From Research to Practice: How Financial Literacy Shapes Successful Investing
How financially literate is Switzerland – and what difference does that make for wealth accumulation and investment decisions? These questions are at the center of a recent conversation between Felix Niederer and Dr. Michael Kendzia, ZHAW Program Director of the BSc in International Management.
The key finding is clear: financial literacy in Switzerland still has room for improvement. In the Swiss Financial Literacy Study conducted jointly by True Wealth and the ZHAW in 2025, participants answered only 54 percent of the questions correctly on average. At the same time, the results reveal a strong link between education, financial literacy and wealth: people with a higher level of education tend to have greater financial knowledge and make more successful long-term investment decisions.
In the interview, Dr. Michael Kendzia explains why financial education should begin as early as possible. Even managing pocket money in childhood can positively influence financial independence later in life. He also discusses international differences in investment behaviour – including Switzerland’s comparatively cautious equity culture compared with the United States.
His central recommendation: those looking to build wealth over the long term should focus less on short-term trends or trying to identify the perfect market entry point, and instead invest consistently in broadly diversified portfolios – for example through ETFs and a disciplined buy-and-hold approach.
The full interview offers valuable insights into current research on financial literacy, behavioural economics and successful investing – with practical takeaways for anyone looking to better understand financial decision-making.