Frankly Strong 75 Index ranks #12 among 122 3a investment funds in Switzerland. It's the passive counterpart to the Strong 75 Responsible, and the numbers make a clear case: +43.15% over three years versus +39.69% for the active ESG version. With CHF 573 million in assets, it's one of the most trusted balanced 3a funds in the country.
How Does the Return Stack Up?
Three-year return: +43.15%. Five-year return: +30.84%. The three-year figure beats the actively managed Responsible version, while over five years the ESG version is slightly ahead at +32.58%. The total cost is 0.48% (0.04% synthetic TER plus 0.44% flat fee), identical to the ESG alternative. So you're paying the same and, over the last three years, getting more return.
The passive approach tracks Swisscanto's broad indices without stock-picking or ESG filtering. That means lower turnover, which reduces hidden transaction costs. Over 20+ years of contributions, the compounding advantage of even 1-2% extra annually becomes very significant.
What Actually Stands Out
CHF 573 million in assets gives this fund serious scale. Large fund sizes mean better liquidity, tighter spreads on underlying holdings, and greater stability. The index approach from Swisscanto means predictable tracking of established market benchmarks.
The 75% stocks / 13% bonds / 12% other split provides genuine diversification. You're not just in equities; you have fixed income and alternative assets smoothing the ride. For investors who want a set-it-and-forget-it 3a, this allocation is close to the textbook efficient frontier.
What Most Reviews Miss
The bond allocation is 13%, lower than the Responsible version's 20%. That means slightly more volatility during downturns. If you assumed "Strong 75" means identical allocation across both versions, look again. The index version has a different underlying mix despite the same equity percentage.
Passive indexing also means you hold whatever the index holds, including declining industries and controversial companies. If that matters to you, the three-year return gap of about 3.5 percentage points might be a fair price for the ESG version's cleaner portfolio.
The Bottom Line
For pure performance within a balanced allocation, the frankly Strong 75 Index is hard to beat. Lower implicit costs than active management, proven track record, and a massive fund size. See all balanced 3a options in our best Pillar 3a products in Switzerland overview.
Verdict: The best balanced 3a fund for investors who prioritize returns over ESG screening and want hands-off index investing.