Martin Zinsli: Liberty offers private clients a broad range of investment possibilities. Some private clients are interested in investing in securities, for example. On the Liberty Pensions platform, clients can choose between a multitude of funds from a range of providers or they can manage their own assets, in compliance with BVV2/OPP2 requirements, by investing in any of the collective investment vehicles approved for distribution in Switzerland. The platform is constantly built up and is supported by other stakeholders who contribute to the ongoing diversification of the product range. This is unique today. Most providers earn their living only with their own products. Moreover, Liberty's online platform offers extremely user-friendly transaction processing which is a major advantage. Needless to say, clients still have the possibility of calling us for personal guidance.

Costs are always important for investors. What about Liberty's pricing structure?

Zinsli: Liberty's pricing is totally transparent. Clients know how much we charge for administrative services. For vested benefit and 3a retirement savings account solutions, for example, we do not charge any fees. Clients can open an account online, deposit their money and, provided the funds remain within the 2nd or 3rd pillar, withdraw it free of charge. That is all part of our pricing philosophy. And our vested benefit and 3a retirement savings accounts bear interest at one of the best rates in Switzerland.

What can a client expect from Liberty in terms of consulting services?

Zinsli: Depending on the circumstances, consulting services may be quite comprehensive. Our clients have the most diverse inquiries, ranging from questions about Liberty and its products to taxes issues and personal tax benefits. For example, regarding tied 3a pension assets, clients want to know why it is advisable to have several 3a accounts or, in the case of vested pension benefits, why they should open two vested benefit accounts.

Is Liberty more particularly geared to the needs of private individuals?

Zinsli: In addition to private individuals, Liberty also serves SMEs, asset managers and insurance brokers. In cooperation with the latter, Liberty can develop customised occupational benefit solutions (BVG/LPP). Companies joining Liberty Pensions can decide whether to have their pension fund assets managed by a foundation, a bank, an investment fund or an external asset manager; alternatively, they can elect to manage their own pension fund assets within the limits of BVV2/OPP2 rules and regulations. Insurance brokers could, for example, work with a small or medium-sized company to create tailor-made occupational benefit solutions or investment strategies. The insurance broker is thus closer to his clients and can support their decision making more actively. For asset managers and insurance brokers, this opens doors to new business areas.  In this respect, Liberty is unique in Switzerland.

Liberty has now created the Liberty Flex Invest Foundation as an alternative to company pension plans offering managers supplemental coverage over and above the compulsory BVG/LPP limits. What is so special here?

Zinsli: Liberty Flex Invest Foundation offers individual SMEs the greatest possible freedom. By way of example, consider a small company with three executive directors. Flex Invest offers each director the possibility of choosing the investment strategy that suits him best. While the CFO, for example, may opt for a conservative strategy with a high bond content, the production manager may prefer a more dynamic strategy based on a higher authorised equity content and the CEO may decide to steer a balanced course in between. So within the same executive team, the directors may invest their pension assets differently. That‘s what makes Liberty Flex Invest so special.

How can Liberty be so flexible?

Zinsli: Liberty has the necessary IT platform and know-how to break new ground with its clients. Of course we do not have contractual arrangements with all banks. But if a client or partner wishes to work with a specific bank with which we do not yet entertain business relations, we will try to negotiate a good solution with that bank. For Liberty, the client is king! The client chooses his pension scheme or investment strategy – we are here to implement it.