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Tools for wealth building

Last updated: October 12, 2024

The number of blog posts growing more and more, I noticed that it was hard to keep an overview of all the great tools that I use in my life in order to increase my wealth. That's why I grouped them all on this page:


Finance

Best bank in Switzerland 2024: neon

neon is my 100% free Swiss online bank. You are entitled to the neon Debit Mastercard for free + CHF 10 of welcome cash by using my special code "neonMustachian" in their app (read my detailed article to understand my choice). And until further notice, you will receive up to 30 CHF cashback on the trading fees of your first 3 trades with neon invest.

Another alternative that may better suit you is the Swiss online bank Zak which I have compared with neon in this article. I also negotiated CHF 25 of welcome cash if you use the code "Y06JPR" during the account opening process with them.


Create an account with MUSTACHIAN >
neon logo
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Best credit cards in Switzerland 2024: Swisscard Cashback Amex, Certo! One, and neon

My Swiss credit card system allows me to earn CHF 551.88 per year compared to a system with UBS, Credit Suisse or BCV credit cards. I explain my credit card system in detail in this article.

Before switching

  • CHF 100 of annual credit card fee
  • CHF 251.88 for expenses on my expenses in foreign currencies
  • (and I didn't earn anything in cash back)

After switching

  • CHF 0 of annual credit card fee
  • CHF 0 of fees on my expenses in foreign currencies
  • CHF 200 of cash back per year
My three cashback cards

In summary:

  • The Swisscard's Amex Cashback is 100% free of charge and has the most advantageous Swiss cashback program. If you order it with this code "FC40XDREG", you will receive CHF 40 of welcome bonus in cash
  • The Certo! One Mastercard World from Cembra is 100% free too. I use it as soon as my Cashback Amex is not accepted in order to take advantage of the second best cash back program in Switzerland. By ordering it with this link you earn in addition CHF 50 of welcome cash
  • The free Mastercard debit card from neon to pay anywhere in Switzerland where credit cards are not accepted (including the countryside!), abroad, and in foreign currencies (shops and online)

Order your Cashback card >
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Best Budgeting App: YNAB

YNAB (aka. You Need A Budget) is the budgeting tool I have been using since 2013. It has allowed me to grow my net worth from CHF 50'000 to CHF 1'204'459 in 10 years (read my detailed review here).

YNAB budget app
Create your YNAB budgeting account >

Best online brokers Switzerland 2024: Interactive Brokers and DEGIRO

The goal is for your money to work for you every minute of your life. While you sleep, it's working. While you're at your job, it's working too. While you are hiking in the Fribourg pre-Alps, it's still working! And in concrete terms, what I mean by "it's working" is that you earn cash without doing anything at all. I personally aim for at least 7-8% over the long term with my investments in ETFs.


In my case, I use Interactive Brokers for our (Mrs. MP and mine) stock market investments, and DEGIRO for the money we are saving for our children.


You will find my extensive comparison of the best trading platforms in Switzerland in this article.


I also wrote a comprehensive Interactive Brokers guide for Swiss investors, a detailed guide for DEGIRO, as well as a full review of Saxo Bank.

To buy my index funds as a Swiss investor, I recommend 3 online broker options:

  • Interactive Brokers is the best for Swiss investors
  • DEGIRO if you prefer to have an online broker based in Europe rather than in the US
  • Cornèrtrader if you absolutely want to have your broker located in Switzerland. If you don't plan to invest more than CHF 35,000 over the next 3-4 years, choose Saxo Bank (<= CHF 200 brokerage fee refunded using this link) for lower fees
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Interactive Brokers logo DEGIRO logo Cornèrtrader logo
Invest in the stock market with IBKR >

Best third pillars (3a): VIAC and finpension

You want to take advantage of the pillar 3a tax reduction, but you don't like the outrageously expensive funds in which your savings are invested?
VIAC and finpension are our solution. All our 3a money is invested in equity ETFs up to 99%. Minimum fees, maximum returns!


You'll find my full comparison of the best 3rd pillar in Switzerland on this page.


My welcome codes: 3aMust for VIAC (free management of your first CHF 2,000 of pension assets, for life!), and MUSTBC for finpension (CHF 25 fee credit offered).


Open your 3a VIAC account with 3aMust >
VIAC dashboard

France real estate return calculator: Horiz.io (formerly Rendementlocatif.com)

After automating my stock market investment strategy, I looked for a way to increase my returns and also to diversify my investments. By talking to several readers, real estate tempted me because of its tangible side and its returns of at least 15%!

But this world was completely new to me. With very specific calculation methods. That's when I discovered a tool that became essential for me to calculate the potential of a property in France in less than 3 minutes and this in a 100% reliable and objective way: Horiz.io

Pro tip: create your account at 29€/month when you are in your intense search phase, and then stop it when you have found your property.


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Coinbase dashboard

Crypto-currency wallet: Coinbase

I have invested 11'000€ via Coinbase (read my detailed article) in case it turns into CHF 1'000'000 in 10 years. For the moment it has been stagnating since 2017. We'll see about that :) Anyway, one thing's for sure, I'm not adding a dime to this.


Insurances

Best car insurance Switzerland 2024: smile

smile.car (formerly smile.direct) has been my car insurance for several years now. As a Mustachian, I haven't found a better way to insure my car. You're entitled to CHF 50 welcome cashback if you you use this special link for MP readers (read my detailed article to understand my choice).

smile.car logo
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Best Swiss health insurance 2024: KPT

The benefits of basic health insurance, also known as KVG/LAMal insurance, are regulated by Swiss law. Hence, the coverage is the same for all insurers. Only the quality of service (speed of reimbursement, availability of customer service, third-party guarantor, etc.) changes. But not the coverage of your costs.

As a Mustachian, I am not dependent on reimbursements. So my choice goes to the cheapest Swiss health insurance with the highest deductible (i.e. CHF 2'500 to date) which is KPT since 2023 (for our family situation, residing in the canton of Vaud).

KPT Swiss health insurance

Pro tip: one can change health insurance every year. The cancellation deadline is the 30th of November at the latest. So, we always check at the beginning of the school year in September if there are any cheaper health insurances via the official website of the Swiss Confederation "Priminfo".

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Best life insurance 2024 in Switzerland

Swiss life insurance is useless for Mustachians. Except in certain very specific situations, which I describe in this detailed article. You'll also find two cashback options for SafeSide and EmmaLife).

And don't forget: NEVER get a mixed life insurance (i.e. linked to a 3rd pillar)! Why not? Read this article ;)


Telecoms

Internet and mobile: Sunrise via QoQa.ch

I don't wanna be a cash cow and pay CHF 100-200 for internet + mobile subscriptions every month. How about you?

My current Swiss internet+mobile setup is based on Sunrise with the QoQa offer. It allows me to have unlimited home internet + unlimited mobile subscription for everything, for an amount between CHF 42 and CHF 64 (for one person), and between CHF 84 and CHF 105 (for a couple). Now you know what to do :)

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Books

Top 10 Personal Finance Books

Personal finance

Reading is what made me rich, and it's what keeps my net worth growing today.

So I've compiled (with the help of blog readers!) a list of the best personal finance books. This valuable resource is accessible by following this link.


Make money

Best cashback platform in Switzerland 2024: Rabattcorner

You can't become FIRE with cashback alone. Nevertheless, a few dozen or even hundreds of CHF here and there is always a pleasure! I've tested a number of different sites in Switzerland. And my favorite cashback platform is still Rabattcorner. (detailed review here).

By opening your Rabattcorner account via this link, you'll get CHF 5 welcome cashback.

Logo Rabattcorner
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TestingTime

Online survey: TestingTime (~ CHF 200/h)

Get paid CHF 200/hr to give feedback to companies on their new wealth management tools and other financial services.
Simply register for free to TestingTime as a tester.
You can read my full review in this article.


Note: there are many affiliate links on this page. If you use one or more of them, you won't notice any difference than with a standard link — but the blog will get a referral commission. I thank you for this. As usual, I only write and review things that I use in my personal daily life, or that I trust.


As usual, I only write and review things that I use in my personal daily life, or that I trust.

Thank you for reading!