ZHAW Wealth Management Blog

A Blog of the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

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PE Performance

Private Equity for Wealth Management Clients: Does the Case Still Hold?

PE has become a popular investment choice for wealthy clients seeking higher returns beyond public markets. A recent Harvard Business School publication, “Does the Case for Private Equity Still Hold?”, offers a cautiously positive outlook on PE, despite its challenges like market saturation and high fees.

As a former PE executive myself, I find that PE still offers unique opportunities for wealth management, particularly through exclusive investments. However, wealth management banks must carefully select PE offerings, focusing on diversified portfolios and transparent fee structures to ensure sustainable value for (U)HNWI clients.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Investing, Strategy

From Financial Literacy To Financial Well-Being: Enhancing Wealth Management

For wealth management banks, the apparent correlation between financial literacy and financial well-being represents not just a corporate responsibility but a strategic business opportunity. By integrating financial literacy into their many services, wealth management banks may build more robust and intimate client relationships, develop more personalized products and services, and differentiate themselves from their peers in a competitive market.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Investing, Strategy

ZHAW Wealth Management Podcast #1: Simon Wyss, Privatbank Von Graffenried AG

In diesem exklusiven Interview mit Simon Wyss, dem Vorsitzenden der Geschäftsleitung der Berner Privatbank Von Graffenried AG, beleuchten wir die herausragenden Leistungen der Bank, die sie an die Spitze unseres Schweizer Privatbanken-Rankings geführt haben.

Simon Wyss teilt Einblicke in die Erfolgsformeln der Bank in den Bereichen Profitabilität, Effizienz und Wachstum. Erfahren Sie, wie Von Graffenried die Herausforderungen der Digitalisierung in einer traditionellen Branche meistert und welche Rolle künstliche Intelligenz für die Zukunft des Bankwesens spielt. Zudem diskutieren wir die aktuellen globalen Unsicherheiten und deren Einfluss auf das Schweizer Private Banking sowie die grössten Herausforderungen der Branche und mögliche Lösungsansätze. Ein Muss für jeden, der an der Schnittstelle von Tradition und Innovation im Finanzsektor interessiert ist.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: ZHAW WM Podcast
Female Wealth

Female Wealth – 3 Benefits For Wealth Management Banks

A lot has been written about new client segments and demographics in Wealth Management. The overarching theme may perhaps best be summarized as a pressing need for greater inclusivity. This blog post explores three critical insights from a recent article and summarizes what benefits these developments bring for wealth management banks.

For many wealth management banks, the path forward involves a clear commitment to change at all levels of the organization. It’s about building a culture that not only attracts but also retains the best talent (regardless of background). By fostering an inclusive environment, wealth management banks can ensure they remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Investing, Strategy
Robo advisor for wealth management banks

AI In Portfolio Management – 3 Ways How Wealth Management Banks Benefit

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into portfolio management could bring a shift in how wealth management banks offer investment services to their clients. A recent paper titled “Enhancing Portfolio Management Using Artificial Intelligence: A Literature Review”, to which the Head of our Institute, Prof. Dr. Peter Schwendner, guided me, offers a comprehensive overview of this integration, illustrating the potential of AI to revolutionize asset allocation, client service, and operational efficiency.

With this blog post, I will try to showcase the article’s findings from a wealth management bank’s perspective and outlining strategies for harnessing AI in portfolio management, while navigating the challenges associated with transparency, fairness, and compliance.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Digitalization, Strategy, Technology
GenAI and robo-advisors in Swiss Wealth Management

GenAI as the new Robo-Advisor? A Revolution in Swiss Wealth Management

The integration of Robo-Advisors and GenA) within wealth management hints at a transformative shift, also for Swiss Private Banks. This blend of advanced technology offers new horizons in personalized and efficient wealth management solutions, potentially reshaping the way advice is delivered to private clients.
For Swiss Private Banks, this represents an opportunity to further sharpen their value propositions, offering clients hyper-tailored investment strategies at scale.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Digitalization, Investing, Strategy, Technology
BoD Members

Swiss Wealth Management Banks: Boards of Directors and Gender Diversity

Swiss wealth management banks show a preference for a lean board structure, as evidenced by our data . The number of board members varies, with a minimum of 3 members in some banks and a maximum of 13 in others. Notably, a significant portion of the banks analyzed have between 5 to 6 board members. This trend suggests a strategic choice for efficiency and perhaps more effective governance, enabling these banks to navigate the complexities of wealth management with agility.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Leadership
ZHAW Swiss WM Study

Out now: ZHAW Swiss WM Study – Edition 2

Between tradition and transformation – with this study, we aim to contribute to the continuous success and increasing transparency of Swiss wealth management banks.
Based on publicly available data, this study may serve as a fact base for clients and prospects, senior management, professionals, service providers, policymakers, the wider public, research, and academia.
The ZHAW WM Performance Score, a cornerstone of the study, offers a transparent and intuitive assessment of banks’ performance across four key categories.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Strategy

Coming soon: ZHAW Swiss Wealth Management Study – Edition 2

Stay tuned! Our new study “Wealth Management in Switzerland – Edition 2”, to which Mr Jonas Hefti as Research Fellow has significantly contributed, will be released in the next couple of weeks. Published by the Department of Banking Finance Insurance at ZHAW School of Management and Law, it will again represent a seminal contribution to the scholarly and professional understanding of the Swiss wealth management industry. This study meticulously evaluates 67 licensed Swiss banks that derive a substantial portion of their revenue from wealth management activities, thereby offering a comprehensive overview of this sector’s dynamics.

Christoph Künzle
Kategorie: Strategy