Tellco Classic – Swiss Equities ESG V

Active Swiss equities with ESG screening. But the returns trail passive competitors badly.

Tellco Classic Swiss Equities ESG V ranks #12 among 82 3a investment funds in Switzerland. It's a 99% equity fund focused exclusively on Swiss stocks with active management and ESG criteria. The CHF 440 million fund size shows institutional trust, but the performance numbers raise uncomfortable questions about whether active management is adding or subtracting value.

Are the Fees Worth It?

Tellco doesn't publish a standard TER for this fund in the way VIAC or frankly do, which makes direct comparison tricky. The costs are bundled into the fund structure. What we can compare is results: +25.49% over three years and +28.17% over five years for a 99% equity fund.

For context, BLKB's passive Swiss equity fund returned +30.63% over three years and +35.54% over five years. VIAC Global 100 (99% global stocks) returned +42.74% and +51.49%. Tellco's actively managed Swiss equity fund is significantly lagging both passive alternatives.

What Actually Stands Out

Swing pricing is a genuine benefit that protects existing investors from the transaction costs of large flows. Tellco has been managing pension assets in Switzerland for decades, and the Tellco platform offers a more traditional experience compared to digital-only competitors.

The ESG screening adds a values-based layer to the Swiss equity focus. For investors who want sustainability criteria applied by an established Swiss pension fund manager rather than a fintech startup, Tellco's institutional heritage provides credibility. CHF 440 million in assets demonstrates serious scale.

What Most Reviews Miss

The performance gap is stark. With 99% in stocks, this fund should be capturing nearly all of the Swiss market's upside. Instead, it's returning 5-7 percentage points less than the passive BLKB Swiss equity fund over five years. Active management is clearly costing investors real money in this case.

Fee opacity is a concern. Without a clearly published TER, it's difficult to know exactly what you're paying. Traditional pension fund providers like Tellco often have layered cost structures (management fees, custody fees, transaction costs) that don't show up in a single headline number.

The Bottom Line

Tellco's fund has institutional backing and a long track record, but the returns don't justify choosing it over cheaper passive alternatives. If you want Swiss equity exposure with ESG, BLKB's passive fund delivers better performance at a transparent cost. See all Swiss equity 3a options in our best 3a investment funds in Switzerland ranking.

Verdict: Suitable for investors already in the Tellco ecosystem, but hard to recommend when passive alternatives consistently outperform.