Client protection

No financial transaction is entirely without risk. Unauthorised providers who are intent on making money out of unsuspecting investors are a constant factor on the financial market. If you take your time, check the facts and are on your guard, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to illegal or fraudulent providers.

FINMA carries out its supervisory activities for the benefit of the Swiss financial marketplace and in the interests of creditors, investors and insurance policyholders. FINMA’s primary objective in supervising Swiss financial markets is to ensure that they function properly and that all clients of financial institutions are protected against their insolvency.

FINMA is responsible for supervising health insurers offering supplementary health insurance. It ensures that insurers are financially stable, provide transparent information about their products and that premiums are justified. In this way, it protects both the entire body of policyholders and the interests of each individual.

The FINMA Public section of our website contains a wealth of easily accessible information on our activities as a supervisory authority and how we protect the clients of financial service providers. Investors, creditors and policyholders can find answers to key questions relating to the financial market and tips for protecting themselves.

FINMA maintains a central register of untied insurance intermediaries. Insurance intermediaries who are not legally, financially or otherwise tied to an insurance company must be entered in the register. Here you will find answers to questions about the obligation to register and FINMA’s supervision of insurance intermediaries.