As an independent non-profit organization, the Interessengemeinschaft unabhängiger Vermögensverwalter has set itself the goal of generating maximum benefit for its members.
One question the board is often asked is, "How is IGUV different from, say, SAAM or similar organizations?" There are four main differences:
1. THE ORIGIN
Our community of interest is not based on a former forced membership. Our members become members because they receive real added value through membership.
2. THE BENEFIT
Our members can use more than 40 services from more than 20 cooperation partners, in some cases free of charge or at advantageous conditions, and in this way save a multiple of the membership fee each year. No other organization offers the member so many benefits from a single source and at this price.
3. THE VISION
We always strive for a fair WIN-WIN solution in all cooperations. For example, we would never contractually demand exclusivity from a cooperation partner. If a cooperation does not represent a profit for one party, then we prefer to do without.
4. WE WANT TO ACHIEVE MORE TOGETHER
Instead of prestige, IGUV focuses on benefits for each individual member. We achieve this with a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach, soliciting feedback directly from our members.
Why is IGUV now establishing two independent chapters in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino?
We have had success with our business model in the German-speaking region. We would now like to transfer this to the other parts of the country. However, we have found that language and culture are a major hurdle in building up new members. One could also speak of the Röstigraben. We want our members not to be looked after from Zurich, but to have a local contact person who speaks the same language and lives the same culture. Someone from our own ranks.
What are the plans for the new Geneva chapter?
In each chapter, we would like to have an independent board consisting of four people. They will run events similar to the ones we do here in Zurich and provide the same added value to the local members. The new chapter will have access to all the services that have already been established.
We have had very good experiences with small, personal workshops with 10 to 15 participants. In workshops of this size, the participants share much better and therefore the benefits are the greatest. Our first workshop in Geneva will take place on Wednesday, October 19 at the Warwick Hotel. Registration is possible via the website. We expect 15 to 20 participants, the event normally costs CHF 250 per person, but is sponsored because it is the kick-off event in Geneva.
According to FINMA statistics, almost one third of all asset managers are in French-speaking Switzerland, which means a target of 30 to 50 members in the Geneva chapter within the next 2 years.
How is the board of directors constituted?
Since the board works on a voluntary or pro bono basis, a WIN-WIN solution is important for sustainable cooperation. For everyone on the board, the work must necessarily have another benefit of its own. An IT specialist or lawyer who specializes in UVV, an asset manager, a provider of financial products, a financing or pension specialist and so on are all suitable for such a commitment. There are many professions that can benefit from this network.
Everyone on the Board starts out as an Advisory Board (without voting rights) and if you are of particular benefit to the Association and contribute, you can be elected to the Board (with voting rights).
As a member of the Board of Directors, you commit to working two days per month for IGUV . In some months, for example during a financial fair, it can be more and in other months less. The financial aspect of such a voluntary commitment recedes into the background and the consideration of what this brings me into the foreground. As a board member, one can regularly present oneself and one's services to members and at workshops to non-members and offer additional benefits to one's existing clients. One can obtain services at advantageous conditions. In any case, involvement in the board should have a positive effect on one's own activities.
We are looking for motivated and proactive board members for both French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino, who are willing to grow together with the network and recognize the potential for their own business.
If you are interested in joining the board in French-speaking Switzerland or in Ticino, please write to info@iguv.ch.