s look at the hidden downsides of dividends strategies and why timing is everything.

Selecting the right stocks and managing the risks of an investment portfolio have always been at the heart of professional asset management. It’s a complex process that requires both analytical rigor and strategic foresight. In today’s investment landscape, however, a new element is changing the game: artificial intelligence (AI). AI is becoming an essential partner to portfolio managers, offering speed, precision, and predictive capabilities that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

But before diving into how AI supports asset managers, it’s worth understanding how traditional stock selection and risk management work.

As the world of work continues to change, new pension models are gaining importance. One such model is the "time value account", also known as lifetime working time account (Zeitwertkonto), which is already established in Germany. In Switzerland, however, this model is still relatively unknown. This article explains the concept of "time value account", its advantages and disadvantages, and discusses whether it could be a suitable addition to Switzerland’s pension and retirement planning system.

Retirement marks the beginning of a new chapter – not only personally, but also financially. While the working years are about building wealth, retirement is about spending it wisely. A well-structured stage-based plan can help ensure that your financial resources support your lifestyle for decades to come.

Switzerland is an attractive destination for highly skilled foreign professionals and executives, offering excellent salaries, career opportunities, and an exceptional quality of life. However, when it comes to retirement, even well-paid professionals often find that staying in Switzerland is financially challenging. The combination of pension gaps, high living costs, and increasing tax burdens makes retiring in Switzerland a luxury that not everyone can afford.

Switzerland is an attractive destination for highly skilled foreign professionals and executives, offering excellent salaries, career opportunities, and an exceptional quality of life. However, when it comes to retirement, even well-paid professionals often find that staying in Switzerland is financially challenging. The combination of pension gaps, high living costs, and increasing tax burdens makes retiring in Switzerland a luxury that not everyone can afford.

Imagine having financial stability without good health or good health without financial stability. Both are equally important as the foundation for a fulfilled and prosperous life. Just as maintaining good health requires conscious effort and the right habits, building wealth and securing your financial future also demand strategic planning and informed decisions.

Wealthy individuals often assume that their financial success will guarantee a smooth and stress-free retirement. However, even those with substantial assets can make critical mistakes that jeopardize their long-term financial security and quality of life. In this course, we will explore the three biggest retirement mistakes wealthy people make and how to avoid them.

For many Swiss citizens, contributing to their pillar 3a account is an end-of-year task. December rolls around, and they check whether there’s any money left to set aside for tax-advantaged retirement savings. While this is better than not contributing at all, it is far from the optimal approach.