Frankly Gentle 25 Responsible ranks #48 among 122 3a investment funds in Switzerland. With only 26% in equities and 59% in bonds, it's designed for investors who want slightly more than a savings account but significantly less risk than a balanced fund. Think of it as dipping your toes into investing without diving in.
Is the Return Worth the Risk?
One-year return: +4.63%. Three-year return: +16.44%. Five-year return: +9.01%. That five-year figure works out to roughly 1.7% per year, which leaves little room once inflation is taken into account. The 0.48% total cost (0.04% synthetic TER plus 0.44% flat fee) is the same as frankly's aggressive funds, so you're paying the same but getting much less growth.
Compare this to a top 3a savings account offering 1.0-1.5% with zero market risk. Over the past five years, the Gentle 25 earned only modestly more than that per year, in exchange for accepting that your balance can drop during bad years.
What Actually Stands Out
The 59% bond allocation provides genuine stability. During equity sell-offs, the bond cushion limits your downside significantly compared to balanced or aggressive funds. For investors approaching retirement in 3-5 years who are de-risking their portfolio, this is a sensible step down from higher allocations.
ESG screening and swing pricing come standard, matching the more aggressive frankly funds. The responsible investment criteria from Swisscanto apply the same sustainability standards regardless of allocation level, so you're not sacrificing values for conservatism.
What Most Reviews Miss
CHF 134 million is the smallest fund in the frankly lineup by a wide margin. The next smallest is over CHF 440 million. Small fund sizes can lead to higher per-unit costs and less favorable trading conditions. It also suggests most investors recognize that paying 0.44% for a mostly-bond fund doesn't make strong financial sense.
The five-year return of +9.01% was heavily impacted by 2022's bond crash. Ironically, this conservative fund's heavy bond allocation hurt it more than you'd expect during the interest rate spike. The very asset class meant to provide safety was the source of losses.
The Bottom Line
Frankly Gentle 25 Responsible serves a narrow but real purpose: investors who want some market exposure with maximum caution. For most people, either a 3a savings account (zero risk) or a 45%+ equity fund (meaningful growth) makes more sense than this middle ground. Compare all conservative options with our 3a pillar product finder.
Verdict: Only makes sense if you're 3-5 years from retirement and de-risking gradually. For everyone else, there are better options on both ends of the risk spectrum.
