Franklin Watson Investments AG

  • We are an independent asset and wealth management company in Switzerland.
  • Regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

Investment Philosophy

Value investing strategy:

  • We embrace the value investing principles of Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, and Charles Munger, and Peter Lynch.
  • We focus on publicly traded businesses globally.  
  • We aim to achieve superior long-term returns by identifying undervalued securities.
  • We conduct independent research.

Business owner mindset

  • We consider ourselves owners of a piece of a real business.
  • We are not traders in securities and don’t engage in speculation.

Long-term value generation for society

  • We are focused on the value added of businesses.

Our Core Values

Total Alignment: “Our success is directly tied to the success of our client partners.” 

  • My family’s wealth is committed to the same strategy and investments.
  • Performance-driven fee structure.

Independent of Conflicts of Interest

  • We are independent of external banks.
  • We negotiate the lowest possible prices with any custodian bank in your favour.

Transparent & True Performance Partnership

  • No retrocessions (kickbacks): We never accept hidden third-party incentives, distribution fees, or commissions. Our only source of compensation is what you pay us directly.
  • Performance fee: 25% net, only after clearing three major, investor-friendly hurdles:
    • Hurdle Rate: We must deliver a gross return of 5% to 6% (roughly 4% to 5% net after management fee) before we earn a single cent of performance fee.
    • Cumulative Hurdle: If we underperform the hurdle rate in any given year, we must make up that gap in future years before any performance fees can be charged.
    • Strict High-Water Mark: If the portfolio value drops, we receive no performance fees in subsequent years until your portfolio fully recovers to its previous peak value.
  • Low fixed overhead
    • 1% management salary to cover running costs.
    • Lower fee percentage for higher assets under management.

Honesty, confidentiality and accountability

Integrity

  • Responsibility toward my partners, society, and the environment.

Ethics

  • We don’t invest in the defence sector – there are many more pleasant investment opportunities and we sleep a lot better at night knowing that our investments don’t cause harm to society

Recent Posts

Buying Dollar Bills at a Discount: The Truth About Share Buybacks and Value Creation

The Rationality of Share Repurchases: Lessons in Capital Allocation When examining the landscape of corporate leadership, it is hard to find a better subject for study than Henry Singleton. For investors and CEOs alike, his tenure remains a masterclass in capital allocation. His approach was, in the end, 100% rational—a statement that can be accurately … Continue reading Buying Dollar Bills at a Discount: The Truth About Share Buybacks and Value Creation

Insights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting 2024

In May 2025, I attended the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. This marked my fifth meeting, with my first experience dating back to 2017, and once again, it was filled with invaluable insights. As a continuous lifelong learner, I deeply appreciate the wisdom Warren Buffett shares – not only about investing principles, but … Continue reading Insights from the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting 2024

“Rear-view Mirror”: Munger on Bargain Opportunities in China, the Fallacy of EBITDA & the Habit of Change

Munger (link) talks about: Chinese stocks: “I think a shrewd person can find more bargain stocks in China than he can find in the U.S.” Fallacy of EBITDA – an insane invention by the investment bankers to make their life easier: referring to Buffett, Munger says D&A are real costs and actually they are the worst kind … Continue reading “Rear-view Mirror”: Munger on Bargain Opportunities in China, the Fallacy of EBITDA & the Habit of Change

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