As the leading association for wealth and portfolio managers, SAM intends to advocate competitive framework conditions for the sector in future. According to FINMA, there are just over 1500 wealth and portfolio managers in Switzerland. SAM unites more than half of these and is also the leading association for managers of collective assets. With FINMA's approval for the supervisory organization AOOS, which was founded by SAM, the association will in the future be fully dedicated to representing the interests of the sector, which manages a total of around 500 billion Swiss francs. By obtaining SME-friendly FinIA/FinSA legislation, SAAM has proven that it can successfully assert the interests of the sector. 

The number of asset managers is not decreasing, but remains stable. SAM wants to further strengthen the representation of the sector's interests. As a pure industry association, it is open to all market participants - FINMA licensees and persons entered in the advisory register - and offers its members services in the areas of legal advice, education and training as well as representation of their interests. The association also provides support when it comes to selecting system solutions - such as liability insurance, PMS systems, risk measurement analyses, CRM and the like. Service providers should come together efficiently and in a coordinated manner with members via SAM as a hub. SAM also offers a solution for the obligation to join an ombudsman's office. 

SAM President Serge Pavoncello emphasizes the added value of the association's new orientation: "The supervisory organizations report directly to FINMA. Their task is to monitor the wealth and portfolio managers under their supervision. They can therefore neither advise the sector nor defend its interests vis-à-vis politicians and banks. SAM fills this gap: We offer our members independent legal advice and committed representation of their interests in parliament and the administration."

As the largest industry association in Switzerland, SAM regularly exchanges information with FINMA and the Federal Administration on the development of the profession as well as on the regulatory framework and its practical application. With its innovative training platform and thanks to the support provided to members in the form of model contracts and handbooks, it enables them to implement the requirements arising from the new FinSA/FinIA legislation in a simplified and optimal manner.

The Board is the management body of SAM. Its main tasks are to monitor the association's business and to develop and define the strategic direction and objectives of SAM.

In the context of the new FinIA and FinSA regulations, SAM has developed a qualification profile for the profession of a wealth and portfolio manager. This job profile is based on comprehensive specialist knowledge and industry expertise as well as SAM's proximity to the most important players. 
The profile was defined on the basis of activities and competencies, in particular for the function of the manager of a wealth and portfolio management company. These activities are divided into three areas: Company, Client and Portfolio. 
By publishing this job profile, SAM is taking on a pioneering role and giving the profession greater visibility. The association is also making a contribution to the definition of "qualified manager" in accordance with Art. 20 FinIA.

Sounding Boards

SAM sets up sounding boards to enrich the life of the association in the three language regions in which it is represented. The purpose of these sounding boards is to consult the members and collect proposals for the attention of SAM executive management and the Board. In accordance with their purpose, the Sounding Boards are internal, purely advisory bodies. In this sense, they are not organs of the association and have no power of representation.

Representatives of active members who are interested in participating in these sounding boards are requested to contact our regional offices.

Further information can also be found in the Sounding Board Regulations.