Nordnet vs PostFinance

Courtage and fees: Nordnet is the markedly cheaper provider — stocks from 0 SEK on Nordnet Markets, otherwise from 39 SEK per trade, with no ongoing custody fee. PostFinance charges a custody fee of CHF 90 per year (standard depot) and order fees from CHF 15 online. On foreign-currency purchases Nordic brokers also apply a currency-exchange fee (valutaväxlingsavgift). Minimum deposit is 0 at both.

Account type and tax for Nordic investors — ISK, AF or KF: Nordnet customers in Sweden typically choose between the ISK (Investeringssparkonto, flat schablon taxation with no declaring of individual sales — good for long-term investors and frequent traders), the AF (aktie- & fondkonto, ongoing taxation of realized gains with loss offsetting) and the KF (kapitalförsäkring, a flat-taxed insurance wrapper with advantages for foreign dividends and succession). In Norway the counterpart is the ASK (aksjesparekonto) with tax deferral until withdrawal, and in Denmark the aktiesparekonto. As a Swiss provider, PostFinance does not offer these Nordic account forms — Swiss tax rules apply instead.

Offering and verdict: Nordnet trades stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, Nordic options and warrants and offers free savings plans (Månadsspar); PostFinance covers stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds, without options. Common question — can a Swiss investor use Nordnet? Nordnet targets customers in the Nordic countries, while PostFinance is designed for Swiss customers. The choice therefore hinges mainly on residence: Nordic investors focused on low kurtasje/courtage and options pick Nordnet, Swiss investors wanting integrated banking pick PostFinance.