- Initial consultation: We gain an overview of your business model (FinTech, crypto assets, asset management or consulting, etc.) and the compliance measures you have taken to date.
- Action plan & implementation: Detailed analysis of the applicable regulatory requirements. We develop a customized compliance concept and support you in its implementation – e.g., by drafting internal guidelines, applying for the necessary approvals or training your employees. This ensures that all regulations are implemented in your company.
- Feedback round: You will have the opportunity to provide feedback on our recommendations. We will then adjust the compliance framework as necessary and fine-tune it to ensure that it is optimally suited to your company.
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noun: support, assistance, aid
Does your company need support in complying with the complex financial market regulations in Switzerland?
The financial sector is one of the most heavily regulated areas of the economy. New laws and regulations are constantly being introduced to implement international standards and respond to market changes. This poses major challenges for companies: they must be familiar with a wide range of regulatory requirements, implement them in a timely manner, and monitor them on an ongoing basis. However, consistent compliance with regulations is essential to avoid sanctions or damage to reputation. With our support, you can navigate this regulatory jungle efficiently and minimize legal risks for your business.
What does financial market regulation mean for financial service providers?
Financial market regulation encompasses all legal and regulatory requirements that apply to financial service providers. In Switzerland, regulation takes place at several levels: the foundations are laid down in federal laws (e.g., the Financial Services Act); their content is specified in detail by the Federal Council in ordinances. In addition, there are ordinances and circulars issued by FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) as well as industry-specific self-regulation (guidelines, standards) that supplement the government requirements. FINMA, as an independent federal supervisory authority, monitors compliance with financial market laws by financial service providers and can intervene in the event of violations. Important objectives of regulation are the protection of investors and creditors, the stability of the financial system and the guarantee of fair, functioning markets. Effective financial market regulation thus contributes to strengthening confidence, competitiveness and the future viability of Switzerland as a financial center. In practical terms, this means that, depending on their business model, financial service providers require a FINMA license and must fulfill numerous obligations, for example, with regard to risk management, money laundering prevention and customer protection.
Our service packages
Service package 1:
Implementation of new regulatory requirements
Individual price depending on the scope and complexity of the consultation.
What you can expect
How long does it take?
Depending on the scope, 3-6 weeks.
Who is it for?
Companies (e.g., new financial service providers, fintech startups or expanding institutions) that need to implement comprehensive regulatory requirements for the first time—for example, in the areas of fintech, asset management or payment transactions—and want to establish a solid compliance foundation. If, for example, you are applying for a new license or launching an innovative financial product, this service package ensures that you are on the safe side in terms of regulatory compliance right from the start.
What is achieved?
- Compliance development: You ensure that your company complies with all relevant regulatory requirements. By developing a tailor-made compliance structure, you avoid problems later on.
- Risk minimization: Initial mistakes with new business models – which could lead to audits or measures by FINMA – are avoided. You identify potential problem areas early on and resolve them before they become critical.
- Time and cost savings: Efficient implementation of regulations enables faster market access, as there is no need for costly retrofitting. You also save resources by utilizing our expert know-how instead of resolving all compliance issues internally.
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Fast financing
Service package 2:
Review and adaptation of existing compliance measures
Individual price depending on the scope and complexity of the review.
What you can expect:
- Initial consultation: We clarify which internal guidelines, processes and responsibilities already exist and where you see risks.
- Review and adjustment: Detailed compliance check of your existing guidelines and processes to ensure they are up to date and effective. We check whether your internal rules and controls comply with applicable laws, regulations and FINMA circulars.
- Feedback round: Discussion of the recommended changes with your team. We explain the reasons behind the adjustments and adapt them to your operational circumstances as necessary. On request, we also provide support in implementing the changes within the company (training, documentation, etc.) to ensure that the new compliance measures are effective.
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Feedback round
How long does it take?
2-4 weeks, depending on the scope.
Who is it for?
Companies that have already established compliance structures but want to keep them up to date. This package is ideal for financial service providers who are facing changed requirements due to new laws or increased business activity. If you want to ensure that all regulatory obligations continue to be fully complied with, this offer will help you.
What is achieved?
- Compliance: Certainty that your internal guidelines comply with current legal requirements and take the latest developments into account. You remain compliant at all times, even if the regulations change.
- Legal certainty: By proactively adapting to changing rules, you reduce the risk of legal violations. Your documentation and processes are up-to-date, which also inspires confidence during audits by FINMA.
- Prevention: Clear, understandable and up-to-date compliance measures help prevent violations from occurring in the first place. This prevents potential supervisory proceedings or sanctions in advance. At the same time, you protect your reputation, as it is well known that your company values compliance with all regulations.
How can Vectra Advisors help?
Vectra Advisors are your first choice for clarifying regulatory issues. Our experts support you quickly and pragmatically with all your legal needs. Let’s talk and get started!
Your contact for this topic:
Book a free, non-binding introductory call with us:
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about regulation and FINMA
In principle, banks, insurance companies, asset managers, fund providers and other financial intermediaries are subject to financial market supervision. Depending on their activities, they may require a license from FINMA or must join a self-regulatory organization (SRO) (e.g., certain financial advisors are subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act via SRO). The basis for this is provided by laws such as the Banking Act, the Financial Institutions Act (FINIG) and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). When granting a license, FINMA checks whether all requirements are met and then continuously monitors these institutions’ compliance with their regulatory obligations. Incidentally, the same rules apply to many fintech and crypto startups as to traditional financial companies—they too must clarify at an early stage whether a FINMA license is required.
Violations of financial market laws can have serious consequences. The supervisory authority can take enforcement measures – ranging from warnings and conditions to sanctions and, in serious cases, the withdrawal of a license. Depending on the violation, criminal proceedings, heavy fines or civil liability claims (e.g. from customers) may also be imposed. The damage to reputation should not be underestimated: if it becomes known that an institution has disregarded requirements, this can shake the confidence of customers and partners. Therefore, compliance deficiencies should be remedied immediately. With professional support, many problems can be avoided in advance before they become a major issue.
Regulations are constantly changing. To keep track of them, companies should regularly follow updates from the authorities, such as new FINMA circulars or ordinances issued by the Federal Council. Industry associations and consulting firms offer clear publications (regulatory updates and newsletters) on current regulatory developments (projects, draft legislation). This allows you to find out about upcoming changes at an early stage and react in good time. Alternatively, an external legal advisor such as Vectra Advisors can help identify important changes and assess their impact on your business. We monitor developments for our clients and proactively inform them about relevant changes – so your compliance is always up to date.
That depends on the size and risk profile of the company. Large banks and insurance companies usually have their own compliance and legal departments to manage the multitude of regulations. Smaller financial service providers (e.g., independent asset managers or FinTech startups), on the other hand, often do not have a dedicated compliance department. They can ensure regulatory compliance through clever internal distribution of tasks or by calling on external specialists. It is important that clear responsibilities are defined, regardless of the form of organization. Many of our clients partially outsource the compliance function—for example, by bringing us in as external legal and regulatory partners—which can be particularly useful in the early stages of a company’s development. The key thing is that all relevant regulations are met, whether by in-house staff or with external help.
The share price thus determines the ideal time to invest in convertible bonds.
Various new regulations will come into force in 2025. For example, the Swiss implementation of the final Basel III reform (Basel III Final) will take effect at the beginning of 2025. This will result in stricter capital and liquidity requirements for banks in accordance with international standards. In addition, sustainability and ESG criteria will continue to gain in importance—for example, extended reporting requirements for non-financial reporting will be introduced. The ongoing digitalization of the financial world also poses new challenges: Issues such as crypto assets and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly becoming the focus of regulation (think, for example, of guidelines for fintechs or the EU AI Act, which will also be relevant for globally active institutions). Finally, in response to the banking crisis of 2023, various reform measures in banking supervision are being discussed in order to further increase the stability of the financial system. The Federal Council presented a report with recommendations on this in 2024 and authorities and politicians are working on possible adjustments in areas such as corporate governance, liquidity regulations, and crisis management. In short, 2025 is a year of intense regulatory development—we support you in keeping track of these changes and taking the necessary steps for implementation at an early stage.
