Pascal Cortesi, what inspired you to found Ticino Finance Association (TiFA)?

Being well-connected in the financial sector in Ticino, I observed the need for the best qualified and most senior investment professionals to meet and discuss finance in a highly professional environment, and to get to know each other better.

I decided to create a network of seasoned professionals, who have proven their financial knowledge by attaining widely recognized credentials in the financial industry.

Who are the other four founders of the TiFA?

I’m very lucky to have outstanding individuals like Andrea Mognon (CFA, FRM), Lorenzo Vangelisti (CFA), Mattia Bomio (CIWM) and Francesco Mascaro (CIIA) as co-founders of the TiFA.

What is the primary purpose of the TiFA?

The Association aims to promote a high level of professionalism and sharing of expertise in the community of financial operators in Ticino.

TiFA encourages exchanges and communication between finance professionals in and outside the region. It promotes discussions on key financial topics, with a special focus on innovation.

When and where will the kickoff event for TiFA take place?

The kickoff event will take place on Tuesday, 18 February 2025. We are very grateful to Valeur Group for hosting us at their amazing location in Lugano.

How many attendees are expected at the kickoff event?

The event is limited to 40 guests and is by invitation only. Both members and guests are professionals active in the financial industry of Lugano. We are excited to have Arthur Vayloyan, PhD as our guest speaker. He was previously a top executive at Credit Suisse and the former CEO of Bitcoin Suisse.

What are some key values and principles that TiFA promotes among financial professionals?

Professionalism, innovation, and sharing of expertise.

How does TiFA encourage networking and communication among finance professionals?

We will design various meeting formats to spark debates, exchange, and sharing of expertise and new ideas among members to help each of us grow. We want there to be both learning and fun at our events, which will bring our community closer together.

Why is innovation a special focus of TiFA’s activities?

For the financial sector of Lugano to thrive or at least survive, we need to innovate. By exploring new ideas and new frontiers among senior professionals, we hope to make a unique contribution.

What industries or professions are primarily represented among TiFA members?

Client Advisors, External Asset Managers, Investment Specialists and Investment Managers.

Do you intend to publish any papers, studies, or surveys?

Not at the current stage. The priority of the next few months will be to first build a solid foundation for TiFA. As we grow, I’m confident that we will leverage the expertise of our members to create value for the industry in many different ways.

After almost 20 years with Credit Suisse, Pascal L. Cortesi (pictured above) decided in 2019 to leave the bank and to found JP Cortesi Investments based in Porza TI to pursue his path as an investor. Since then, he has been managing four certificates that invest in equities. He has also been volunteering for the CFA Society Switzerland, having served as Chair of the Candidates Committee, founded an investment roundtable, and held guest lectures at the University of Zurich on investing

At Credit Suisse he was leading clients’ advisors and specialists. He has been advising (U)HNWI clients since 2001, while in the Bahamas. After coming back to Switzerland, he has been serving clients in the Swiss, Italian and Northern European markets. At the same time, he built up his technical skills through the CEFA, CFA, FRM and CAIA certifications, complementing the MA in Economics he received from the University of Zurich.