ACCLAIM
The Sixth WealthBriefing
Swiss External Asset Management (EAM) Awards 2026
OGNISING LEADERS ROSS TH MANAGEMENT INDUSTR THROUGH THE WealthBriefing AW AMME
Foreword
STEPHEN HARRIS CEO, WealthBriefing
This sixth edition of Acclaim highlights and celebrates the importance and vibrancy of the External Asset Manager market in Switzerland. We at WealthBriefing regard it as both an honour and a privilege to be part of an ecosystem that supports and services such a vital sector within the world’s most prestigious wealth management jurisdiction.
These awards recognise achievement in an industry that is truly a community of interdependence, with EAMs and their clients firmly at its centre. Custodian banks, technology firms, trust companies, lawyers and accountants all play integral roles within this network, and are equally acknowledged and celebrated in this edition.
I would like to personally congratulate all the winners. Their success has been determined by an independent expert judging panel, composed principally of senior executives from custodian banks active in the sector. This panel is especially deserving of our sincere thanks, which I am delighted to extend.
OVERVIEW OF THE SWISS EXTERNAL ASSET MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY
The essence of external asset managers lies in their close affinity with their client base. This is reflected in the wide range of categories showcased in this programme, celebrating success not only in terms of scale, but also in the diversity and distinctiveness of client groups served.
Ultimately, however, it is the people within these successful businesses who make the true difference. These awards recognise exceptional individuals at the highest level – those
who have built and developed outstanding organisations while inspiring colleagues, clients and the wider industry.
Finally, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our commercial partners, many of whom collaborate with us across multiple markets. Your continued support is invaluable and deeply appreciated by everyone at WealthBriefing and throughout the wider wealth management community.
From our bases in Geneva and Zurich, connect with experts worldwide through the Barclays Group and make your vision a reality.
Influence tomorrow
The Judging Panel
Our global awards program is built on the independence of our judges. For the WealthBriefing External Asset Management (EAM) Awards, the judges were invited from partners in the custodian banks, technology companies and other service providers. Each judge signed an NDA to ensure that all the information they received in the submissions is kept in the strictest of confidence.
MARK BRANSTON
Private Banker and Team Leader (Multi Family Office, EAM and Corporates) Barclays Private Bank
IAN EWART
Chairman Acin Ltd
ANNE LIEBGOTT Founder & Managing Director AW+SWITZERLAND
FABIAN DORI
Chief Investment Officer Sygnum Bank
PIERRE DUPONT Managing Partner WIZE by TeamWork
RICARDO GUTH
Branch Manager CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique SA
LAURENT PELLET
Limited Partner, Global Head of External Asset Managers Lombard Odier
HASSEN JAUFEERALLY Senior Relationship Manager The Mauritius Commercial Bank
BRUCE WEATHERILL Chief Executive Weatherill Consulting
WINNER: Alpen Partners | Alpen Partners International
WINNER: AW✚SWITZERLAND
WINNER: Apricus Finance
WINNER: Aurea Global Investments SA
WINNER: AlphaSwiss Partners
WINNER: Brainvest Wealth Management
WINNER: Columbus Private (Suisse) SA
DIFFERENT BY DESIGN
Accuro specialises in trust structures for high net worth individuals and families seeking to responsibly preserve wealth across generations.
Being founder, management and staff owned, Accuro has the freedom to pursue its mission with passion. The way we operate and who we partner with, can only be made possible by our independence.
Accuro: Where Global Perspectives Meet Regional Insights
Accuro is a multi award winning trust, fiduciary and private office group serving the £100m+ UHNW market for over 50 years.
Our holistic approach – spanning governance, succession and long term family purpose – provides clarity, continuity and care across generations and jurisdictions.
Accuro currently oversees more than £19bn in assets.
With global reach and deep MENA expertise, we are recognised for aligning Sharia principles with international legal frameworks, blending technical precision with cultural understanding.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is at the heart of our work. Our approach is built on long standing relationships, technical excellence and deep respect for the values that guide our Middle Eastern clients.
We partner closely with family offices, advisers and intermediaries to deliver bespoke, globally informed solutions that honour regional traditions.
In a region where legacy, discretion and cultural nuance matter most, Accuro is a trusted partner to royal and leading mercantile families across the Middle East.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The next 5 to 10 years will be transformative for the wealth management industry. Increasing regulatory scrutiny and a global shift toward greater transparency are reshaping expectations. At the same time, the rise of AI and an unprecedented wave of intergenerational wealth transfer will redefine the financial landscape, requiring advisers to adapt their service models.
In the MENA region, the profile of wealth holders is evolving rapidly. More women are leading businesses, holding wealth directly, and shaping long term family strategy. The next generation is also inheriting significant assets, often with limited prior exposure to
Winner
•
Servicing
MENA Clients
Natacha Onawelho-Loren - Managing Director Accuro
wealth management. This emerging client base brings new priorities and a different mindset – demanding a fundamentally refreshed approach.
To support these changing needs, Accuro launched its Women in Wealth initiative three years ago. This dedicated platform offers a trusted, educational forum for female wealth holders helping them navigate critical themes such as succession and long term stewardship through insight, guidance and practical learning.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem-solving?
Our commitment to the MENA region is longstanding. We maintain a regular presence on the ground, travelling frequently across the region, and are consistently called upon for our expertise and trusted perspective.
We were recently engaged to act as trustees of a trust established for the daughters of a prominent business owner who passed away unexpectedly without a succession plan. The estate included both liquid assets and operating businesses spread across multiple jurisdictions.
We worked hand in hand with the family’s retained advisers, locally and internationally, to rapidly map the succession pathway, establish bespoke structures, and build a supportive guidance ecosystem for the heiresses.
This mandate required deep technical expertise delivered with sensitivity and a keen understanding of family dynamics within their cultural context. The clients expressed their appreciation for the hands on support and experience our team provided throughout
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
“This award means a great deal to us. It reflects the trust our clients place in us and the work we do every day to support families across the MENA region as their needs evolve. It also encourages us to keep contributing to the conversations shaping the future of private wealth in the region.”
Pierre Gabris Founder CEO
Built for Global Lives: Alpen’s Integrated Cross-Border Wealth Advantage
Winner
• Servicing North American Clients
• International
Alpen Partners | Alpen Partners International
What distinguishes Alpen’s international wealth management solutions?
Our wealth management solutions are purpose-built for globally mobile clients whose personal, financial, and family structures span multiple jurisdictions. Rather than retrofitting domestic advisory models for cross-border use, our approach was designed from inception to address regulatory complexity, tax exposure, reporting obligations, and investment portability across borders. Clients benefit from a single, integrated advisory relationship that replaces fragmented advice across countries, institutions, and intermediaries. This unified framework enables investment management, structuring, and long-term planning to be coordinated smoothly, regardless of where clients reside or hold assets.
How does Alpen’s regulatory footprint strengthen your international offering?
Our solution is underpinned by a rare and robust multi-jurisdictional regulatory footprint. Alpen Partners is licensed as a Portfolio Manager in Canada, Alpen Partners International is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission as an Investment Adviser, and both are licensed by FINMA as a Portfolio Manager in Switzerland. This allows us to serve international and North American clients with full regulatory legitimacy rather than relying on indirect or informal arrangements. For clients, this means continuity of advice, consistent fiduciary standards, and resilient operational structures across borders, building trust, transparency, and long-term confidence.
How does Alpen address the broader complexities of international wealth?
International wealth management extends well beyond portfolio construction. Alpen integrates cross-border tax awareness, estate and succession considerations, reporting obligations, currency management, and intergenerational planning into a single advisory framework. Whether clients are relocating, holding assets across multiple currencies, or planning for heirs in different jurisdictions, our role is to coordinate complexity and simplify decision-making.
This breadth of expertise, combined with a personalised service approach, forms the basis of our international wealth management activities.
Why does Alpen’s approach resonate with international and next-generation clients?
International and next-generation clients value independence, transparency, and alignment of interests. As an independent firm, Alpen operates free from product bias and institutional conflicts allowing us to act solely in our clients’ best interests. Our global perspective, modern infrastructure, and clear communication style resonate with clients who expect both sophistication and accessibility. We also recognise that international wealth is dynamic – clients’ lives evolve, jurisdictions change, and regulatory environments shift. Our solution is designed to adapt alongside them, fostering long-term partnerships rather than transactional relationships. This client-centric philosophy underpins why Alpen serves families from more than 30 countries worldwide.
What does winning these awards represent for Alpen?
This recognition reflects the exceptional dedication and collaboration of our people. We extend our sincere thanks to our partners for their strategic leadership, our portfolio managers for their discipline and commitment to fiduciary excellence, and our private client services, compliance, and support teams for delivering consistently thoughtful, precise, and highly personalized service. Their professionalism and shared commitment to international clients define our culture and standards. This award is a testament to their collective efforts throughout the year and recognition they richly deserve.
Built on Trust. Sustained by Relationships.
Yann Labry CEO and Executive Board Member
AlphaSwiss Partners SA
What was the winning formula of your firm?
With more than 30 years of relationship with its clients, AlphaSwiss began serving families in the Gulf with a simple belief: relationships matter more than transactions. Over the decades, those relationships grew beyond business. We were present during moments of expansion, succession, challenge, and opportunity. Today, we have the privilege of advising not only our original clients, but their children and in some cases, their grandchildren.
Working in Saudi Arabia and the UAE taught us that success in the region cannot be achieved through technical expertise alone. It requires cultural sensitivity, patience, respect, and genuine commitment. Decisions are often family decisions. Trust is personal. Reputation travels quietly but powerfully.
By taking the time to understand traditions, values, and aspirations, we became more than advisors: we became long-term partners. We listened before offering advice. We adapted rather than imposing. And over time, that consistency created something far more valuable than growth: credibility that cannot be replicated overnight.
Our presence in the Gulf is not the result of aggressive expansion. It is the result of relationships that endured over time.
How did your colleagues make a difference?
At AlphaSwiss, our colleagues are not simply professionals executing a mandate – they are custodians of trust.
Every member of our team understands that behind every portfolio stands a family, a legacy, and a future. This awareness shapes how we think, how we advise, and how we act.
We are deliberate in choosing individuals who share this mindset. Technical skill can be taught. Character cannot. By building a team united by shared values, we ensure that every interaction reflects consistency, discretion, and care.
The name “Alpha” reflects our pursuit of excellence, not in the sense of being first, but in striving to create enduring value. True alpha, in our view, is measured in longevity, stability, and the confidence our clients place in us.
What will you do to remain competitive and stay ahead?
The financial world is changing rapidly. Technology evolves. Markets shift. Client expectations grow more sophisticated. But while tools change, principles endure.
To remain competitive, we will continue doing what has defined us; listening closely, thinking long-term, and adapting thoughtfully.
We are investing in digital innovation to enhance transparency and responsiveness. We are strengthening our expertise to navigate increasingly complex global markets. Most importantly, we are preparing for generational transition – ensuring that just as our clients pass on their legacy, we too pass on ours: a culture of trust, discipline, and commitment.
Our ambition is not simply to grow. It is to remain worthy of the confidence families have placed in us for more than three decades.
Proud of Our Heritage Whilst Looking to the Future
François Struye de Swielande CEO and Managing Partner Apricus Finance SA
In 2025, Apricus Finance SA proudly marked 30 years at the forefront of Independent Wealth Management. Since 1995, we have been advising and supporting our clients with tailored Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Family Office services. We built our reputation founded upon independence, discipline, and a clear focus on long-term positive outcomes for clients.
As a family-owned, Geneva based, firm, our approach combines rigorous portfolio management with a deep understanding of the ambitions, legacy, and responsibilities that define our clients’ wealth. We view wealth not simply as capital to be managed, but as a resource that must be protected, grown, and positioned to endure across generations.
This philosophy drives every investment decision and every portfolio we construct, ensuring strategies that are resilient, tailored, and consistent through changing markets.
In a highly competitive Swiss market, what are the key elements that set your portfolio management approach apart?
We do not over complicate things! We look at key trends and developing market opportunities and make allocations to them with conviction. So, for example, over the last 18 months, we have been long Japan, overweight Europe (unhedged for USD based portfolios - with the extra currency pick-up as the USD weakened).
We have also had a 5% allocation to gold for many years that has served our clients well. We couple this with our thematic convictions, with, for example, allocations to Asian Tech, Listed Family Holding Companies and what we refer to as, “European Champions”.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
We think there are two main points here. Firstly, despite (some meaningful) bumps along the way, we have effectively been in a bull market since the Financial Crisis of 2008/09. That is to say that, in spite of the efficiencies that technology is increasingly providing to businesses, we might face a meaningful correction at some point, particularly if the massive amounts of spending in Artificial Intelligence fail to convert into profit.
We are also playing our part and will increasingly use Artificial Intelligence to both streamline our business and for the benefit of our clients.
Secondly, a positive, the External Asset Management space is still maturing. There is a huge pool of bank clients who may decide that there is an alternative to having their bank both custodise and manage their wealth.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
From our clients. Many of our clients are successful entrepreneurs and have demonstrated long-term perseverance in achieving their success and reputations. They are at the heart of everything we do, and they inspire us each and every day.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
• Portfolio Management Winner
We also trim any market drift, as part of our risk management oversight. Combined with our flexible DNA, by which we can take profit and pivot to new convictions rapidly and efficiently, we have arrived at a point where we can be very proud of our portfolio performances.
Receiving the 'Portfolio Management' award is recognition of the principles that have driven Apricus Finance from the very beginning: conviction-led investing, unwavering client focus and disciplined execution, supported by a highly experienced team and cutting-edge IT systems
A directory of Swiss wealth management, private banking, and other services for US, Canadian, and Latin American citizens, residents, and expats
Marketing with Discipline: Consistency in a Global Market
What does receiving the WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Award for Excellence 2026 for 'Marketing/PR Team' mean to you and the broader marketing effort?
Receiving the award is both a personal honor and a reflection of the disciplined, long-term marketing culture we continue to build. In wealth management, where trust, credibility, and regulatory rigor are paramount, effective marketing is never about short-lived trends. It is about sustained relevance and consistency. From a Marketing and PR perspective, the recognition reinforces our commitment to thoughtful positioning and clear communication across jurisdictions. AW✚SWITZERLAND plays an important role in this ecosystem by helping build trust and continuity with American, Canadian, and Latin American audiences seeking Swiss-based wealth solutions.
Why is it important to remain up to date on both traditional and digital marketing?
Marketing today operates across an interconnected landscape. Traditional disciplines like brand architecture, narrative development, print, events, and long-form thought leadership remain essential in establishing authority and depth. Digital channels determine how that authority is discovered, distributed, and engaged with in real time.
For internationally minded clients, consistency across borders is particularly critical. A prospect in New York, Toronto, São Paulo, or Zurich should encounter a coherent message regardless of the touchpoint.
Through coordinated Marketing and PR efforts and the visibility provided by AW✚SWITZERLAND, we aim to ensure that Swiss-based wealth expertise is presented with clarity and continuity to North and Latin American audiences overseas.
How do you see the role of AI fitting into modern marketing?
AI is best viewed as a powerful accelerator rather than a substitute for professional
judgment. When governed properly, AI can enhance research, improve content structuring, support personalisation, and increase distribution efficiency. Used carelessly, however, it can dilute brand voice or introduce compliance risk, particularly in regulated industries like wealth management.
Formal training as a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) has reinforced the importance of governance frameworks, human oversight, and alignment with regulatory expectations.
Our Marketing and PR approach integrates AI thoughtfully, supporting scalability while preserving the disciplined tone and fiduciary mindset expected by internationally mobile clients.
Why is the standalone-plus-ecosystem content model important?
In a trust-driven sector, every piece of content must carry its own weight. A well-crafted article, visual, or campaign theme should stand independently while also fitting into a wider communications architecture. This is particularly relevant when addressing cross-border audiences.
Content developed for LinkedIn, newsletters, websites, and AW✚SWITZERLAND must reinforce the same core positioning: Swiss precision, regulatory credibility, and long-term thinking. When executed properly, standalone strength builds trust, while multi-platform adaptation extends reach without fragmenting the message.
What advice would you give to marketing professionals in financial services today?
Respect the fundamentals, embrace technology thoughtfully, and maintain full ownership of your message. In wealth management, marketing is ultimately about trust built over time and across borders. Professionals who combine experience, curiosity, and disciplined innovation while leveraging the platform AW✚SWITZERLAND to reinforce credibility with overseas audiences, will remain well positioned regardless of how tools and channels evolve.
Anne Liebgott Founder
AW✚SWITZERLAND
Integrated Thinking, Enduring Impact
Dany Roizman Founder Brainvest Weatlh Management SA
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Innovation at Brainvest focuses on building structures that enhance decision-making, transparency, and long-term outcomes. We have strengthened our integrated advisory model by combining global asset allocation, alternative investments, fiduciary planning, and consolidated reporting into one framework. This allows clients to view their wealth holistically, improve governance, and make informed cross-border decisions, while increasing internal efficiency through standardized processes and accountability.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
Our culture is rooted in long-term thinking, ethics, and collective responsibility. Excellence comes from collaboration and alignment around client interests. We invest in governance, continuous training, and cross-border collaboration through OneBrain, our internal integration platform connecting teams through shared standards and processes. Clear frameworks ensure consistency, while trust and autonomy empower high performance.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem solving?
We support families who have worked with us across generations, often with assets in multiple jurisdictions. This requires coordinated expertise across investment, fiduciary, and legal disciplines to ensure continuity and adaptability as family structures and regulatory environments evolve.
independent advice and access to global opportunities, reinforcing our role as a multi-family office aligned with client interests.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
We anticipate greater regulatory complexity and generational transitions. Brainvest will continue expanding its global presence while reinforcing its role as a trusted partner for long-term wealth preservation and growth. With over USD 6 billion under management since 2025, our focus remains on governance and adaptability to ensure resilient wealth structures.
How do you identify and develop future leaders within your organisation?
Leadership development is intentional and long-term. Future leaders are identified through performance, ethical judgment, collaboration, and broader impact. Development comes through exposure to complex situations and increasing responsibility. Selected professionals may participate in our Equity Plan to support succession and long-term continuity.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This award provides valuable external validation and reinforces our responsibility to uphold high standards. It strengthens our commitment to consistency, trust, and the continued evolution of our advisory platform.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
• Manager with International Offices outside of Switzerland
• Family Office Proposition Winner
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is central to our model. Internal coordination ensures consistent standards and shared expertise. Externally, long-standing partnerships with banks, asset managers, and specialists enable
While we follow developments in wealth management, much inspiration comes from governance, technology, entrepreneurship, and family-owned businesses. This broader view helps us design solutions that are resilient and aligned with real-world family and business dynamics.
Swiss Trust, Holistic Vision: Entrepreneurial Wealth Management in a Volatile World
At Columbus Private (Suisse), we combine Swiss trust with a holistic approach in a volatile world. Technology is central to our philosophy. Advanced data architecture, digital reporting, and secure communication platforms support clarity, risk control, and responsiveness rather than serving as cosmetic features. We are an independent Geneva-based wealth management firm serving internationally mobile entrepreneurs and multi-generational families with cross-border assets and businesses. Many clients are founders or principal shareholders. Our team blends entrepreneurial thinking with deep experience in family business dynamics, helping navigate cultural and generational differences across jurisdictions.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Our most impactful innovation has been the integration of technology-driven analytics within a unified advisory architecture. We redesigned our client process so that investment strategy, liquidity planning, governance structures and jurisdictional considerations are assessed simultaneously, supported by consolidated data modeling.
For entrepreneurial families, wealth is inseparable from business risk, political exposure and mobility. By mapping concentration risks, currency exposures and relocation scenarios, we provide a structured framework that anticipates change rather than reacting to it. Internally, this integration enhances efficiency by aligning all advisers around a shared data environment. For clients, it translates into clarity: decisions are made with full awareness of cross-border implications and long-term family objectives.
diversification, mobility, and stronger governance. The challenge extended beyond finance to identity, legacy, and security concerns.
Working as part of Columbus Private (Suisse), we addressed complex multi-jurisdictional tax, residency, succession, and asset protection issues. Equally important was sustained personal dialogue to understand aspirations and fears. By combining technical modeling with empathetic listening, we helped design a phased relocation strategy that preserved entrepreneurial control and established clearer governance for the next generation.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is embedded in our culture. Internally, relationship managers, investment specialists and planning professionals operate as a cohesive advisory unit. Externally, we coordinate closely with legal, tax and fiduciary experts across relevant jurisdictions.
Cross-border families cannot afford fragmented advice. Our role is to orchestrate expertise while maintaining a single strategic compass aligned with the family’s values and long-term vision. This collaborative discipline ensures that complexity remains manageable, even when the external environment is unpredictable.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Recognition in servicing Asian clients, servicing Eastern European clients and wealth planning affirms the depth of our cross-border capability and the commitment of our team. It validates our belief that Swiss standards of integrity, combined with entrepreneurial understanding and technological sophistication, create durable value.
• Servicing Asia Clients
• Servicing Eastern European Clients
• Wealth Planning Winner
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem-solving?
An engagement involved a multi-generational family relocating across jurisdictions amid geopolitical uncertainty. The older generation remained emotionally connected to the country where the business was built, while the younger generation pursued
We see this award as both distinction and responsibility. It strengthens our resolve to remain intellectually rigorous, culturally sensitive and personally engaged. In a world marked by volatility and tension, our mission endures: to provide Swiss trust and holistic vision to families shaping their legacies across generations.
Piotr Augustyniak - CEO Columbus Private (Suisse) SA
Descartes Finance Sets New Standard with 15-Minute Digital Wealth Onboarding
Headquartered in Zurich, Descartes Finance is a Swiss WealthTech company licensed by FINMA. It specialises in digital investment advice (B2C) and software as a service (B2B). It is the only fully independent, ownermanaged Swiss platform. In recent years, Descartes has proven itself, particularly in the area of software as a service (SaaS), making a name for itself as a scalable partner through strategic collaborations with companies such as Yuh, neon, Avenirplus, and Glarner Regionalbank.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
At Descartes, we use digital onboarding processes that combine simplicity and security. This was also the goal when we developed and introduced our new onboarding process for our Invest offering (wealth management account) to complete our digital wealth management offering and in addition to our long-established onboarding process for our pension clients in the areas of pillar 3a and vested benefits.
For this new process we use a risk-based approach, offering a streamlined Know Your Client (KYC) process to clients in domiciled in Switzerland with assets up to CHF 250,000. This intelligent approach allows us to tailor the account opening process to each client's situation, making it efficient while fully complying with regulatory requirements.
Clients benefit from a secure yet streamlined process and can open a wealth management account in less than 15 minutes using a qualified electronic signature (QES). The onboarding for a pillar 3a or vested benefits account is an even faster process that can be completed in around five minutes.
We designed our processes to reduce complexity and save time without compromising security, compliance, or client experience. Thanks to these processes, we were able to significantly reduce the dropout rate.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is a key factor in our success. We maintain an open, flat internal structure that promotes communication between all parties.
We deliberately incorporate different perspectives to make informed decisions.
Our strategic partnerships with neobanks and our custodian bank help us continuously improve our product. Close communication with these partners allows us to develop quickly and find solutions swiftly. This benefits all of our clients.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The industry is facing several challenges, including increasing market complexity, rising regulatory requirements, technological changes, and a generational shift among many clients.
In response to these developments, we are making targeted investments in technology, continuously developing our governance structures, and offering clients services that focus on transparency and accessibility. Our goal is to remain a reliable partner for long-term asset management, even in a changing environment.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This award confirms the value of our processes. It proves that our client onboarding processes are one of the best on the market. It recognises the hard work of our entire team. Furthermore, this award solidifies Descartes' position as the software integrator for digital client management.
At the same time, we view this award as an obligation to maintain our high standards. It bolsters the trust of our client and partners and motivates our team to continue on this path.
Rea Vogel Business Manager
Descartes Finance AG
Preserving both wealth and dreams. This is work with purpose.
Edmond de Rothschild creates and develops lasting wealth by cultivating every idea as a fertile ground. From this committed vision of wealth, and this belief in life and progress, comes harmonious growth that creates opportunities for future generations.
Franz Baechler (1929-2010), Gardens of Château Clarke (1983), Listrac-Médoc, France.
Driving Excellence Through Innovation and Proximity
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
One of our most impactful innovations has been the reorganisation around our new Geneva headquarters, bringing around 700 colleagues into a single hub. By integrating investment, sales, client service and risk teams, we have accelerated decisionmaking and strengthened the feedback loop between clients and portfolio managers. Designed with strong ESG considerations, the building reflects our longterm vision. For clients, this means faster responses, closer access to expertise and more consistent delivery across strategies and geographies.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
We cultivate excellence through a mindset we call “faire du Edmond”: high standards, ownership and long-term thinking, anchored in a clear focus on client outcomes. Our headquarters was designed to break down silos and foster collaboration. Continuous learning and ethics are essential: in 2024, employees received an average of 10.1 hours of business ethics training, and 87% completed compliance programmes. This blend of culture and structure sustains performance.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem solving?
Our work on fund accessibility illustrates this commitment. As institutional clients seek more efficient ways to access strategies, we are exploring blockchain and tokenisation to prepare for new distribution models. At the same time, we remain locally organised, with accessible and accountable teams in each market. Innovation and proximity go hand in hand.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is central to our success. Internally, bringing teams together
enhances communication and speeds up solution design. Externally, we partner selectively in private markets through initiatives such as BRIDGE, combining investment and ESG expertise to monitor assets and meet investor requirements. These partnerships help us deliver consistent, aligned solutions.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
We anticipate rising expectations around trust, transparency and impact measurement, alongside regulatory complexity and geopolitical uncertainty. Competition for specialised talent will intensify. In response, we are strengthening governance and reporting frameworks and investing in advanced climate and biodiversity tools to provide clarity in a complex environment.
How do you identify and develop future leaders within your organisation?
We look for leaders who combine technical excellence, integrity and a clientcentric mindset. Performance is assessed not only on results but on collaboration and long-term relationship building. High-potential colleagues receive stretch assignments, mentoring and structured leadership development to ensure continuity and trust.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This award recognises the trust our clients place in us and our teams’ commitment. It validates our long-term, responsible approach and motivates us to continue improving in service of clients.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
Our inspiration comes from the real economy – financing the energy transition, resilient infrastructure and sustainable real assets. We believe finance should support tangible, long-term progress for clients and society alike.
Marie Jacot CEO
Edmond de Rothschild
Erlen Capital Management AG: Building on Independence Through Innovation and Responsibility
Since 1995, Erlen Capital Management AG has combined independence with a long-term, client-focused approach to wealth management. Based in Zurich, the firm specialises in discretionary portfolio management and advisory services for private clients, families and institutions. Its philosophy is rooted in transparency, disciplined investment processes and a clear alignment of interests with clients.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Over the past year, our most impactful innovation has been the further refinement of our investment and decision-making framework. Rather than pursuing technology for its own sake, we focused on improving portfolio construction, risk monitoring and internal collaboration.
Enhanced analytical tools and clearer governance structures have allowed us to respond more decisively in volatile markets while maintaining consistency in execution. For clients, this has translated into greater transparency, faster decisionmaking and portfolios that remain aligned with long-term objectives even during periods of uncertainty.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The wealth management industry is entering a phase of profound change. Increasing regulation, growing complexity of financial markets and rising client expectations for transparency and personalisation will challenge traditional models. At the same time, technological advances – particularly data-driven analysis and artificial intelligence – will reshape how investment decisions are prepared and communicated.
We are positioning Erlen Capital to meet these challenges by remaining deliberately
independent, investing selectively in technology, and strengthening the human element of advice. Our focus remains on thoughtful portfolio management supported by experience, judgement and accountability.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is a central pillar of our culture. Internally, close team cooperation ensures that different perspectives are considered before decisions are made. This collective approach reduces key-person risk and strengthens consistency across portfolios.
Externally, we work with a carefully selected network of partners and service providers who share our standards of quality and independence. These relationships allow us to access best-in-class research and infrastructure while retaining full control over investment decisions.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning this award again is a strong endorsement of our approach and, above all, of our team. We see it not as a destination, but as a responsibility. The recognition reinforces our commitment to disciplined investing, continuous improvement and putting clients’ interests first.
Going forward, we will use this visibility to further strengthen trust with existing clients, attract like-minded professionals and continue refining our offering. Our ambition is not rapid growth, but sustainable excellence.
In an environment that rewards shortterm trends, Erlen Capital Management AG remains committed to long-term thinking – combining independence, innovation and responsibility to serve clients across generations.
Bruno Schneller Managing Partner Erlen
Management AG
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WINNER: Hunkar Finance
WINNER: Infront
WINNER: Hyposwiss Advisors SA
WINNER: IMT Asset Management (IMTA)
WINNER: Lakefield Partners AG
WINNER: Global Gate Asset Management SA
WINNER: Erlen Capital Management
WINNER: Descartes Finance AG
AUTOMATED SOURCE OF WEALTH VERIFICATION
AI-powered technology to automate due diligence about the existence, plausibility and evidence of client wealth
smartKYC’s solution automates end-to-end Source of Wealth and Journey to Wealth verification using AI-driven corroboration and generative narratives, delivering credible, regulator-ready documentation with complete transparency.
Data Collection
Structured client-declared wealth eventsemployment, business exits, inheritance, property, investments
AI Corroboration
Cross-check events with salary benchmarks, real estate records, company registries, and media coverage
Narrative Generation
AI creates clear, regulator-ready wealth narratives with full source traceability
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Website: smartkyc.com
Email: info@smartkyc.com
Key Features & Benefits
Purpose-Built for Private Banking
Designed specifically for HNW/UHNW SoW and JoW compliance requirements
Multi-Source Validation
Cross-checks declared data with public benchmarks and registries
Fully Explainable
Every fact sourced, logged, and transparent for regulator scrutiny
Generative AI Summaries
Creates audit-ready narratives in plain English automatically
Periodic Refresh
Enrich the client wealth profile with new wealth events
WINNER: LeoVest Partners AG
WINNER: Lobnek Wealth Management
WINNER: Masttro
WINNER: Peter Ahluwalia - LeoVest Partners AG
WINNER: Stephan Matti - LeoVest Partners AG
WINNER: Targa 5 Advisors
WINNER: The Forum Finance Group SA
Best In-class Reporting: How Etops is Shaping the Future of WealthTech
Etops is transforming wealth and asset management across Europe with scalable SaaS solutions for private banks, wealth managers, family offices, IFAs, and asset managers. Operating in Switzerland, Germany, and the Benelux region, with expansion planned into the UK, the company delivers an AI-powered enterprise platform that simplifies wealth structures, automates compliance, and helps professionals focus on client relationships.
The platform suite covers Private Wealth Management, Affluent Wealth Management, and Asset Management, addressing industry needs through advanced technology and intelligent automation to improve efficiency and client experience across the European wealth ecosystem.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Etops delivers value-driven solutions enhanced by intelligent features that streamline wealth and investment management, generate actionable insights, and improve workflows. Its innovation was recognised with the WealthBriefing Swiss Award for 'Innovative Use of Artificial Intelligence'
The company’s AI-powered Compliance Recorder strengthens advisory processes with automated call transcription, concise summaries, and real-time detection of advisory situations. By capturing compliance-relevant information automatically, the solution improves transparency, efficiency, and documentation quality. Through continuous innovation, Etops enables clients to enhance compliance, optimise operations, and increase profitability.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
Excellence at Etops is driven by close collaboration with the people who use our products. Teams across product, engineering, design, and client-facing roles participate in user research, sharing insights to improve solutions and keep the focus on real value.
• Client Reporting
Group
Our approach follows clear principles: understand users’ challenges, create value over features, prioritise quality and experience, rely on data-driven decisions, and build products people enjoy using.
Achievements are celebrated internally, fostering pride, collaboration, and high standards.
What role has collaboration - either internally or with external partners - played in your success?
Collaboration is central to Etops’ success. Sharing client insights across teams ensures products reflect real market needs. This alignment is important during client initiatives, where Client Success, Product, and Marketing coordinate closely to maintain consistency and execution quality.
Product and Engineering operate as distinct functions within a shared Product Domain, using biweekly sprint planning, daily standups, and continuous client feedback to keep solutions user-focused.
Etops also partners with trusted specialists through its “Hyperapps” approach, integrating complementary tools such as tax and pension planning solutions.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning the 'Client Reporting' Award validates how Etops continues to drive innovation. Having received this recognition previously, we are proud to be honored again, reflecting our commitment to delivering real value for clients.
Our platform stands out through Swiss leadership in data aggregation and normalisation, enabling real-time unified insights and reporting across private equity, real estate, and other illiquid assets.
With an integrated regulatory framework, our FIDLEG and MiFID II capabilities automate complex requirements and embed compliance into workflows. Looking ahead, we will continue strengthening client trust and leadership through product innovation.
Etops
Global Gate Asset Management: Growth From Inside Out
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
I’d say the biggest innovation for us hasn’t been a product – it’s how we run the firm.
As we developed, we realised that without a stronger foundation, growth could easily turn into complexity. So we introduced a firmwide alignment framework to ensure everyone moves in the same direction.
For every key initiative, we define clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability. Everyone knows what they own, and one person is responsible for the overall outcome. That clarity has improved how we operate.
It has allowed us to integrate new teams smoothly, absorb a significant influx of clients without disrupting service quality, and launch new product ranges while staying on top of operational requirements.
Clients feel it. When a firm is organised, disciplined, and aligned, it shows in the consistency of communication and execution. While it started internally, the impact is visible externally.
What role has collaboration either internally or with external partners played in your success?
Collaboration is central to how we work, but we’ve learned that it only creates value when it’s structured. In growing organisations, collaboration without ownership can lead to overlaps and slower decision-making. Clear objectives and defined accountability make collaboration far more effective.
At the same time, we encourage everyone to think beyond their formal job description. We want each person to take initiative, suggest improvements, and push things forward. That mindset has been essential in helping us scale while preserving the agility that defines our culture.
Fred Debbané, CFA Managing Director
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Wealth management is entering a period of structural change. One shift is rising client expectations around technology. Clients expect digital access, transparency, and responsiveness similar to other industries. Meeting that standard requires investing in our own digital tools and data capabilities.
On the investment side, increasing automation and cost efficiency are putting pressure on traditional discretionary models. This makes it critical to be clear about where we add value: disciplined asset allocation, strong risk management, and access to differentiated opportunities that standardised solutions cannot easily replicate.
At the same time, we are living through the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. The next generation often seeks more dialogue, transparency, and alignment between investments and personal values.
We are responding by deepening our investment expertise, strengthening technology and reporting, and engaging families across generations through structured long-term governance.
What does winning this award mean to your firm and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This award is meaningful to us on two levels. First, it is recognition of the team and the work we have built over the years. More broadly, we see it as a reflection of how the External Asset Management industry is evolving – becoming more visible and guided by higher standards shaped by client expectations.
We view this not just as a milestone, but as validation of a model centered on discipline, long-term thinking, and strong client focus.
Going forward, this recognition helps reinforce trust with clients, attract like-minded talent, and motivate us to keep raising our standards.
When Executive Search Becomes an Art
Laurent von Moor CEO Hunkar Finance
Winner
• Wealth Management Executive Search Firm
The partner of choice for Switzerland's most distinguished private banks, EAMs, and family offices – where the interests of client, candidate, and firm finally align.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This recognition means a great deal – not as validation, but as confirmation. Hunkar Finance was founded on a clear conviction: that executive search in Swiss wealth management was solving the wrong problem. The traditional model rewards activity; we built one that rewards outcomes.
Winning the WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Award for Excellence 2026 signals that the market has recognised that difference.
Hunkar Finance is a Geneva-based executive search firm specialising in the recruitment of senior wealth management professionals for private banks, external asset managers, and multi-family offices across Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, London, and Dubai. We operate with a dedicated team across recruitment, sourcing, marketing, and legal, and have maintained a 100% placement success rate since inception.
We will use this recognition to do what we have always done: raise the standard.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes?
Our most significant innovation is structural. We redesigned the incentive architecture of executive search from first principles.
While traditional models reward recruiters at contract signature, we align our interests fully with both client and candidate. Our engagement extends beyond placement, including structured six-month post-placement follow-ups and reverse recruiting – identifying institutions that genuinely align with a candidate’s profile and long-term ambitions.
We also partner with a seasoned coach – a former banker with nearly fifteen years of experience – who supports professionals in
executing their business plans, reinforcing long-term success.
The result is a 100% placement success rate – not a marketing claim, but the outcome of a model that does not consider a placement complete until it has proven itself.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The most pressing challenge is the shortage of truly qualified senior talent at a time of rising demand. The EAM sector in Switzerland continues to expand, but the pool of experienced professionals is not growing at the same pace.
At the same time, emerging financial centres – particularly Dubai – re intensifying competition for top talent. Switzerland retains strong structural advantages – stability, regulatory maturity, and a deep private banking ecosystem – but institutions can no longer rely on hiring approaches that historically produced failure rates above 50%.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
At Hunkar Finance, culture reflects a simple principle: we are only as good as the outcomes we deliver. Activity metrics – calls made, CVs sent, contracts signed – are irrelevant. The only measure that matters is whether the professional we placed is still thriving eighteen months later.
This creates a culture of rigour, honesty, and long-term thinking. We assess every profile holistically – from culture fit and mindset to experience, goals, and expectations – and evaluate the full context for both candidates and institutions.
Excellence is not a statement of intent. It is the discipline of asking better questions –and remaining accountable to the answers long after the placement is complete.
“Luck shouldn’t be part of your por tfolio.”
HYPOSWISS ADVISORS: Driving Excellence in a Transforming Wealth Management Landscape
Hyposwiss Advisors SA • Client Service Winner
We are proud to announce that HYPOSWISS ADVISORS has been awarded the 'Client Service' Award for the second consecutive year – a milestone that truly reflects who we are. As a Swiss wealth manager serving private clients, we have built our identity around precision, integrity, and a long-term commitment to lasting relationships. Receiving this award again is both an honor and a responsibility, reinforcing our determination to uphold and surpass the highest standards.
At HYPOSWISS ADVISORS, cultivating a culture of excellence is a deliberate and continuous effort. We foster open dialogue, collective problem-solving, and a mindset in which every team member feels empowered to challenge ideas, propose improvements, and take ownership of the client experience. For us, high performance is not merely an objective; it is a shared discipline. This culture enables us to remain agile, rigorous, and deeply attentive to our clients’ evolving needs.
Internal collaboration is essential, yet it extends beyond our organisation. HYPOSWISS ADVISORS has developed strong and enduring partnerships across the wealth management ecosystem, particularly with international private banks. These relationships allow us to anticipate emerging trends, refine our comparative analyses, and generate insights aligned with the operational and strategic challenges our clients face. Our network-driven approach is fundamental to delivering proactive, tailored service informed by a global perspective.
The collective contribution of the entire HYPOSWISS ADVISORS team has been decisive in our success. Each member brings distinct strengths and perspectives that enrich our comprehensive approach to client service. Our front-office professionals, supported by deep expertise and extensive experience, dedicate the time needed to understand each client’s objectives and personal values. This commitment to genuinely personalised service fosters authentic relationships and ensures that our solutions are precisely adapted to every situation. Moreover, our collaborative culture – grounded in open dialogue and the exchange of ideas – enables us to develop innovative responses to the diverse needs entrusted to us.
Looking ahead, we anticipate that the coming five years will bring increased regulatory pressure, heightened expectations around transparency, and a significant acceleration toward sustainable investments aligned with clients’ values. We are preparing for this evolving landscape by strengthening teams capable of navigating complexity with precision, foresight, and perspective.
Winning this award for the second consecutive year confirms the relevance of our approach. It reinforces the trust placed in us by our clients and partners and motivates us to continue innovating and challenging ourselves. Above all, it reminds us that excellence in client service is never a given – it must be earned every single day.
At HYPOSWISS ADVISORS, our mission remains clear: to deliver thoughtful, personalised, and ethical wealth management that empowers our clients to approach complexity with confidence. This recognition further strengthens our commitment to raising the standards of excellence across our industry.
Vermögen braucht Haltung.
Werte bewahren, Zukunft gestalten. IMT Group
IMT Asset Management: Excellence in Asset & Fund Management
IMT Asset Management is a distinguished asset and fund management company headquartered in Liechtenstein. Established in 1999 by an entrepreneurial family, the firm holds an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) license and specialises in providing investment services to international family offices, entrepreneurs, and private wealth owners. As part of the IMT Group, IMT Asset Management benefits from a comprehensive wealth management ecosystem that includes trust and family office services, as well as legal and tax advisory. We manage approximately CHF 1.7 billion in assets under management. Additionally, we offer investment controlling and reporting services, ensuring transparency and oversight for our clients.
What was the winning formula behind your success?
Our success is driven by a deeply embedded client-first mindset that has shaped our organisation for decades. By consistently acting as a trusted partner rather than a product provider, we have built enduring client relationships founded on integrity, alignment of interests, and long-term thinking. This philosophy is captured in our guiding principle, “Preserving Values – Shaping the Future”, which is anchored in six core pillars: Expertise, Sustainability, Transparency, Independence, Flexibility, and Personal Touch.
Several distinguishing factors underpin our award-winning track record:
• Bespoke Portfolio Construction: We specialise in designing highly customised investment solutions that reflect each client’s objectives, constraints, and time horizon.
• Depth in Private Markets: Private assets are a core competency of our firm, with significant allocations managed across private markets.
• Forward-Looking Fund Architecture: We were early adopters of regulated fund structures, recognising their advantages in terms of governance, transparency, and investor protection. Today, approximately 85% of our assets under management are invested
• Based in Liechtenstein
• Private Markets Offering Winner
Dr. Thomas Trauth - CEO IMT Asset Management AG
through UCITS- or AIF-regulated vehicles, underscoring our commitment to institutional-quality standards.
• Integrated Family Office Capabilities: In close cooperation with our IMT Group sister companies, we deliver a comprehensive family office offering. This includes asset and wealth structuring (trusts, foundations, private-label funds, and corporate vehicles), family governance advisory, strategic wealth planning, as well as advanced reporting and accounting solutions.
Together, these elements reflect a disciplined yet entrepreneurial approach to asset management – combining institutional robustness with the flexibility and personal engagement that sophisticated clients expect.
You were awarded in the category 'Private Markets Offering' What key elements of your approach convinced the jury and differentiate IMTA in this space?
Our success in private markets is driven by a long-term, disciplined approach and institutional-quality execution. At IMT Asset Management AG, we manage a private markets platform of approximately CHF 250 million, which we view as a strategic core of our investment offering.
We see private markets as an essential complement to traditional asset classes, providing attractive return potential, meaningful diversification, and access to a growing universe of private companies where innovation and value creation increasingly occur.
Our differentiation lies in our global network of high-quality general partners, disciplined portfolio construction with a strong focus on vintage-year diversification, and proprietary cash-flow and liquidity modeling that enables prudent commitment pacing. We also make institutional-grade private markets strategies accessible to smaller portfolios. Through the combination of liquid and private assets we are able to construct robust, endowment-style portfolios tailored to our clients’ needs.
Resilient progress.
In a world of constant change, we provide stability and help preserve wealth across generations. Grounded in Swiss values and global market expertise, we guide our clients through complex financial decisions, for a legacy that endures.
Lakefield Partners AG: Resilient Progress
Bilal Jusufi - Partner
Vinicio Marsiaj - Partner Lakefield Partners AG
Lakefield Partners AG is a leading independent Swiss asset manager, distinguished by a proven proprietary quantitative investment philosophy. Founded in 2012 and directly supervised by FINMA, the firm delivers investment solutions to private and institutional clients.
Its disciplined approach and consistent long-term performance have earned repeated recognition through prestigious industry awards, reinforcing enduring client trust.
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Vinicio Marsiaj: “One of our most impactful recent developments last year has been the launch of three Lakefield equity funds, which make long-established investment strategies available in a fund format.
These strategies have been successfully applied in discretionary mandates over many years and are rooted in our datadriven, dynamic, and disciplined investment approach.
By translating proven concepts into scalable fund structures, we have expanded client access to our core expertise, providing investors with institutional-grade strategies in a transparent, regulated, and efficiently implemented format while ensuring consistency across mandates and products.”
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
Bilal Jusufi: “We cultivate a culture of excellence and high performance by living our core values in our day-to-day work. Firstly, integrity and clarity form the foundation of our actions: we stand by our word, act transparently, and build trust, even in challenging times.
to continuous growth ensures we continuously refine our thinking in pursuit of stronger outcomes. Earning and maintaining our clients’ trust is what ultimately drives our commitment to excellence.”
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Vinicio Marsiaj: “We believe that continuous change will remain a defining feature of wealth management in the years ahead, bringing ongoing market volatility, increasing complexity, and evolving regulatory and client expectations. Navigating this environment requires clarity, discipline, resilience, and a strong long-term perspective.
We are positioning our business by remaining independent in our decision-making, building on proven concepts developed and refined over decades, and staying closely aligned with our clients’ long-term goals.
By combining quantitative discipline with adaptability, we aim to offer stability and direction in an increasingly complex investment landscape. Through this approach, we aim to provide resilient progress in a dynamic environment.”
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Bilal Jusufi: “Winning this award is a strong recognition of our team’s work and the trust our clients place in us. It reflects the quality of our investment philosophy and our expertise in asset management, rooted in a data-driven, dynamic, and disciplined investment approach.
Beyond acknowledging achievements, the award reinforces our responsibility to uphold high standards and continuously improve.
• Based in Zurich
Secondly, independence is a core value that allows us to focus consistently on longterm objectives, while lastly, a commitment
This recognition encourages us to continue delivering added value for the longterm benefit of our clients and to further strengthen our position as a trusted partner in navigating complex markets.”
Wealth Management Simplified: How LeoVest is Redefining Independent Wealth Management
families across Switzerland, the UK, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Nordics, Benelux, Israel and South Africa. Licensed by FINMA and supervised by AOOS, LeoVest is built around a clear vision: Wealth Management Simplified.
Winner
• Overall External Asset Manager: Pascal Bucher, Pascal Schmohl, Stephan Matti (Co-Founders, Partners, Executive Team)
• Servicing UK Clients: Vincent Roduit (Co-Founder, Partner, Senior RM)
• Chief Investment Officer (CIO): Peter Ahluwalia (Co-Founder, Partner, Head of Active Investing)
• Lifetime Achievement: Stephan Matti (Co-Founder, Partner, CEO)
LeoVest Partners AG is an independent wealth management firm with offices in Zurich and Geneva. Founded in late 2023 by 11 co-founders, who together own 100% of the company, LeoVest has grown from CHF 50 million in assets under management to approximately CHF 1.8 billion within two years. Today, the firm employs 27 professionals, including 20 senior Relationship Managers, serving Highand UHNW individuals and entrepreneurial
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
One of LeoVest’s most impactful innovations is the introduction of a modular, building-block investment architecture within centralised portfolio management. Rather than designing fully bespoke portfolios for every client, institutional-grade mandates – from passive and active global strategies to thematic solutions – are combined into tailored portfolios using sub-accounts that can be consolidated across custodians.
This approach has improved client outcomes. Clients benefit from diversification, structured risk controls, and disciplined implementation. Portfolios are clearer, consistent in risk-return characteristics, and flexible enough to reflect individual preferences.
Internally, the architecture has enhanced scalability, reduced complexity, and strengthened governance. Standardised building blocks combined with customized allocation enable faster, more transparent investment decisions and allow teams to focus on performance and risk management.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
LeoVest’s culture is built on partnership, transparency, and shared responsibility. Senior Relationship Managers can become shareholders and participate in strategic
decisions through a democratic governance model, creating alignment between advisers, clients, and the firm. Rather than emphasizing short-term incentives, LeoVest focuses on professionalism, long-term thinking, accountability, and collaboration.
What role does collaboration – either internally or with external partners – play in your success?
Collaboration is central to LeoVest’s model. Internally, Relationship Managers, portfolio managers, and support teams work closely to ensure consistent implementation of investment decisions. Externally, LeoVest relies on a trusted network of tax advisers, lawyers, trustees, and financing specialists to address complex needs such as cross-border structuring, succession planning, relocations, and tailored financing solutions.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The industry faces increasing regulatory complexity, margin pressure, and rising client expectations for transparency and alignment of interests.
LeoVest views these developments as opportunities. Risk and compliance are embedded as core pillars of the operating model, supporting stability and client protection. Through strong governance, continued investment in technology, and scalable growth without sacrificing independence, LeoVest is well positioned to navigate industry change while remaining true to its mission of simplifying wealth management through clarity, discipline, and responsibility.
Peter Ahluwalia
Vincent Roduit
Stephan Matti
Pascal Schmohl
Pascal Bucher
Client Trust as the Ultimate Benchmark of Excellence
Marc Moret CEO Lobnek Wealth Management
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
Excellence is not an abstract objective; it is the result of alignment, accountability, and purpose. At Lobnek, we define excellence through one principle: client trust. Performance matters, but it is not enough. Clients must feel protected, understood, and genuinely looked after.
We cultivate this culture in three ways. First, by maintaining a concentrated client base and ensuring senior-level involvement in every relationship. Second, by enforcing clear internal standards: precision in reporting, disciplined investment processes, and proactive communication. Third, by investing in technology that removes operational friction and allows our team to focus on judgment and personal interaction.
For us, the pursuit of excellence is both human and structural: strong relationships supported by world-class infrastructure.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem-solving?
A family approached us after several banks declined to support their generational planning because certain members held U.S. passports. The institutions involved were unwilling to navigate the regulatory complexity.
Leveraging our dual Swiss and US regulatory framework, we coordinated a comprehensive solution. We structured accounts across multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, aligned tax advisers on both sides of the Atlantic, and ensured the family’s succession objectives were implemented without compromising compliance.
For us, the ultimate luxury today is optionality. By building a resilient network of custody relationships across jurisdictions and currencies, we enabled this family to protect their wealth against geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory shifts, and currency risk. Assets can move when necessary – not reactively, but strategically.
flexibility. That transition – from limitation to empowerment – is where we believe true client service resides.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
I see two defining challenges.
The first is geopolitical and regulatory fragmentation. The era of frictionless globalisation is behind us. Clients increasingly face cross-border barriers, reporting burdens, and jurisdictional constraints. At Lobnek, we have structured our firm to remain inherently international. Our cross-border capabilities and dual FINMA and SEC registrations are strategic responses to this environment, allowing us to serve clients wherever their interests reside.
The second challenge is technological acceleration, particularly artificial intelligence. Many operational functions will be automated – and rightly so. We embrace this shift. Technology should enhance relationships, not replace them. By investing early, we have automated complexity and freed time for what cannot be digitised: judgment, empathy, and trust.
We are positioning ourselves proactively, combining international flexibility with technological depth.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
Innovation rarely comes from staying within one’s own industry. I draw inspiration from entrepreneurs and builders – people who identify a problem and refuse to accept existing limitations.
Our early-adopter mindset reflects this mentality. We recognised early that traditional systems and processes would not meet the needs of international families, and we chose to invest ahead of the curve.
• Innovative use of Technology
Beyond structure, what mattered most was peace of mind. The family moved from uncertainty and restriction to clarity and
Innovation also requires humility. Complex challenges demand collaboration. We cultivate a trusted network of legal, tax, and technical partners because leadership is not about having every answer; it is about ensuring your clients always have access to the right one.
Introducing Masttro Intelligence
Mas ro Intelligence is a secure AI layer embedded in the leading platform for UHNW wealth management.
Purpose built for SFOs, MFOs, UHNW-focused RIAs, and institutions, it delivers faster answers, deeper insight, and elevated client service- without new systems to learn. By automating document intake, normalizing alternative investments, and enabling conversational analysis across po folios, your team spends time protecting and growing wealth, not wrangling data.
Masttro
boutique service without the busywork
chasing documents, sta serving clients Defend decisions with precise, consolidated data (including alts)
Visit: www.mas ro.com/ai
Reducing Complexity, Increasing Trust: Masttro’s Vision for the Next Era of Wealth Tech
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Our most impactful recent innovation is Masttro Intelligence – a secure AI layer embedded within the Masttro platform that turns complex wealth data into actionable intelligence, without introducing new systems or compromising governance.
What that means for family offices is simple: it collapses the distance between data and decisions. Historically, wealth teams have had to piece together answers across spreadsheets, emails, PDFs, custodian portals, and multiple administrators, then reconcile, validate, and translate that into something decision ready. Masttro Intelligence changes the operating model by making the platform the place where questions get answered, exceptions get surfaced, and work gets done, with speed, context, and control.
At our scale – processing 8M+ transactions daily across 10,000+ end client users – we’re not just improving one firm’s workflow; we’re helping raise efficiency across the wealth management industry by standardising how data is captured, validated, and translated into decision-ready reporting.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning the award for 'Most Innovative Fintech or Wealthtech Solution' is a meaningful validation of our team’s daily focus and our broader mission to be the leading technology solution for modern UHNW wealth management. It is also testament to our roots in Switzerland. We’ve had an office in Zurich for over 10 years.
In a region where cross-border complexity and data fragmentation are common, this recognition reinforces that we are solving problems that matter, with innovation that is practical and trusted.
We’ll use this recognition in two ways: externally, to build confidence with family offices, RIAs, and institutions evaluating modern platforms; and internally, as a rallying point that reinforces our culture of
excellence and momentum as we continue to expand Masttro’s reach and capabilities.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Three forces will shape the next five years. First, the Great Wealth Transfer will change expectations around experience, transparency, and how clients want to engage. Second, there will be accelerating movement away from legacy tools and spreadsheets, with less tolerance for fragile, stitched-together stacks that create operational risk. Third, data privacy, cybersecurity, and vendor governance will become even more central as firms and wealth owners demand stronger control over sensitive information.
We’re positioning Masttro around a simple principle: reduce complexity and increase trust. That means delivering a unified view across fragmented sources and using Masttro Intelligence to help teams move from searching for information to acting on it – securely, contextually, and at institutional standards.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
We often refer to “the Masttro difference,” and it comes from combining deep domain expertise with a relentless focus on innovation and execution.
We set a high bar for quality because our clients, family offices, RIAs, and institutions, depend on precision and trust.
That standard is reinforced through strong cross-functional collaboration: product, engineering, and client-facing teams stay tightly aligned so what we build is grounded in real workflows and real needs.
We also embed cybersecurity and data governance into how we operate, not as a box-ticking exercise but as a core part of earning trust. Ultimately, high performance is driven by clarity of mission: delivering better data, showcased beautifully, so clients can make better decisions with confidence.
Jay McNamara CEO
Masttro
Three Awards and a Rising Star Shaping The Future of Our Investment Process
Christophe Beney - Quantitative Researcher
Jean-Marc Gavillet - Managing Director of Wealth Management Mirante Fund Management SA
MFM Mirante Fund Management SA has received three awards: 'Assets Between CHF 500 Million – 1 Billion AuM', 'Based in Vaud' and 'Rising Star under 40' – reflecting its disciplined multi-asset investment methodology, technological leadership, and commitment to excellence.
Headquartered in Lausanne, with a branch office in Pfäffikon, the firm stands out for the resilience of its strategies and its ability to attract exceptional talent.
The 'Rising Star Under 40' award honors Christophe Beney, Quantitative Researcher, whose work in data analysis and investment strategy design exemplifies MFM’s future direction.
Christophe Beney, you were named 'Rising Star Under 40' at just 27 years old. What do you think of this distinction?
I see this distinction as meaningful recognition of my journey at MFM. I joined in November 2023, at 25, after completing my Master’s degree in theoretical mathematics at EPFL, with no prior finance background. From the start, I was encouraged to translate academic theories into practical financial tools and turn mathematical knowledge into actionable solutions for our strategies. This is possible because MFM is among the few asset managers of our size investing significantly in quantitative research. That environment encourages different thinking, experimentation, and continuous improvement in our investment approach.
What is your role at MFM, and what distinctive perspective do you bring to the table?
Within the quantitative team, I lead research and develop the framework in close collaboration with Frank Crittin, our CIO. With a theoretical mathematics background, I bring a rigorous and unconventional perspective to traditional asset management. My expertise gives MFM access to advanced quantitative methodologies at the edge of academic discovery that would otherwise remain out of reach for a firm our size. Our team integrates these concepts directly into the investment process, ensuring academic sophistication translates into portfolio impact.
Jean Marc Gavillet, how important is Christophe Beney’s work for the firm?
Christophe’s impact in less than two years has been remarkable. His research can transform how we analyze data and design strategies, giving us an edge in an increasingly complex financial landscape.
Today, the MFM investment team manages 12 distinct strategies. Our methodology, combining quantitative and fundamental disciplines typically reserved for institutional investors, has been warmly received by private clients.
Finally, what do these three awards say about the future of MFM Mirante Fund Management SA?
These awards reflect years of consistency and validate our commitment to active management. Our success is built on a disciplined multi-asset methodology combining rigorous risk allocation, cloud-based analytics, and a client-centric philosophy, fully integrated in our 360° wealth management approach.
• Assets Between CHF 500 Million - 1 Billion AuM
• Based in Vaud
• Rising Star under 40 Winner
This framework enables us to deliver institutional-quality wealth management embedded across private and occupational pension solutions. Beyond investment capabilities, we offer mortgage financing, estate planning, and family office services, ensuring every dimension of our clients’ financial lives is managed with the same rigour, expertise, and dedication.
Building technological foundations today, using the latest research in mathematics and data science, will shape the future of both asset and wealth management.
Octogone's Human-Led Digital Transformation Powers Efficiency, Security & Client Excellence
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Over the past two years, Octogone executed a client-centred digital transformation to enhance efficiency, security, and transparency, well beyond ‘going paperless.’ Digitalising account opening, KYC reviews and internal forms cut processing time, accelerates onboarding and improves consistency. Productivity tools for HR and expense management lifted operational efficiency, freeing relationship managers to focus on strategic advice.
Migration to Microsoft 365 and Azure strengthened data protection and system resilience, reinforcing the trust that underpins client relationships.
Building on this foundation, Octogone has now integrated artificial intelligence at scale across the group, leveraging Copilot to further automate routine tasks, enhance data analysis, whilst maintaining the human touch that defines Octogone’s approach.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
During our digital transformation, rather than relying on a separate digital department, managers and staff led the change. Relationship managers, compliance, risk, and back office co-designed new workflows in a bottom-up programme that created ownership, enthusiasm, and solutions grounded in day-to-day realities. Externally, technology partners supported the build-out of a secure, scalable cloud environment. This blend of cross-functional teamwork and selective partnerships turned a complex shift into a unifying organisational milestone.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem-solving?
Client onboarding had long been paper-heavy and time-consuming. Instead of imposing a top-down fix, Octogone convened workshops with front office, compliance, legal, and operations to map pain points and redesign the journey. The result is a streamlined digital process that reduces administrative friction, improves accuracy, and delivers faster, clearer interactions from day one, without compromising the personal connection clients value.
I believe that technology has value only when it strengthens human relationships.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Rising client expectations for seamless experiences, ongoing cybersecurity pressures, and evolving regulation will define the next phase. Octogone is prepared: a reinforced cloud infrastructure, stronger data protection, regular cybersecurity training, and continual process optimisation keep teams focused on high-value advice while safeguarding information and transparency.
By removing administrative friction and elevating responsiveness, the firm preserves what sets it apart, human expertise and trust, which is augmented, not replaced, by technology.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning is a testament to a transformation that pairs measurable efficiency with a human-first philosophy. Octogone will use the platform to share best practices with peers, continue investing in secure, client-friendly infrastructure, and attract talent committed to purposeful innovation.
Above all, the recognition reaffirms the firm’s promise to deliver clarity, speed, and trust, powered by digital tools, led by people.
Ivan Peruffo CEO Octogone Group •
Leading With Values: Putting People at The Heart of Our Work
Eli Mizrahi Founder Targa 5 Advisors
• Servicing Latam Clients
• Employer of the Year
As Employer of the Year, what advice could you give about creating a motivated, supportive yet ambitious workplace?
At Targa 5 Advisors, we believe people are our most valuable asset. This conviction shapes a workplace that is both supportive and ambitious, where excellence is achieved through collaboration, independence, respect and integrity.
We encourage knowledge sharing, allowing individual expertise to be strengthened by collective intelligence. This creates a supportive bond between team members, where individual wins are celebrated by the team.
Our advisors benefit from a high degree of autonomy in client relationships, supported by a robust infrastructure and risk management framework. This balance between independence and structure enables high performance while ensuring consistency and discipline.
We also place a strong emphasis on development and wellbeing. Continuous learning allows our teams to build multidisciplinary skillsets and evolve within a changing financial landscape. At the same time, we pay close attention to wellbeing. By including simple initiatives like weekly Pilates sessions or season tickets to the local football team, we offer our team space to recharge.
Finally, I really try to set the tone of our culture by example. I try to run the business with respect, accessibility, humility and fairness. My wish is that this consistent approach fosters trust, loyalty and long-term motivation within the firm. By putting people first, we build lasting relationships both internally and with our clients.
What gives Targa 5 Advisors a leading edge in the Latin American market?
We are one of the few Swiss independent managers with a sustained presence in Latin America. Several of our advisors have lived and worked in the region, giving us a nuanced understanding of its cultures, economies, languages and political dynamics. This local insight allows us to translate global investment opportunities into solutions that make sense locally.
We have also adapted our approach to serve a new generation of Latin American entrepreneurs, particularly those interested in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Our open-minded investment philosophy allows us to meet clients where they are in their journey and build cross-generational relationships rooted in trust.
How do your colleagues make a difference?
Trust is central to our client relationships. Our advisors take the time to understand each client’s objectives and design solutions that are strategic and aligned with their long-term vision. Internally, knowledge sharing, collective recognition of success and mutual support reinforce a culture of excellence.
How does your team create opportunities while managing risk amid shifting global conditions?
The client always comes first. We align today’s needs with long-term ambitions, then design strategies that clarify where, how and when to act. Supported by deep expertise in international markets, our teams navigate complexity with discipline and insight.
Opportunity also comes with consistency. By staying true to our values and maintaining high standards of care for both our team and our clients, we continue to grow in a way that is aligned, authentic and sustainable.
Our DNA Is to Take Care of Your Future
With this goal of excellence, we have developed our own processes and technologies for analysis, performance and monitoring of your wealth.
Wealth Management
Understanding who you are, assessing your immediate needs and examining your long-term goals underpins all our management solutions.
Financial planning
Having a long-term vision of your wealth will allow you to effectively organize and structure your daily life
Family office
Protecting and optimising your family assets are among the main concerns of your tax and family interests. Let’s make your legacy last.
Our 2026 Awards
At Telomere Capital, we redefine Wealth Management with a distinctive approach. Our commitment is to deliver unparalleled value to our clients across all services, grounded in integrity, transparency, and the highest professional standards.
We are proud to announce that Telomere Capital SA has been honored at the Sixth WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Awards 2026, in the category of Client Reporting, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Female Executive (Company).
Discover a wealth management experience that sets new standards.
Telomere Capital SA
Building a Culture of Excellence Through Collaboration, Client Focus, and Trusted Partnerships
The founders of Telomere Capital met while working in the Private Banking department of a prestigious Swiss bank. In 2015, they decided to create an independent wealth management firm, driven by the ambition to build their project around the “spirit of performance” a different way of approaching the wealth management profession. This strong ethos has enabled them to far exceed all their growth expectations.
At Telomere Capital, we take the time to get to know our clients and their families, understand their needs, and provide them with personalised and proactive support.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance ?
These values are at the core of our DNA and guided the founding of our firm. Our priority is to satisfy our clients and provide them with outstanding support. Every day, we commit to exceeding expectations and going ever further in every assignment.
We select our employees with great care and pass these values on within our teams. Exchanges between colleagues are essential, as they allow experiences to be shared and ensure best service. In this way, everyone contributes to fostering excellence and supporting our clients with passion and professionalism.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
The choice of the right partners has been a decisive factor in our company’s success. By fostering strong collaboration, both internally among our teams and externally with renowned partners, we have been able to grow our client base and deliver exceptional results.
Telomere Capital SA • Client Reporting • Female Executive (Company) Winner
Internally, teamwork and knowledge sharing allow us to combine our expertise, anticipate our clients’ needs, and offer solutions that are both innovative and reliable. Externally, working with carefully selected partners has enabled us to leverage complementary skills, access new markets, and strengthen our reputation.
Ultimately, these collaborations have played a key role in building trust with our clients and partners, driving the growth of our business, and enabling us to thrive in a competitive environment. They are not merely part of our strategy; they lie at the very heart of our success.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Receiving this award represents major recognition of our team’s daily commitment and dedication to delivering high-quality service to our clients, combining rigor and excellence. It reflects not only the hard work of our professionals, but also the trust and loyalty our clients show us every day.
This distinction strengthens our reputation within the industry and confirms the value we bring to our clients and partners. We see it as an opportunity to share this success with those who support us, trust us, and work alongside us, while further strengthening the relationships that lie at the heart of our business.
Looking ahead, this award encourages us to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence.
Driving Excellence and Innovation at Telomere Capital: Human Judgment Meets Next-Gen Wealth Management
Dominique De Riaz Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Telomere Capital SA
Dominique De Riaz is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telomere Capital, an independent wealth management firm based in Geneva. With more than 20 years of experience in asset and wealth management, he previously held senior positions at UBS Wealth Management, where he was recognised as a top performer and awarded the Circle of Excellence. Since founding Telomere Capital over a decade ago, he has led the firm’s growth with a clear vision: delivering sustainable, high-value solutions to entrepreneurs, families and executives navigating an increasingly complex financial world.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
At Telomere Capital, excellence is not a slogan it is a daily discipline. We cultivate high performance through clarity of purpose, accountability, and alignment. Every team member understands that long-term trust is built on rigor, transparency, and personal commitment. We operate with an entrepreneurial mindset: agile, solution-driven, and deeply client-focused. Continuous education, open dialogue and a strong investment culture ensure that performance is never accidental, it is intentional. Most importantly, we foster ownership. When people feel responsible for outcomes, excellence becomes a natural consequence.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Over the next five years, wealth management will face significant transformation. Regulatory complexity will continue to increase. Technological disruption, including AI-driven portfolio construction and digital client interfaces, will redefine client expectations. At the same time, market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty will test traditional allocation models. We are positioning Telomere Capital to meet these challenges by strengthening our investment governance, enhancing risk management frameworks and integrating technology where it truly adds value without losing the human judgment that remains essential in wealth preservation. Personalisation, flexibility and independence will be decisive differentiators in this new environment.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning this award is both an honor and a responsibility. It validates the work, discipline and integrity of our entire team. For us, recognition is not an endpoint; it is an incentive to raise our standards even further. We will use this distinction to reinforce client confidence, attract exceptional talent and continue investing in innovation. Awards matter because they reflect credibility but lasting success depends on consistency.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
•
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Inspiration for innovation comes from both within and beyond the wealth industry. We closely observe best practices in investment management and risk analytics, but we also draw inspiration from entrepreneurship, high-performance sports and behavioral psychology. Excellence in any field follows similar principles: preparation, resilience and disciplined execution. By combining financial expertise with insights from other highperformance domains, we continuously refine how we serve our clients. At Telomere Capital, our ambition remains clear: protect, grow and structure wealth with integrity, independence and long-term vision.
Our Collaborative Culture Makes All The Difference
We are delighted to be the recipient of two WealthBriefing accolades for 2026. Forum Finance has evolved over the last 3 decades to become one of the leading EAMs in the Swiss market. With assets under management close to CHF2bn and 26 employees we rank among the top 3% of actors in the Swiss market.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
We have been servicing a global clientele for more than 30 years and experienced very different market cycles, significant regulatory changes and a forever stronger Swiss Franc. Despite or perhaps because of these challenges we have continued to grow our business. We believe that our collaborative culture is the reason for that success.
Excellence and high performance are a natural outcome of teamwork.
We have done so by engendering a highly collaborative and equitable culture at Forum Finance – something so very different from a cost-sharing or platform model. This however requires a generous spirit among our partners and employees, where everyone is incentivised and keen for the company as a whole to do well. The effects of this collaborative culture are very much felt by our clients and provides much better outcomes for everyone.
We rarely discuss costs or cost-sharing – we mostly talk about investing in the business. This may well be the reason Forum Finance was one of very few Swiss EAMs that voluntarily sought out direct FINMA regulatory oversight 10 years before it became compul-
Egon Vorfeld Managing Partner
The Forum Finance Group SA
Winner
• Assets Over CHF 1 Billion AuM
• Next Generation Program
sory and similarly decided to register as investment advisor with the SEC to service U.S. clients. These actions were only possible because of our long-term collaborative mindset.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
The geopolitical and macro environment has become less predictable and the costs of running our businesses are forever increasing – including the strengthening Swiss Franc.
The Swiss independent wealth management industry will continue to grow as the need for high quality and totally independent service only increases. Clients seek their advisors’ personal touch and long-term dedication. The recent regulatory changes have however made it very difficult for the smaller EAMs to survive, so we expect the number of Swiss EAMs to drop substantially in the years to come. We believe that we are in the sweet spot: big enough to weather the increasing regulatory demands but small enough to offer the personal service expected by clients.
How do you identify and develop future leaders within your organisation?
We have always had a strong focus on the Next Generation at Forum Finance, both internally and externally. We have a number of younger Equity Partners in our business who participate in our monthly Partnership meetings where we discuss strategic plans and provide full transparency. Their voices really count as they are the future. When their time comes to lead – they are fully prepared to take on the management responsibilities of the company.
Radical Alignment: How High-Conviction Investing is Powering the Energy Transition
Tobler - CIO (left) Mathias Maurer - CEO (right) torck capital management AG
• Thematic Investment Proposition or Strategy
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced and where did we find the inspiration?
Our most impactful innovation was a specialised framework for navigating market inefficiencies. We moved away from the "herd mentality" of broad indexing to focus on high-conviction niche sectors like precious metals and critical minerals. By combining fundamental and technical analysis with the agility of a smaller firm, we’ve been able to identify exponential growth catalysts – like the structural supply deficits in the energy transition – long before they became mainstream consensus. Our inspiration came from the gap between perception and reality as well as from history, cycles, and from periods of structural change. We looked at the "Old Economy" – mining, minerals, and physical assets – and found innovative ways to apply modern financial strategies to them. We are inspired by the challenge of solving the world’s future needs, such as the materials required for the green energy revolution. Seeing the disconnect between what the world needs and what the market currently prices is what drives us to innovate every day.
How do you cultivate a culture that consistently drives excellence and high performance?
We cultivate excellence through radical alignment. Our team is heavily co-invested alongside our clients. When you are "eating your own cooking," the standard of due diligence naturally rises. We foster an environment where intellectual honesty, independent contrarian thinking and curiosity are paramount; we encourage ourselves to challenge the status quo and reward "outside the box" thinking. This ownership mindset ensures that every team member is personally committed to the fund’s performance.
What role has collaboration played in your success?
Collaboration is how we operate. While we value individual expertise, our best investment theses are forged in internal debates. Furthermore, we collaborate closely with industry experts, geologists, engineers, and management teams to understand the physical realities of the commodities we trade. These perspectives help us validate our theses and avoid blind spots. The best investment decisions are rarely made in isolation. We don't operate in a vacuum; we leverage a global network of insights to ensure our high-conviction bets are grounded in multi-disciplinary research.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
This award serves as a powerful validation of our contrarian philosophy. It proves that a focused, disciplined approach to niche markets can outperform broader, more traditional strategies. Moving forward, we will use this recognition as a platform to expand our reach, attracting like-minded investors who value transparency and long-term structural growth over short-term market noise. It reinforces our mandate to remain "demanding" and focused on delivering resilient, long-term results across market cycles on behalf of our investors.
Simon
How Wealthcom Helps Advisors Scale – Without Losing the Personal Touch
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Our most impactful innovation is the introduction of AI-assisted, context-aware client communication that is fully embedded into the wealth management workflow. Instead of treating communication as an afterthought, we connect it directly to actual portfolio data, advisor strategy, and client context. Advisors can generate high-quality, personalized updates – such as portfolio reviews, tactical changes, or market explanations – within minutes, while retaining full editorial control. This has dramatically reduced manual effort and turnaround times, improved consistency and clarity, and enabled advisors to communicate more proactively without increasing workload. The result is stronger client trust and more meaningful, timely interactions.
Can you share a story that best illustrates your team’s commitment to client service or problem-solving?
During an early pilot, one external asset manager highlighted a recurring challenge: explaining strategic portfolio adjustments to clients in a clear, compliant, and timely way – without creating a heavy operational burden. Within days, our team implemented an AI-supported draft communication that combined the advisor’s strategic intent, live portfolio data, and client-specific context. What was previously a manual, timeconsuming bottleneck became a scalable, high-quality client touchpoint. This rapid response not only solved an immediate problem but also reinforced our philosophy: technology should remove friction so advisors can focus on relationships and judgment.
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
Independent wealth managers face rising client expectations, increasing regulatory complexity, and growing pressure to scale efficiently. Clients expect transparency, timely communication, and digital experiences comparable to consumer technology, while regulation demands precision and control. We address these challenges by automating routine communication, enabling proactive outreach, and giving advisors tools to explain complexity simply – without losing the human relationship at the core of wealth management.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning this award validates our belief that great technology should enhance – not dilute – client communication. It confirms that our approach resonates with the industry and the end clients wealth managers serve. We will use this recognition to deepen dialogue with forward-thinking EAMs, strengthen partnerships, and continue raising the bar for transparent, high-quality client engagement across the industry.
Where do you draw inspiration for innovation – within the wealth industry or beyond it?
While we understand wealth management deeply, much of our inspiration comes from beyond the industry. We look to consumer technology for simplicity and clarity, enterprise SaaS for scalability and reliability, and AI-first product design for intelligent automation. Products like Netflix or the Apple ecosystem remind us that intuitive design and seamless experiences are not optional – they are expectations we believe private wealth clients increasingly share.
Elmo Ninier - Founder
Ralf Plänkers - Founder Wealthcom AG
Wecan digitizes onboarding, KYC and periodic reviews through a unified compliance process powered by advanced AI.
This delivers dramatically faster processing, a seamless user experience and a substantial reduction in operational and compliance risks.
Turning Compliance into a Strategic Advantage
Wecan Group is a Swiss-based technology company specialising in digital compliance solutions for financial institutions. Serving more than 100 clients across Switzerland, Luxembourg and Europe—including leading private banks – Wecan provides an end-to-end platform covering KYC, KYB and AML, from onboarding to continuous monitoring. In 2026, Wecan Group was honored with two prestigious distinctions at the WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Awards: 'Compliance Solution' and 'KYC and/or AML Solution'
What has been the most impactful innovation your firm introduced recently, and how has it shaped client outcomes or internal efficiency?
Our most impactful innovation has been the combination of blockchain-based auditability with AI-driven automation within a single compliance platform. Blockchain enables immutable audit trails, ensuring every compliance action is traceable, time-stamped and regulator-ready. In parallel, artificial intelligence allows us to automate document analysis, extract key information and guide users through complex compliance workflows. For our clients, this translates into faster onboarding, reduced operational costs and significantly improved audit readiness.
What role has collaboration – either internally or with external partners – played in your success?
Collaboration is central to our model. We work closely with banks, external data providers and technology partners to ensure seamless integration into existing banking environments. Internally, our teams bring together compliance experts, engineers and product specialists to ensure that innovation remains aligned with regulatory reality. This collaborative approach allows us to build solutions that are both technologically advanced and operationally viable for regulated institutions.
Vincent Pignon Chairman and CEO Wecan Group
Winner
• Compliance Solution
• KYC and/or AML Solution
What are the key challenges you foresee in wealth management over the next five years, and how are you positioning your business to meet them?
We see three major challenges ahead: increasing regulatory complexity, growing client expectations for digital experiences, and mounting cost pressure. Wealth managers will need to do more with fewer resources while maintaining impeccable compliance standards. Wecan is positioned to address these challenges by offering a scalable, modular platform that adapts to evolving regulations, supports international operations, and transforms compliance from a cost center into a competitive advantage.
What does winning this award mean to your firm, and how will you use this recognition going forward?
Winning both the 'Compliance Solution' and 'KYC and/or AML Solution' awards is a strong validation of our vision and execution. It reinforces our credibility with clients, partners and regulators, and motivates our teams to continue pushing the boundaries of compliant innovation.
We will use this recognition to further strengthen our market presence, deepen partnerships with financial institutions, and continue investing in technologies that support secure, efficient and future-proof compliance.
A New Entrant in the Core Banking System Market for Private Banks in Switzerland
Partner
What sets you apart from your peers and why?
WIZE by TeamWork, the all-in-one Wealth & Asset Management solution, is one of the fastest growing WealthTech companies in Switzerland historically dedicated to External Asset Managers (EAM), Family Offices (FO), Fund managers and Pension funds.
Since 2025, WIZE also exists in a full Front to Back Core Banking System version for Private Banks and Securities Firms.
This is a major move for WIZE in the Swiss Private Banking industry since, to our knowledge, the last time a new Core Banking package arrived on this market was Avaloq, 25 years ago…
We are therefore extremely excited to bring Private Banks a major innovation: the capability to manage private clients non-deposited portfolios in addition to the classical management of deposited assets. WIZE is indeed the first ever Core Banking System that will natively allow Private Banks to optimise their cost/income ratio by enabling classical costs savings thanks to a higher automation level but more importantly creating opportunities of new sources of revenue by offering Wealth Management mandates to non-deposited private clients.
This new operational capability in the Private Client market will be a key element to reduce risks and higher revenue of Private Banks when new Relationship Managers will be hired since statistics show that, on average, they only succeed to transfer 30 to 50% of their clients’ assets in the new custodian bank. With WIZE, they will be able to offer Wealth Management mandates to all their clients while only a part will transfer their assets in custody.
Does it mean a revolution for WIZE by TeamWork with a full focus on this market?
No, absolutely not, this is simply a natural evolution!
Our historical core market is to offer a wealth & asset management platform to External Asset Managers who need to be connected to multiple custody banks. This will not change for us as, with connectivity to 250+ booking centres of custodian banks and 30+ trading rooms of brokers or banks in Straight Through Processing, we benefit from a large scope of functionalities to serve these clients, and we continuously invest in the development of new functionalities to enforce our competitive advantage.
At WIZE by TeamWork, we simply carefully listen to our clients and analyse their change requests in our weekly product committee. We already have Private Bank clients for more than 10 years using WIZE as a Front Office system connected to their Core Banking System. They knew our custodian Securities Firms clients had the possibility to manage deposited and non-deposited assets for already more than 10 years too and this capability is now also a very appealing source of revenue for Private Banks. We therefore accepted this challenge and planned the development of these new functionalities over multiple years with our first Private Bank client successfully migrated on the WIZE full Core Banking System on 1st January 2025 in Zurich.
This great achievement from our teams offers new opportunities for WIZE by TeamWork but we will continue to be very active on our historical External Asset Managers core market as its growth in Switzerland, UK, Singapore, Luxembourg and Middle East is very impressive.
Pierre Dupont Managing
WIZE by TeamWork
WINNER: MFM Mirante Fund Management SA
WINNER: Christophe Beney MFM Mirante Fund Management SA
WINNER: Dominique de Riaz - Telomere Capital
WINNER: Telomere Capital
The Sixth WealthBriefing Swiss EAM Awards Winners 2026
SWISS NATIONAL CATEGORIES (COMPANY)
Time for some real talk!
The essential is never overstated
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES (COMPANY)
Servicing North American Clients
Servicing Eastern European Clients
Manager with International Offices outside of Switzerland
Servicing Asia Clients
Clients
TEAM BASED CATEGORIES
Servicing UK Clients
Before you invest millions, ask the market.
Real world opinions are the only ones that matter.
Know whether an idea is worth the investment with answers straight from the market’s mouth.
TEAM BASED CATEGORIES - (CONTINUED...)
WINNER: torck capital management AG
WINNER: Wealthcom
WINNER: Wecan Group
WINNER: WIZE by TeamWork
TECHNOLOGY AND EXTERNAL SUPPLIER CATEGORIES - (CONTINUED...)
KYC and/or AML Solution
Most Innovative Fintech or Wealthtech Solution
SPECIALIST WEALTH MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES
Fund Selection/Asset Allocation Offering
Thematic Investment Proposition or Strategy
Wealth Management Executive Search Firm
LEADERSHIP BASED CATEGORIES
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Investment Officer (CIO)
Female Executive (Individual)
Female Executive (Company)
Employer of the Year
Rising Star under 40
