Investing with Alpian – Review and Full Analysis (September 2025), get 75 + 125 CHF

Switzerland’s first ‘digital private bank’ is intriguing, but what is Alpian truly like in 2025? Is it effective for all investors? Let’s examine that.

📝 The purpose of this review:

• To detail what Alpian offers and what sets it apart from other banks.
• To compare Alpian to other solutions available in Switzerland.
• To evaluate the fees, performance, and investor profiles it suits best.

Managing your investments alone requires discipline: you need to monitor markets, make the right decisions at the right time, and avoid emotional biases. It’s doable, but requires time, solid knowledge, and a clear strategy.

When we talk about “wealth management”, we first think of Lombard Odier, Pictet, or UBS Wealth, which “cater to wealthy clients with entry thresholds often exceeding 500,000 CHF.

On the” other hand, robo-advisors like Selma make “investing accessible from a few hundred francs, but without real human support.

There are brokers like Swissquote and neo-banks like Yuh or Neon, which offer direct access to markets or directly to investment products, but require complete autonomy in” managing investments.

Alpian is between all these models: more structured than an online broker, more personalized than a robo-advisor and less expensive than a traditional private bank.

Alpian is similar to a private bank, but with a more accessible approach: you can open an account with as little as 2,000 CHF (compared to several hundred thousand in a traditional bank). It distinguishes itself from robo-advisors like Selma by offering genuine support, while maintaining an algorithmic approach to optimize allocations. And unlike brokers, you don’t directly choose your stocks: everything is managed through optimized portfolios.

Who is behind Alpian?

Alpian was founded in 2019, but it’s not an isolated player: it’s part of the Intesa Sanpaolo group, one of the largest European banks.

It’s a key decision when choosing to invest: do you want to be completely autonomous, or do you prefer a manager to handle your investments?

There are three levels of support:

• A turnkey portfolio with predefined investment strategies.
• Support with recommendations, while retaining control over decisions.
• Full discretionary management, where you completely delegate investment decisions.

Alpian investment mandates

Unlike robo-advisors that apply a fully automated model, Alpian integrates a human dimension at the heart of the process, within the application: you can discuss with a manager and adjust your strategy when you wish.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

With Alpian, you don’t manually choose each stock like with Swissquote: everything is based on a predefined allocation, optimized according to your profile. You invest via a selection of 45 ETFs managed automatically.

💡 An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a fund listed on the stock exchange that groups several securities, such as stocks or bonds, into a single product. The idea is to diversify investments while keeping fees low. Some ETFs track global stock market indices, others allow exposure to specific themes like clean energy, tech, or even crypto assets via listed products.

Cryptocurrencies: a controlled exposure, without direct management

Crypto investment at Alpian is only done through specialized ETFs, such as the 21Shares Bitcoin Core ETP. No direct purchases, no wallet, no private key management: everything is integrated into the standard investment framework.

It’s a model that reduces risks, but also limits freedom of action. Unlike Yuh, where you can directly buy Bitcoin or Ethereum, here it’s not possible to enter and exit the market at will.

No direct stocks, commodities, or private equity

At Alpian, you can’t invest directly in individual stocks, commodities, or private equity. Everything is framed within a standardized strategy and adjustable only within certain limits.

If you’re looking for more flexibility in managing your portfolio, Swissquote and Yuh allow you to buy and sell securities freely. With Alpian, you follow an allocation defined from the start, without the possibility of modifying it individually.

How involved do you want to be in managing your portfolio? Some want to delegate everything, others prefer to have control while being supported, and others seek a fully automated solution. Alpian offers three types of support, each with a different degree of flexibility:

With Managed by Alpian Essentials, everything is automated and the investor follows a fixed strategy, without the possibility of adjustment (except for weekly rebalancing).

Managed by Alpian offers management more adapted to the risk profile, but without manual intervention.

Only the Guided by Alpian mandate allows for some control, with a ±10% margin on asset allocation and the ability to choose ETFs from a pre-established selection. An approach that frames personalization, while allowing more freedom than a robo-advisor like Selma, but less than a broker like Swissquote where every choice is up to the investor.

Image: heyneo.ch

What changes is the degree of customization and autonomy left to the investor (which we explain in the next point).

This is Alpian’s entry point for investors who want to test the waters🌡️. When you’re starting out or looking for a turnkey investment solution, it’s reassuring to have an already structured portfolio without worrying about asset allocation. This is the principle of Managed by Alpian Essentials.

In this mandate, everything is predefined: you choose a risk profile from five options and Alpian manages the portfolio allocation accordingly. The investment is based exclusively on carefully selected and diversified ETFs. You can also opt for a particular investment theme such as Sustainable, Global, Swiss, or Global Crypto.

You let the financial experts handle it while having full visibility on what’s happening in the portfolio. But this level of simplicity also has its limitations:

What you gain

• Ease.
• An accessible entry from 2,000 CHF (far from the 500,000 CHF minimum required by a private bank).
• Management without the need for intervention.
• Fixed fees (0.75%/year), which remain the same for all mandates.

What you lose

• No customization beyond the defined risk profiles.
• The portfolio follows the performance of ETFs but does not make strategic decisions as an active manager might.

Everyone is different. You may want to manage your investments without being completely left to your own devices (especially when you don’t necessarily have the time to constantly monitor the markets). This is where Guided by Alpian becomes interesting. You retain control over your decisions, but with recommendations to refine your strategy.

What you gain

• A good compromise between autonomy and guidance.
• Access to about fifty ETFs, compared to only pre-made portfolios in Essentials.
• Regular recommendations to optimize the portfolio.

What you lose

• Orders are not executed in real-time, but scheduled.
• You can’t completely deviate from defined strategies (maximum 10% difference).

Alpian compared to Neon and Yuh?

This touches on Alpian’s hybrid nature: more guidance than with a simple trading account, but less freedom than with a broker. In comparison, Neon Invest and Yuh allow you to buy stocks freely, but without any follow-up or advice. Guided by Alpian positions itself right between the two with a structured framework, but a certain degree of flexibility.

And Guided by Alpian Compared to a Robo-Advisor like Selma?

Comparing with Selma, we see that the idea is quite similar: passive management through ETFs, an equivalent entry threshold, and an algorithmic approach:

But unlike Selma, you have access to a human advisor at Alpian, which can be a real plus if you want to discuss your strategy.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

Managed by Alpian is the experience closest to a private bank, but without its exorbitant entry ticket. Everything is handled by the investment team that adjusts the portfolio based on market conditions and your preferences.

This mandate is intended for investors who want to fully delegate the management of their assets, while having true personalization.

What you gain

• 100% customized management where everything is optimized.
• Portfolios adjusted according to market trends.
• Possibility to define exclusions (e.g., avoiding certain industries, excluding cryptocurrencies).

What you lose

• The minimum investment of 30,000 CHF is higher.
• No flexibility to choose specific ETFs yourself.

Alpian compared to Swiss private banks?

If we compare to a private bank like Pictet or UBS Wealth Management, the big difference is the fees. Where private banks charge an average of 1.32% according to the 2024 survey by moneyland.ch and require substantial amounts, Alpian offers a much more accessible alternative.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

The available ETFs partly depend on the selected mandate: with Managed by Alpian (managed investment), the allocation is entirely defined by Alpian and continuously adjusted. In active management “Guided by Alpian”, you have choice and adjustment margin based on the provided advice.

Complete Table of ETFs Available at Alpian

This view represents the latest update made by heyneo.ch. The available ETFs are constantly updated in the Alpian application where you will find the latest developments.

Alpian’s ETF Selection by Theme

Fees inevitably reduce the performance of an investment: it’s better to understand them in detail before choosing your mandate.

0.75%, All-Inclusive?

Alpian applies a single management fee of 0.75% per year on the total value of investments.

What is included in these fees:
✔︎ Portfolio management (more or less active depending on the chosen mandate).
✔︎ Access to financial advisors.
✔︎ Annual tax report.
✔︎ Execution of transactions without additional fees.

There Are Other Costs to Consider

Even if the 0.75% covers the overall portfolio management, other costs are added and must be taken into account.

Swiss Stamp Duties

Like all platforms in Switzerland, Alpian applies stamp duty on transactions:
0.075% for Swiss securities and 0.15% for foreign securities.

Exchange Fees

These are the exchange fees when investing in a currency other than Swiss francs.

Pricing applied at Alpian:

• 0.2% on weekdays.
• 0.5% on weekends.

During the week, these rates remain competitive:
– Yuh applies an integrated spread, between 0.5% and 1.5%, without fixed fees.
– Swissquote can go up to 1.5% depending on the currency.
– Neon uses the interbank rate but adds fees per order.

The majority of Alpian portfolios are structured in CHF, which reduces the need for frequent conversions. Additional positive point: at Alpian, the bank account is multi-currency, which allows you to keep the currencies of your choice in anticipation of future investments.

📌 There are no transaction fees at Alpian.

ETF Fees

Alpian portfolios are built solely with ETFs that incorporate internal fees called TER (Total Expense Ratio). On average, the selected ETFs are around 0.25%. If we add the delegated management charged at 0.75%, we arrive at a total cost of about 1% per year for the investor.

📌 This level of fees remains reasonable for a fully managed solution, even if higher than a robo-advisor or a self-directed broker.

Alpian positions itself against other solutions such as Neon Invest, Yuh and Selma which offer models with different fees.

Comparison of management and transaction fees:

Analysis:

• Neon and Yuh are the least expensive, but require completely autonomous management.
• Selma remains slightly cheaper than Alpian, but offers no human support.

Is Alpian competitive on fees?

Advantages:
✔︎ Clear and predictable fee structure.
✔︎ Cheaper than a traditional private bank.
✔︎ No per-transaction fees, unlike brokers.

Limitations:
✘ More expensive than Neon and Yuh for autonomous investors.
✘ The total cost (0.75% + TER 0.25%) reaches 1%, slightly above Selma.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

Should We Always Aim for the Lowest Fees?

Alpian charges 0.75% per year for portfolio management. We must add about 0.25% in fees related to the selected ETFs. This total cost, around 1% per year, may seem high compared to platforms like Neon Invest or Yuh, which do not charge any management fees.

But this comparison is misleading, as we forget the nature of the service.

What the Fees Cover at Alpian

At Alpian, you’re not just paying for access to financial markets. You’re paying for complete management of the portfolio:

• Semi-active management driven by Alpian’s algorithm, enriched by market views from experts.
• Automatic weekly rebalancing to maintain the target allocation.
• Personalized advice in the “Guided” and “Managed” mandates.
• A tailor-made allocation, based on the behavioral profile, not just a simple standard model.

The Objective: Better Performance… Or Avoiding Mistakes

Alpian doesn’t just follow an index. Each week, the allocation is adjusted according to market movements, the client’s risk tolerance, and expert convictions. The goal is not simply to replicate the market, but to intelligently adapt it to each investor.

Conversely, low-cost platforms apply a passive strategy or leave the client alone with their decisions. If all goes well, it works. But a bad decision, poor timing, or insufficient diversification can quickly erase the savings made on fees.

What to Remember

Fees at Alpian are higher, but they cover a managed service, often absent from low-cost competitors. They should be considered against the potential performance gain.

The choice depends on the profile:
– If you want to manage everything yourself, you’ll prefer Yuh, Neon, or Guided by Alpian.
– If you’re looking for a stable, personalized, and assisted approach, Alpian is the most suitable.

Define risk profile – step 1/4

Financial experience : Alpian assesses understanding of financial markets and different investment products.

Financial situation: This step allows Alpian to assess its investment capacity and propose suitable solutions.

Investment objectives : Definition of short, medium and long-term financial objectives.

Risk tolerance : the customer’s ability to withstand market fluctuations and potential losses.

Create an investment strategy – step 2/4

The investment strategy is created by going through several modules.

Restrictions: allows aligning investments with personal convictions by choosing to include or exclude certain sectors or types of investments.

Impact Preference: Allows personalizing the investment portfolio based on values or preferences regarding environmental and social impact.

Strategic Allocation: Proposes a personalized asset allocation, optimized by experts according to your objectives and risk tolerance, for a diversified portfolio adapted to your profile.

Consult the performance history of the portfolio allocation (exposure) – step 3/4

Validate the mandate – 4/4

The final step is to validate (sign) the mandate directly on the phone.

Wealth management in retail banks uses a single model: they group investors into 3 or 4 predefined categories with standardized allocations that vary little from one client to another:

– conservative
– balanced
– dynamic

Two people classified as “balanced” have an identical portfolio without taking into account their actual tolerance for market fluctuations.

With Managed by Alpian, the allocation is not standardized. It is individually adjusted with an infinity of possible variations based on the real risk tolerance, calculated via a proprietary model inspired by behavioral finance.

With Essentials, the approach is simpler: you choose a profile from five risk levels, and the allocation remains fixed within this framework. It’s a more accessible model, but also less refined, which doesn’t take into account the psychological nuances specific to each investor.

Two investors with the same profile may receive different allocations based on their individual risk perception, which is rarely taken into account in a traditional bank.

Concrete example:

• In a traditional bank: two investors considered “balanced” will each receive 50% in equity funds and 50% in bond funds, with a standardized allocation.
• At Alpian: one might have 60% in ETFs exposed to stocks and 40% in bond ETFs, while the other might stay closer to 40% in stock ETFs and 60% in bond ETFs, depending on their risk tolerance and reaction to market fluctuations.

The client’s utility function

Alpian’s approach uses the “client utility function”, a model from behavioral finance that adjusts allocation based on the client’s actual ability to bear risk. Two theoretically similar profiles can thus result in different allocations, which doesn’t exist in a traditional bank where a uniform framework is applied.

What this changes in practice

✔︎ More refined risk management: each portfolio is adjusted to best match expectations and actual tolerance for fluctuations.
✔︎ Better emotional stability: less risk of abandoning a strategy after a downturn, as the allocation better reflects the investor’s ability to handle market variations.
✔︎ A unique positioning: more personalized than a robo-advisor, more structured than a completely free approach like Swissquote, and more agile than a classic private bank.

Comparison of risk assessment models

Alpian’s portfolio management methodology

How is the allocation defined?
It all starts with the detailed questionnaire that targets the risk level, financial objectives, and investment preferences. Based on this, Alpian builds an optimized portfolio taking into account several parameters:

✔︎ Intelligent diversification: a selection of ETFs to cover different sectors and geographical areas.
✔︎ Risk-return optimization: asset selection is based on their volatility and growth potential.
✔︎ Advanced personalization with the possibility to exclude certain investment themes or favor a sustainable portfolio, for example.

Image: heyneo.ch, steps in building an investment portfolio at Alpian.

The work doesn’t stop at setting up the portfolio. Unlike a purely passive approach, Alpian regularly adjusts its investment strategies based on economic and financial conditions. Financial markets are constantly evolving. Some asset classes are more attractive at a given time, while others become riskier or less profitable. The market views produced by Alpian allow for adapting asset allocations according to these changes.

How does Alpian apply these market views?
Alpian continuously analyzes several macroeconomic and financial indicators. Based on this, the team can overweight or underweight certain asset classes to optimize profitability:

Overweighting = if an asset class seems particularly promising, Alpian can increase its weight in the portfolio.
Underweighting = conversely, if a sector becomes too risky or unattractive, it can be reduced in the allocation.

Image: heyneo.ch, market views are used to dynamically rebalance portfolios.

What this changes in practice:
Alpian adjusts its positions according to market conditions while remaining within a structured management. Conversely, Selma applies a totally passive management with automatic rebalancing, without taking into account economic cycles.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

These are two opposing philosophies: active management vs. total automation

Alpian vs Selma, which option for which profile?

Alpian is a better option for:
✔︎ Investors seeking a more personalized and dynamic approach.
✔︎ Those who want to benefit from human guidance and financial advice.
✔︎ People who want to have an influence on the investment strategy (choice of sectors, sustainability, etc.).

Selma is more suitable for:
✔︎ Those who want a fully automated solution with lower fees.
✔︎ Long-term investors looking for simple and passive management.
✔︎ Those who want to minimize their involvement and fully delegate management.

The difference between the two:
Alpian stands out with a semi-active approach, which incorporates an advanced personalization model and strategic adjustments to optimize portfolios based on market conditions. On the other hand, Selma remains a simpler and more economical alternative, ideal for those seeking 100% passive management.

Alpian is a Swiss digital private bank. Unlike fintechs operating without banking status, it has its own banking license issued by FINMA.

Swiss banking license and FINMA supervision

• Alpian is subject to the same regulatory requirements as traditional banks in terms of solvency, risk management, and transparency.
• The institution must comply with strict capital and liquidity ratios, ensuring its financial strength.

Unlike trading platforms or robo-advisors operating with more flexible statuses, Alpian is a full-fledged bank.

Deposit protection guarantee

Cash deposits with Alpian are covered up to 100,000 CHF thanks to the Swiss deposit protection mechanism.

Note:

• This protection applies only to deposits in CHF.
• Investments (ETFs, bonds, stocks) are not covered by this guarantee, as they are registered in the client’s name and belong to the clients.

Where are investment assets stored?

• Unlike banks that store securities with SIX (the Swiss central securities depository), Alpian uses Interactive Brokers, a trusted custody platform based outside of Switzerland.
• In case of any issues with Alpian, the securities remain the property of the client and can be transferred to another institution.

Compared to Alpian, platforms like Neon Invest, Yuh Invest, Swissquote and Selma offer various investment solutions, with models ranging from self-management to automated robo-advisors. So, how does Alpian compare?

What we can conclude:

• Alpian and Selma are the only solutions offering automated management. However, Alpian adds human support, unlike Selma, which is 100% automated.
• Neon Invest, Yuh Invest, and Swissquote allow investing in a wider range of assets, while Alpian is limited to ETFs.
• Alpian and Selma store invested assets via Interactive Brokers, outside of Switzerland, while Neon, Yuh, and Swissquote keep securities in Switzerland.

Each platform caters to specific needs.

Alpian is suitable for:
✔︎ Investors seeking human support and semi-active management.
✔︎ Those who want to delegate management while maintaining some strategic flexibility.
✔︎ People who prefer a structured framework rather than choosing their investments themselves.

Alpian is not ideal for:
✘ Those who want to actively invest in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies.
✘ Investors concerned with minimizing fees at all costs.
✘ Those who want their invested assets to be kept in Switzerland.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

Quick comparison with competitors in Switzerland:

• Neon Invest and Yuh Invest → Ideal for self-directed investors who want to choose their assets and manage their own purchases and sales at reduced costs.
  
• Swissquote → Comprehensive solution for experienced traders, with a wide range of assets and advanced tools, but at higher costs.
  
• Selma → Suitable for those who want passive management with a robo-advisor, without human intervention and with lower fees than Alpian.

Image: heyneo.ch, degree of personalization of investment platforms competing with Alpian

Investing is not just about returns or fees. It’s also about method and trust in the tool you use. With Alpian, you delegate part of the work while maintaining influence over the investment strategy.

This positioning between self-management and expert guidance makes sense for those who want personalized follow-up without having to manage each transaction themselves. But it all depends on how you perceive your investment.

When is Alpian the right choice?

If you prefer structured management with human support, Alpian offers an alternative to impersonal robo-advisors, Alpian ticks many boxes. You’ll find structured and adaptable management, human support, and strategies adjusted according to the market.

From 10,000 CHF, Alpian allows access to more flexibility in portfolio management, with automated diversification.

What you need to know or consider if you’re hesitating:

Alpian is not necessarily designed for everyone. You can’t buy individual stocks, invest in cryptocurrencies, or directly invest in other asset classes. Everything is based on ETF portfolios selected by the algorithm and adjusted by Alpian’s finance specialists.

The 0.75% annual fee covers the entire service but remains higher than that of a robo-advisor like Selma (0.47%), or a broker like Neon Invest and Yuh, where costs are only related to placed orders. Solutions like True Wealth offer more flexible automated management, but without the human support that Alpian provides.

Finally, there’s the question of storing invested assets. Unlike Swissquote or Neon Invest, Alpian keeps securities with Interactive Brokers (outside Switzerland). Is this a real problem? Not at all, but it’s a difference to consider if you absolutely want your securities to remain deposited locally.

The decision is yours:

Alpian stands out if you want to delegate intelligently or be guided (Guided by Alpian). In management mandates, the investment is piloted by experts, but you retain a degree of control through adjusting your allocation or risk level. It’s a good balance between human guidance and autonomy, without going through a classic private bank.

Conversely, if you prefer to manage your orders yourself, freely choose your securities, and minimize fees as much as possible, solutions like Neon, Yuh, or Swissquote will be more suitable.

Alpian Promo Code

Use the promo code HEYALP to receive 75 CHF for deposits of 500 CHF and 125 CHF for any mandate of at least 10,000 CHF.

Free account ✔︎

Receive 200 CHF

Also read

• Complete Review and Opinion on Managed by Alpian Essentials
• Review of Guided by Alpian
• Complete Review and Opinion on Managed by Alpian
• Review and Test of Yuh Investment Trading
• Review and test of Neon Investment Trading
• Review and Test of Selma, the Investment Platform

• Has the Alpian app. made your investments easier?
• What feature would you like to customize or improve?
• How did you use the consulting services offered by Alpian?
• Have you ever tested your Alpian advisor’s knowledge with trick questions?

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