Trade association

The Swiss Association of Asset Managers (SAAM) is the leading national trade association of independent asset managers in Switzerland. It is actively engaged for its members and the professional as a whole.

Mission Statement

1. The SAAM views itself as a powerful community of interests for independent asset managers, constituting an essential pillar in the Swiss economy. As the leading trade association, it actively pursues the interests of the profession.
2. The SAAM is the professional organisation of independent asset managers in Switzerland. It defines the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, which is considered to be exemplary and authoritative beyond the membership.
3. The SAAM is the centre of expertise and the service organization for independent asset managers. Members, auditors and other interested groups profit from high-quality services.

Founding concept
The SAAM was founded in 1986. Then - as today - it was relatively easy to found an assets management company in Switzerland. This attracted many so called "grey sheep," which was disquieting for the industry. This is why several independent asset managers banded together and founded the Swiss Association of Asset Managers (SAAM), with the goal of creating a self-regulatory body. Since then, a strict Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct ensures that the association members provide asset management services in a professional and serious manner. These quality standards are intended to establish and solidify the industry's good reputation.

In 1999, the SAAM became a Self-regulatory Body (SRO) recognized by the FINMA.

This system of self-regulation has proven itself. Today, the SAAM's Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct form the standard for the provision of professional, serious and high-quality asset management services in Switzerland. In 2005, the Swiss Federal Council also spoke out in favour of the industry's self-regulation and against a prudential official supervision. This favourable endorsement is in part due to the active efforts of the SAAM to boost the confidence of authorities in the industry's ability to regulation itself.

Articles of Association
The Swiss Association of Asset Managers (SAAM) is an association in sense of Art. 60 ff, of the Swiss Civil Code (SCC). All information about the association, its purposes, aims, membership, contributions, expertise and duties of the association bodies are regulated in the Articles of Association.