VP Bank's annual kick-off event with Patrick Fischer

VP Bank's annual kick-off event with Patrick Fischer VP Bank kicked off the new (investment) year on 27 January 2026 with a packed hall in Vaduz and an inspiring programme. The New Year's event was all about passion, motivation and leadership. SRF presenter Rainer Maria Salzgeber opened the evening and recalled how this format has developed over the past few years: three years ago, VP Bank welcomed ski star Aksel Lund Svindal to the stage, followed by extreme mountaineer Karl Egloff, another impressive personality from the world of top-class sport. This year's guest also fitted perfectly into this series: Patrick Fischer, head coach of the Swiss national ice hockey team.

At the start of the evening, Adrian Schneider, Head of Region Liechtenstein & BVI, explained in conversation with Rainer Maria Salzgeber why strong personalities are so important in sport and the financial world today. In fast-paced times, they create trust and maintain focus even in challenging moments. He emphasised that discipline is necessary for sustainable success. In his welcome speech, Adrian Schneider also quoted Wayne Gretzky: ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don't take’ – a quote whose message applies equally to sport, life and investing.

Keynote speech by Felix Brill: Outlook for the 2026 investment year

In his keynote speech, Felix Brill, Head of International Locations and Chief Investment Officer, built a bridge between the world of finance and sport. He looked ahead to the coming investment year and explained the opportunities and risks that are emerging from an investor's perspective. He reminded his audience that although stock markets tend to trend upwards rather than downwards in the long term, the risk remains. So how can this risk be managed sensibly? For Felix Brill, the key lies in broad diversification. Equally important, he said, is a change of perspective, which helps to identify opportunities early on and assess challenges in a differentiated manner. 

Special guest of the evening: Patrick Fischer

Particularly impressive was the appearance of Patrick Fischer, professional ice hockey player and head coach of the Swiss national team. Under his leadership, the Swiss team has developed into one of the strongest teams in the world over the past ten years. The motto of the evening, ‘Game Time’, which is also the title of his book, runs like a thread through his work. His philosophy: to promote talent in a targeted manner, combine strengths intelligently and form a team that functions like a carefully curated portfolio: balanced, high-performing and future-oriented. In an interview with Rainer Maria Salzgeber, Patrick Fischer disclosed insights into his life, his career path and his understanding of team leadership. In the subsequent discussion with Felix Brill and Rainer Maria Salzgeber, parallels between top-level sport and the financial world became apparent: motivation, trust and strategic thinking are factors for success in both worlds.