SoundCapital is an independent asset manager with a strong presence across Switzerland, serving both private and institutional clients. We sat down with Christian Luchsinger, Chief Investment Officer, to understand why the firm chose Performance Watcher, how the platform fits into their daily work, and what independent benchmarking means for the relationship between an asset manager and their clients.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about your company and your role?
A: SoundCapital is a leading independent asset manager with three offices across Switzerland. With around 50 employees, we look after private and institutional clients. I am the CIO at SoundCapital.
Q: What influenced your decision to partner with Performance Watcher?
A: As independent asset managers, we are also interested in independent solutions when it comes to comparing ourselves. Performance Watcher offers exactly that. Another key factor was the digital integration, as SoundCapital places a strong emphasis on using modern software solutions. With our portfolio management platform, we were able to integrate Performance Watcher seamlessly, giving us a scalable way to deliver independent performance comparisons to our clients.
Q: How would you describe Performance Watcher? Which terms or images come to mind when you think of the platform?
A: I would describe Performance Watcher as scalable, transparent, user-friendly and clearly structured. In my view, it is particularly valuable for providing an objective performance comparison that genuinely creates tangible value.
Q: What is your favourite feature or aspect of Performance Watcher? What do you enjoy most about using it?
A: With the new user interface, it is now possible to create customised dashboards. I particularly like that I can generate my own views, with each client group shown individually in the overview.
Q: Could you share specific examples of how Performance Watcher has improved your daily operations or decision-making?
A: On the one hand, the platform allows us to identify outliers in the portfolio groups at a glance, which gives us an easy way to see whether we need to adjust portfolio strategies. On the other hand, when working with clients, we can use the reports directly with them and have a performance discussion on a factual level.
Q: How do your clients react when you show them the Performer or the entire platform?
A: Reactions vary. Some clients need more explanation, while those with financial expertise can quickly grasp an asset manager’s performance at a glance. You still have to explain how the figures are put together, but it is immediately clear whether the performance is better or worse than that of the competition.
Q: Have you noticed any changes in client acquisition or retention since introducing Performance Watcher?
A: A simple example is client acquisition. When I meet prospective clients who were previously with a bank or who are less familiar with the asset management business model, they naturally want to understand how we perform and how we work. With Performance Watcher, I have an independent benchmark that allows me to show them transparently how SoundCapital is performing. This is an important step in winning new clients and giving them confidence in how an asset manager operates.
Q: Would you recommend Performance Watcher to colleagues in your field? Why or why not?
A: Yes, definitely. The industry is clearly moving toward greater transparency. This is something we can also demonstrate to clients through Performance Watcher. And as the platform grows and more competitors join, our peer group for comparison expands as well. That is why we are very much in favour of more asset managers using this solution.
