(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Many of you asked me about an excellent vested benefits account. Until recently, I did not know any good one. But now, I came across valuepension! valuepension offers an excellent vested benefits account.valuepension is a vested benefits account that relies on index investing! They are using low-cost index funds and allow people to invest heavily in stocks. Their vested benefits account looks like a great account that should maximize your return on the second pillar.Their offer is really interesting. So I wanted to know more even though I do not have a vested benefits account. And they plan to offer a third pillar in 2020. So, they could become a very interesting third pillar option as well.So, here is my complete review of the

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) May 2020 is over! One more month that we spent at home. Restrictions have started to get eased in Switzerland. But we still spent most of the time in our apartment.We managed to spend very little money this month. However, we now have to pay the taxes for 2019! Given my significant increase in income last year, I did not pay enough taxes in 2019! So now, it is time for the taxes to take their revenge!So, while our pre-tax expenses are quite good this month, our savings rate is down to zero! It has been almost three years now since the last time it happened. A zero savings rate is never great news. But we knew it would happen.So, for the first time in almost three years, we are back to a month with zero savings. Our net worth went

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) There are many good brokers available. So how do you choose between them? Today, we are comparing DEGIRO vs eToro, two brokers that are popular in Europe.If you want to trade in the stock market, you will need a broker account. And you must choose your brokerage company well. You will likely keep the same one for a long time. And changing brokers is a significant pain.DEGIRO is a broker from the Netherlands that advertise very low fees. And eToro is a broker from Israel that mainly advertise social trading.So, how can you choose between the two? This article will help you decide by comparing in detail DEGIRO vs eToro. The comparison will be made on many levels: fees, availability, security, and so on.What is DEGIRO? Best Broker

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A few months ago, I read Deep Work, by Cal Newport. This book is excellent if you want to improve your efficiency.
This book is about the benefits of working deeply. If you practice deep work, you will be able to be much more efficient. It means you can achieve more things for you.
But this also means that you can achieve more at your job. And achieving more at your job can make you more valuable and can lead to an increase an income. So, while this book is not about personal finances, it can indirectly improve your personal finances.
So, let’s see what this book is about and how we can get more work done by practicing Deep Work.
Deep Work
The book is organized into two parts:
The idea
The rules
The

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) A few months ago, I read Deep Work, by Cal Newport. This book is excellent if you want to improve your efficiency.This book is about the benefits of working deeply. If you practice deep work, you will be able to be much more efficient. It means you can achieve more things for you.But this also means that you can achieve more at your job. And achieving more at your job can make you more valuable and can lead to an increase an income. So, while this book is not about personal finances, it can indirectly improve your personal finances.So, let’s see what this book is about and how we can get more work done by practicing Deep Work.Deep Work Deep Work An excellent book about the profound value of Deep Work and how to achieve more by

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If you have been investing in Switzerland, you probably have heard about the Swiss Stamp Tax or the Swiss Stamp Duty. This Stamp Tax is a tax that is collected when you do certain transactions on the stock market.
Even though this stamp tax is really simple to understand, there is a lot of confusion about it. Therefore, I wanted to cover it in detail to dispel the confusion once and for all.
When you are investing in the stock market, you always want to try to cut down the fees. If you are a Swiss investor, it is essential to know what is the Stamp Tax and especially necessary to understand how to avoid this tax! Because, as we will see, there is a way to avoid this tax!
Investing involves risks of

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) If you have been investing in Switzerland, you probably have heard about the Swiss Stamp Tax or the Swiss Stamp Duty. This Stamp Tax is a tax that is collected when you do certain transactions on the stock market.Even though this stamp tax is really simple to understand, there is a lot of confusion about it. Therefore, I wanted to cover it in detail to dispel the confusion once and for all.When you are investing in the stock market, you always want to try to cut down the fees. If you are a Swiss investor, it is essential to know what is the Stamp Tax and especially necessary to understand how to avoid this tax! Because, as we will see, there is a way to avoid this tax!Investing involves risks of losses. Make sure you are aware of

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) It is time for another installment in our Frugal Living in Switzerland series of interviews!Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. MP from the Mustachian Post blog. Mr. MP is in his thirties. His household has two adults and two young children, and both parents are working.As you will see, Mr. MP is very frugal. And he has avoided the trap of lifestyle inflation very well!So, without further ado, here is the story of Mr. MP!1. Tell us about yourself?I’m in my thirties, and I live in the Romandie side of Switzerland. We’re a couple with two young children. On the professional level, I work in the IT industry, and Mrs. MP is in the social field.Apart from that, writing is my passion. This is one of the reasons that pushed

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Credit Cards are an important part of your personal finances. They are tools that you need to use to your advantage.
The problem is that it is easy to misuse credit cards. You need to have a good credit card strategy to take full advantage of credit cards.
Since I have started improving my personal finances, I have optimized a lot my usage of credit cards. I have reduced the annual fee of my credit cards to zero. I have now reduced all my credit card fees to zero! That’s right. I do not pay any fee using credit cards, even for foreign currencies. My credit card strategy is much better than before since I did not realize I was paying too much at that time!
On to of that, I have also improved the cashback

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Credit Cards are an important part of your personal finances. They are tools that you need to use to your advantage.The problem is that it is easy to misuse credit cards. You need to have a good credit card strategy to take full advantage of credit cards.Since I have started improving my personal finances, I have optimized a lot my usage of credit cards. I have reduced the annual fee of my credit cards to zero. I have now reduced all my credit card fees to zero! That’s right. I do not pay any fee using credit cards, even for foreign currencies. My credit card strategy is much better than before since I did not realize I was paying too much at that time!On to of that, I have also improved the cashback I get for each of my

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If you want to invest in the stock market, you will need to choose a portfolio. Ideally, you will want to invest in index funds via Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). For, this you will need to decide on an ETF Portfolio for Switzerland.

Choosing a good portfolio is an important decision. You need to invest in a portfolio that will have low fees, high diversification, and good returns. And you should be careful about keeping it simple!
While there are many examples of ETF Portfolios for the United States, they are not so many for Switzerland. So, it is not ideal to decide on.
In this article, we are going to go over the details of choosing an ETF Portfolio for Switzerland. And at the end of the article, I

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Neon is one of the newest Swiss Digital Banks! It offers an entirely free bank account. Having a free bank is very important if you want to save money for managing your money. Swiss Banks are becoming more and more expensive. It is great to see some free alternatives!Neon is a digital bank. It has no offices. You can manage your money entirely from your phone. With your bank account, you will receive a Mastercard that you can use for your payments. And you can use the mobile application to pay your bills and transfer money to other bank accounts.One of the great things with Neon, compared to other digital alternatives is that your funds are insured! If it goes bankrupt, you are insured up to 100’000 CHF! You have the same

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) If you want to invest in the stock market, you will need to choose a portfolio. Ideally, you will want to invest in index funds via Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). For, this you will need to decide on an ETF Portfolio for Switzerland.Choosing a good portfolio is an important decision. You need to invest in a portfolio that will have low fees, high diversification, and good returns. And you should be careful about keeping it simple!While there are many examples of ETF Portfolios for the United States, they are not so many for Switzerland. So, it is not ideal to decide on.In this article, we are going to go over the details of choosing an ETF Portfolio for Switzerland. And at the end of the article, I will give you an example of what

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) We have already covered many investments on this blog. But we have not yet covered gold as an investment! Most people know Gold as a metal, and a lot of people have some at home in the form of jewelry.But not many people know that we can invest in Gold. There are several different ways of investing in Gold.But should you invest in Gold? And how can you invest in Gold?In this article, we are going to answer these two questions. We are also going to see the impact of having Gold in a portfolio on our retirement chances of success.GoldI probably do not have to explain Gold to you. It is the most famous precious metal in the world.Gold has always been a precious metal. For thousands of years, it has been a sign of wealth to display

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I have talked about several brokers on this blog. But I have not yet answered the question of which one is the best broker in Switzerland!
It is now time to answer this important question. There are several Swiss brokers, and most Swiss banks have their broker service. But some international brokers are also available in Switzerland.
If you want to invest in the stock market, you will need a broker account. So, before you can invest, you will need to choose a broker account. You need to choose carefully since changing brokers is neither easy nor free. Therefore, it is essential to pick the best broker possible.
Investing involves risks of losses. Make sure you are aware of that before you start

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April 2020 is now over! That was one of the weirdest months of our life. We spent the entire month in our village, mostly at home. We only went out to buy groceries and help some of my relatives.
Fortunately, we have a large backyard, so we spent a lot of time outside. And Switzerland is not in full lockdown, so we still went out for walks. But we respected the two meters distance and almost did not talk to people. This is quite weird.
I am getting used to working at home. And I am starting to enjoy it. I save time on the commute, and I spend more time outside.
From a financial point of view, this was an uneventful month. We managed to save a large portion of our income again. This was a good month

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) I have talked about several brokers on this blog. But I have not yet answered the question of which one is the best broker in Switzerland!It is now time to answer this important question. There are several Swiss brokers, and most Swiss banks have their broker service. But some international brokers are also available in Switzerland.If you want to invest in the stock market, you will need a broker account. So, before you can invest, you will need to choose a broker account. You need to choose carefully since changing brokers is neither easy nor free. Therefore, it is essential to pick the best broker possible.Investing involves risks of losses. Make sure you are aware of that before you start investing.How to choose a

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) April 2020 is now over! That was one of the weirdest months of our life. We spent the entire month in our village, mostly at home. We only went out to buy groceries and help some of my relatives.Fortunately, we have a large backyard, so we spent a lot of time outside. And Switzerland is not in full lockdown, so we still went out for walks. But we respected the two meters distance and almost did not talk to people. This is quite weird.I am getting used to working at home. And I am starting to enjoy it. I save time on the commute, and I spend more time outside.From a financial point of view, this was an uneventful month. We managed to save a large portion of our income again. This was a good month overall.April 2020I do not have to

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Capital gains are something that many people do not understand correctly in Switzerland. And this is especially when it comes to Capital Gains Taxes. I have received many questions on this blog regarding how capital gains are taxed in Switzerland. I am specifically talking about capital gains and the stock market.So I decided it was time to dedicate an entire article about Capital Gains and how they are taxed in Switzerland. It is not a very difficult subject. But it is a very important subject!Hopefully, this will help more people understand how this works!Capital Gains in the Stock MarketCapital Gains are the gains you make when you sell stocks at a price higher than the amount you have bought it at. For instance, you purchased

Living in Switzerland is expensive. There is no point denying that. However, it is not as expensive as many people think. There are many ways to save money each month on your budget in Switzerland.
People pay too much each month for most of their bills in Switzerland. For many people, it is because they do not know they can pay less. Many people simply assume that they need to pay this amount and never try to optimize their budget.
Some households are also content with saving a tiny portion of their salary and do not try to save more. Finally, some people are simply falling into the trap of lifestyle inflation (very easy in Switzerland!). As long as their salary increases, they do not care too much about how their expenses increases!
But I think that people

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Living in Switzerland is expensive. There is no point denying that. However, it is not as expensive as many people think. There are many ways to save money each month on your budget in Switzerland.People pay too much each month for most of their bills in Switzerland. For many people, it is because they do not know they can pay less. Many people simply assume that they need to pay this amount and never try to optimize their budget.Some households are also content with saving a tiny portion of their salary and do not try to save more. Finally, some people are simply falling into the trap of lifestyle inflation (very easy in Switzerland!). As long as their salary increases, they do not care too much about how their expenses

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Recently, I had the chance to discuss Real Estate investments with Iain. Iain came from the United Kingdom to Switzerland 14 years ago. He is now a Swiss citizen.He has been investing heavily in several properties, especially in the United Kingdom. I thought it would make a very interesting story for this blog.We are currently considering buying a house to live in, but not yet investing in property. But diversification being very important, this may be something we will do in the future.So, let’s learn together how Iain build his extensive property portfolio. Contents show Can you tell us about your situation?I grew up in the NW of England, studied economics in Nottingham before continuing to work for one of the big five

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) In Switzerland, there are many differences between the different states (or cantons). Can you take advantage of these differences and do geo arbitrage inside Switzerland? We are talking about arbitrage for money advantages.Most people using geo arbitrage are doing it in different countries. For instance, several people work in Switzerland but then plan to retire in a cheaper country. But I think there are opportunities within Switzerland.So, we are going to explore the different opportunities for geo arbitrage within Switzerland. Let’s see if people can get more money or reduce their taxes by moving within Switzerland. Contents show What is geo arbitrage?Geo arbitrage is a technique where you optimize where you work and where

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) When you are trying to reach Financial Independence (FI), the best way to reach FI faster is to increase your savings rate. Your savings rate is the amount of your net income that you can save.For increasing your savings rate, you have two options. You can either spend less or grow your income. These two options will directly increase your savings rate. And as a result, they will speed up your road to Financial Independence and make you reach FI faster.If you spend less, you need to accumulate less money to be financially independent. And if you earn more, you will reach your goal faster.So which of these two options should you focus on if you want to reach Financial Independence? There are some advantages and disadvantages to

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) In 2020, many things have happened in the P2P Lending world. Two major platforms have disappeared. And with them, all the money of the investors.In this context, it is essential to talk rationally about P2P Lending. People need to realize the risks. But not all platforms are scams.I think that Mintos is the safest platform out there. It is the biggest platform and has been reliable since its creation in 2015.I know that P2P Lending is controversial. So, I want to insist on something: P2P Lending is very risky! I am not investing much money in it. I am just investing a small portion of what I consider my fun money.In this post, I am going to review Mintos, one of the major P2P Lending Platforms. Contents show My stance on P2P

These days, everybody needs an internet connection. And we can agree that we all want to pay as little as possible for our connection to the web. Although your internet plan may have been the cheapest when you started using it, it may not be the case anymore. New deals may have appeared.
If you want to keep saving money on your internet plan, you need to compare offers and always keep up to date with the latest offerings.
In Switzerland, there are many internet providers. And each of them has many different subscriptions.
In this article, I am going to compare all the ways to get access to the Internet in Switzerland.
Maybe you do not need an internet plan?
Have you ever wondered if you could get rid of your internet subscription at home?
I am not saying that you

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) These days, everybody needs an internet connection. And we can agree that we all want to pay as little as possible for our connection to the web. Although your internet plan may have been the cheapest when you started using it, it may not be the case anymore. New deals may have appeared.If you want to keep saving money on your internet plan, you need to compare offers and always keep up to date with the latest offerings.In Switzerland, there are many internet providers. And each of them has many different subscriptions.In this article, I am going to compare all the ways to get access to the Internet in Switzerland. Contents show Maybe you do not need an internet plan?Have you ever wondered if you could get rid of your internet

The current crisis is not a good thing. However, it is not the end of the world. And it can teach us some things about being socially isolated. Let’s stay positive and try to learn from this unprecedented isolation.
During this crisis, we have been learning many things. Some of these things we were already doing, and we only realize their importance now. But for other things, we understand that we can improve some things in our life. That way, the next time we will have to deal with such a crisis, we will be more prepared.
Hopefully, this will be resolved soon. I hope we will not have to stay in isolation much longer. But there is no way to tell. So far, I have been working from home for about four weeks. And we have been in full social isolation for about 25

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) The current crisis is not a good thing. However, it is not the end of the world. And it can teach us some things about being socially isolated. Let’s stay positive and try to learn from this unprecedented isolation.During this crisis, we have been learning many things. Some of these things we were already doing, and we only realize their importance now. But for other things, we understand that we can improve some things in our life. That way, the next time we will have to deal with such a crisis, we will be more prepared.Hopefully, this will be resolved soon. I hope we will not have to stay in isolation much longer. But there is no way to tell. So far, I have been working from home for about four weeks. And we have been in full

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links) Selma is a Robo-Advisor in Switzerland. They offer a different approach than other Robo-Advisors in Switzerland. Indeed, you will have your own virtual personal assistant.This assistant will guide you through investing. And through your chat with the assistant, the system will design a personalized portfolio.In this post, I am going to review Selma in detail. By the end of the article, you will know whether Selma is a good fit for your investing.Keep in mind that I am not investing with Robo-Advisors. For people willing to put the time and effort, DIY Investing is better and will save you money. But for other people, investing with Robo-Advisors is the next best thing. Contents show Selma Selma is a Swiss Robo-Advisor. They