Pension planning in Switzerland: retirement, income and loved ones

Preparing for retirement, protecting your income and securing your loved ones is not just about opening a 3rd pillar. Finwise helps you build a readable, useful strategy adapted to Swiss rules.

What is it?

Three risks, three levels of protection

Swiss pension planning covers retirement, disability and death via OASI/DI, occupational pension and private 3a/3b provision.

Mandatory?

OASI yes, occupational pension depending on status, 3rd pillar no

The 1st pillar is mandatory. Occupational pension generally applies from CHF 22,680 of salary. 3a/3b remains a private choice.

Key point

The first two pillars are not always enough

Part-time work, high salary, mortgage, family or self-employment often create a gap to fill early.

Simple Swiss pension diagram

Three pillars complement each other: state, employer, then individual solutions.

  1. To build 3rd pillar Tax-advantaged 3a and freer 3b
  2. Employer 2nd pillar Occupational pension Retirement and work-related risks
  3. Public base 1st pillar AHV/IV Federal base for everyone
  4. Start Your situation Employee, self-employed, family, horizon

First map what exists, then fill the gaps.

A pension strategy starts with the gap

The system is solid, but it does not automatically guarantee your lifestyle. The right question is not only “how much will I receive?”, but “how much will I be short to live, pay for housing and protect my loved ones?”.

Finwise analyse d’abord votre situation : revenu, famille, hypothèque, statut salarié ou indépendant, certificat Occupational pension, fiscalité, horizon de retraite et niveau de sécurité souhaité. Ensuite seulement, nous comparons 3a, 3b, rachats Occupational pension, décès et incapacité. Voir aussi les trois piliers.

Pillar
Role
To remember in 2026
1st pillarOASI / DI / supplementary benefits
Cover vital needs in case of retirement, disability or death.
Full annual OASI pension: CHF 15,120 to CHF 30,240; 13th pension from December 2026.
2nd pillarOccupational pension
Complement OASI to maintain part of the professional living standard.
Affiliation from CHF 22,680; coordination deduction CHF 26,460; buy-ins possible.
3rd pillar3a / 3b
Fill gaps, optimise taxation, protect loved ones or finance a project.
3a ceiling: CHF 7,258 with occupational pension, or 20% of net income up to CHF 36,288 without occupational pension.

The logic of coherent pension planning

Target budget - OASI + occupational pension = Private gap

A good plan is not about opening a product at random. It is about knowing what would be paid, then filling the useful gap.

3a, 3b and risks: what really changes

Le pilier 3a est lié et fiscalement déductible. Les avoirs sont en principe bloqués jusqu’à cinq ans avant l’âge de référence, sauf exceptions légales (logement, départ définitif, indépendance). Depuis 2026, certains rachats rétroactifs sont possibles sous conditions pour des lacunes apparues dès 2025.

Le pilier 3b reste plus libre hors plafond fédéral. Les assurances de risque (décès, incapacité de gain, perte de gain) protègent le revenu et les proches avant même d’optimiser uniquement l’impôt.

Employee with occupational pension

Often maximise 3a, read the occupational pension certificate and check whether a buy-in is relevant before stacking other products.

Self-employed

Without an automatic 2nd pillar, the large 3a (up to CHF 36,288) and income protection become priorities.

Family / mortgage

Coordinate retirement and protection: death, disability and beneficiaries matter as much as pure savings.

Close to retirement

From age 50-55, organise buy-ins, annuity/capital choice, tax staggering and possible gradual retirement.

Common pitfalls

Pension planning looks simple until a status change or an occupational pension certificate reveals a gap.

Life insurance too quicklySigning long-term without comparing bank options, fees and surrender value.
3a without liquidityMaximising tax savings without keeping a reserve for unforeseen events.
Forgotten illnessLong-term illness cover is often more problematic than accident cover.
Poorly protected partnerThey are not automatically treated like a married spouse.

You already have a 3a or occupational pension: what should you check?

Vérifiez bénéficiaires, frais, rendement, part risque, garanties décès ou incapacité, possibilités de rachat Occupational pension et organisation de plusieurs comptes 3a. Adaptez après mariage, divorce, achat immobilier, temps partiel, hausse de salaire ou passage à l’indépendance. Coordonnez aussi avec préparer ma retraite et garantir mes revenus.

With Finwise

We turn your three pillars into a readable plan

We read your occupational pension certificate, analyse OASI, 3a, 3b, taxation, family, mortgage and plans. The aim is not to accumulate products, but to build pension planning coherent with your situation.

Finwise Assurances partner logos

Go deeper into your pension planning

These pages detail the levers that most often build useful pension planning in Switzerland.

The three pillars Pillar 3a Prepare my retirement Death insurance

Request a pension review View the three pillars Optimise my 3a

Let’s talk about your needs

Tell us about your situation in a few lines. A Finwise adviser will contact you to clarify your options and compare suitable solutions.