15 Mar 2017

No one voted for Exchange of Tax Information

Quite apart from the fact that there are simpler ways to increase tax revenues the international agreement violates basic rules of a proper democracy. The agreement is negotiated several steps removed from what ordinary citizens care about, or what they want. Anonymous bureaucrats deal over the head of citizens in backroom fashion. A withholding tax would have been simple to introduce and administer and the privacy of savers would have been preserved.
The hypocrisy surrounding this form of legislation is evident when just recently the Italian government announced that the Super rich would be offered tax-haven status in Italy. A billionaire would be able to pay just €100.000 (!!) per year in full settlement of his tax obligations! And an (in)famous Italian, Signore Draghi does his best to confiscate the incomes of hundreds of millions of hard-working and honest citizens in order to bail out his profligate fellow-citizens.

Merger Poker - EFG, BTG Pactual and BSI Lugano

There is lots of talk about the need to get bigger in the Financial Services Industry. But there are plenty of potholes on the route to 'Bigger and Better'. Apart from accounting and valuation issues the question of contrasting management cultures can also pose significant integration risks. Do not write off smaller competitors or even nimble mid-sized Asset Managers or Private Banks.
Joe Strähle verrechnete sich mal kurz um 41% - Inside Paradeplatz

13 Mar 2017

How can I make performance reviews less painful for all concerned?

There was a time when people knew each other and box-ticking exercises were not necessary, O tempora o mores! Managing relationships with colleagues and staff should be a year-round task but all-too-often problems are allowed to fester - and the ritual of an annual review will not be enough to defuse the situation, if anything it just creates more tension.
How can I make performance reviews less painful for all concerned?