New Zurich-Based Online Wealth Manager Takes Form

Tom Burroughes

20 July 2016

Yet another online wealth manager is taking form with a business called having been established by former senior figures from Credit Suisse and other financial institutions.

Werthstein’s chief executive and co-founder is Bastian Lossen; another senior figure is Michael Stemmle, while another involved in the new venture is Giles Keating, a former research head at Credit Suisse who left in June after more than three decades at that bank. Felix Roescheisen, who had been head of sales management in retail and private banking at Hypovereinsbank, is also one of the founders. According to the firm’s website, Lossen previously led the marketing strategy for Credit Suisse across the Americas, Asia and EMEA regions. Felix Röscheisen is chief financial officer and chief operating officer. He was COO of HVB UniCredit’s Private Banking franchise and held other senior management positions. Keating is described as the “Chairman of the Werthstein Institute”.

A notable feature of Werthstein is a set of video links highlighting opinions about investments and markets, and a feature that will become live is the ability for viewers to choose an investment idea by clicking on a screen. This process is being finalised. The first major target markets for the firm are Germany and Switzerland, with others likely to come on stream in due course.

“A team of three came together in summer 2015 to try nothing less than change the way people invest. All of us had worked in the financial services industry for many years and have experienced at first hand the challenges investors and banks are facing. We felt that there should be a way to help investors simplifying investment decisions,” the website of the firm says.

“At the same time we wanted to improve the design of portfolios and thought that more people should benefit from balanced portfolio strategies, considering the individual risk appetite of an individual investor for every investment decision,” the firm says, adding: “We are convinced that this way, investors can improve their long-term average performance. Last but not least we believe that investing should be exciting and fun. Our clients look for intellectual stimulation, want to understand current trends, and if they see fit, invest."

The firm is located in Beethovenstrasse, Zurich.

According to Keating's Linkedin page, the business is described thus: "Werthstein: the innovative on-line wealth manager, our monthly TV panel show with voting ... invest with Zeitgeists from Biotech to Mandarin Millennials .. all in a portfolio framework tailored to each client ... and one-click investing."

The firm is located in Beethovenstrasse, Zurich, the website said.