10 hidden investment fees (and how to avoid them)

When investing, returns can quickly be eaten up by fees that aren’t always obvious at first glance. This often causes confusion, especially when a service claims to be free but ends up charging something after all.

In this blog post, we’ll break down all the potential costs that come with different financial products and explain what they actually mean. And most importantly: how you can avoid them with VIAC and exactly what costs you do pay with us.

1. What are custody fees?

Storage costs for your securities

Many providers charge a fee just for holding your portfolio. These custody fees can be a fixed annual cost or a percentage of your invested assets. Traditional banks with physical branches tend to charge more than neobanks.

VIAC advantage: No separate custody fees. Ours are already included in the all-in management fee.

2. What are brokerage fees?

Fees for every trade

When you buy or sell stocks or funds, many brokers charge a transaction fee called a brokerage fee. These can quickly add up. especially if you frequently adjust your strategy. Be cautious with “zero fee” offers: they often only apply to purchases, not sales.

VIAC advantage: No matter how often you change your strategy, transaction costs are always included in our management fee.

3. What are currency exchange fees?

A hidden markup

Investing in foreign currencies often comes with hidden currency spreads or conversion fees. These sneak in as higher purchase prices, making them hard to detect.

VIAC advantage: No need to worry with VIAC: No currency markup. Period.

4. What are stamp duties?

Mandatory contribution?

In Switzerland, the federal stamp tax applies to buying and selling securities. Up to 0.15% per transaction.

VIAC advantage: With VIAC Invest, you pay no stamp tax. Why? Because our fund shares are created and redeemed directly, not traded on the secondary market. Stamp duties apply to ETFs, but not to a fund savings plan like VIAC Invest.

5. What are platform fees?

Fees just for showing up?

Some providers charge a fixed platform fee just to use their service, even if you don’t invest a cent.

VIAC advantage: We charge no base fee, just our all-in management fee, which only applies to your invested assets. You don’t pay anything for cash holdings.

6. What are retrocessionen?

Commissions at my expense?

Banks and brokers often get kickbacks from fund providers for selling their products. According to Swiss law, these should be passed on to clients, unless the client explicitly waives this in writing.

VIAC advantage: We don’t take any retrocessions, commissions, or kickbacks. Ever.

7. What are performance fees?

Paying more when you’re doing good?

Some providers charge extra when your investments perform well, reducing your joy when your portfolio is doing great.

VIAC advantage: At VIAC, your gains are yours. 100%.

8. What are exit fees?

So long, and thanks for all the fees!

Closing or transferring your portfolio? Many providers hit you with a parting charge.

VIAC advantage: No exit fees. If you decide to move on, we’ll help with the transfer. No hard feelings, but we’ll miss you!😢.

9. What are deposit and withdrawal fees?

Thanks, but no thanks!

Some banks charge for deposits and withdrawals—especially annoying for small or if you invest on a regular basis in order to benefit from cost averaging.

VIAC advantage: Deposits and withdrawals are always free. Plus, we offer a free withdrawal plan. Think of it as your own personal pension payout, month by month. And there’s no minimum deposit: start from as little as 1 CHF!

10. Fees for e-tax reports

If you don’t want to enter each of your investments manually in your tax return, many providers offer an e-tax report. But some charge a pretty hefty fee for that convenience.

VIAC advantage: Our e-tax report is free. It’s automatically available in your account every year, so you can file your taxes in seconds. Another advantage: no worrying about typos like when you manually enter all your investments!

What fees do I pay with VIAC Invest?

All-in management fee

Management fees are typically charged monthly as a percentage of your invested assets. At VIAC, starting in 2026, you’ll pay a maximum of 0.25% per year. Until then, it’s 0.00%. 🤑
This fee covers everything, except for the product costs.

What are product costs?

Product costs are charged by fund providers when you buy their products. They vary from fund to fund.

You’ll see the exact total cost (management + product fees) during strategy selection in the app before you invest.

Want to know how much you’re currently paying? Just tap into any of your portfolios in the VIAC app and check the “Fees” tile. You’ll see the total cost and how much you’re saving with your fee-free allowance. The more friends you invite, the more you save!

Not everything that glitters is gold and fee comparisons often leave things out.

Many providers advertise low fees but charge costs elsewhere that aren’t always obvious at first glance. These hidden fees can eat into your returns, especially if you’re investing for the long term, and might significantly reduce your payout down the line.

At VIAC, we believe in full transparency: No custody fees, no transaction fees, no kickbacks, no nonsense. Just one all-in management fee and product costs. So you never have to wonder what you’re really paying to invest.