Prepare my retirement

A comfortable retirement is prepared before the last year of work. Finwise helps you estimate future income, close gaps and organise withdrawals with controlled taxation.

What is it?

Turn future entitlements into an income plan

Preparing retirement means estimating OASI, occupational pension, 3a, 3b, taxes and budget to know when to retire and with what income.

When should you start?

Ideally from age 50-55

Pension fund buy-ins, multiple 3a accounts, the pension/capital choice and tax staggering are prepared several years before retirement.

Key point

The right age is not just a date

Early, gradual or deferred retirement changes your pensions, taxes, budget and protection for loved ones.

Diagram for preparing retirement

The goal is sustainable income, not only a tax deduction.

  1. Lever 3a / 3b Savings and flexibility
  2. Check LPP and buy-ins Fill gaps before you retire
  3. Base layer AHV and budget Basic income and future spending
  4. Foundation Horizon and plans When and how you want to retire

Anticipate retirement age, LPP gaps and family needs.

Preparing retirement means measuring a gap

En Suisse, vos revenus de retraite viennent principalement de l’AVS, de la caisse de pension LPP et de votre prévoyance privée. The right question is not only “how much will I receive?”, but “how much will I miss each month to live the way I want?”.

This gap depends on your fixed costs, housing, health insurance premiums, taxation, family situation and desired lifestyle. A comfortable retirement is therefore prepared before the last year of work.

Decision
Impact
To check
Retirement ageEarly, ordinary or deferred
OASI can be brought forward by up to two years with a permanent reduction; occupational pension depends on the pension fund rules.
Budget between last salary and first pensions, remaining OASI contributions, pension fund rules.
Occupational pension: annuity or capitalSecurity or flexibility
An annuity gives lifelong income; capital offers more freedom but requires an investment and withdrawal strategy.
Health, spouse, heirs, financial discipline, taxes and longevity risk.
Taxation of withdrawalsOccupational pension, vested benefits, 3a
Capital withdrawals are taxed separately from income, but withdrawals in the same year may be added together.
Stagger 3a accounts, separate occupational pension and 3a withdrawals, respect the 3-year rule after pension fund buy-ins.

Retirement is planned with three numbers

Expected income - Desired budget = Gap to finance

A clear projection helps decide whether the gap should be closed through a pension fund buy-in, pillar 3a, 3b savings, deferred retirement or a budget adjustment.

The basic rules in 2026

The OASI reference age is 65 for men and is gradually being harmonised to 65 for women under OASI 21. The OASI pension can be brought forward or deferred, including partially. If brought forward, the reduction is permanent.

Occupational pension may allow early retirement from age 58 depending on your pension fund rules, with a pension often reduced due to fewer contribution years and a lower conversion rate. Pillar 3a can in principle be withdrawn from five years before the reference age.

Levers to improve your retirement

Start by requesting an OASI estimate, reading your pension certificate, looking for possible forgotten vested benefit accounts and checking your 3a pillars. In 2026, the 3a ceiling is CHF 7,258 with a pension fund, or 20% of net income up to CHF 36,288 without a pension fund.

A pension fund buy-in can close gaps and reduce taxes, but it must be planned. If a capital withdrawal occurs within the following three years, the tax advantage may be challenged. Since 2026, retroactive 3a catch-up contributions can also be useful under conditions for certain gaps that appeared from 2025.

Common pitfalls

Most mistakes come from a decision made too late, without a global simulation.

Discovering a gap at age 64OASI, occupational pension and 3a are easier to correct several years before retirement.
Pension buy-in too lateThe 3-year tax rule can eliminate the benefit of a nearby capital withdrawal.
Withdrawing everything in the same yearOccupational pension, vested benefits and 3a can be cumulated for tax purposes.
Capital without a planOccupational pension capital requires an investment, drawdown and spouse protection strategy.

I already have a 3a or pension buy-ins: what should I check?

Check the number of 3a accounts, beneficiaries, fees, planned withdrawal date, pension fund buy-ins already made, tax deadlines, vested benefit assets and coordination with your spouse. The goal is to avoid a massive withdrawal in the same year.

Early or gradual retirement

Partir plus tôt est possible, mais la période entre le dernier salaire et le début complet des rentes doit être financée. La retraite progressive peut être plus douce : réduction du taux d’activité, AVS partielle, sortie partielle LPP ou utilisation planifiée du pilier 3a.

The choice depends on pension fund rules, budget, taxation, health and spouse protection. For some people, deferring retirement or keeping a partial activity significantly improves the result.

With Finwise

We build a clear retirement calendar

We project your OASI, occupational pension, 3a and 3b income, estimate the monthly gap, and analyse annuity or capital, pension buy-ins, taxation and withdrawals. You get a plan to decide when to retire, how much to secure and which contracts to keep or adapt.

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Prepare each component

A solid retirement depends on coordination between your three pillars, insurance policies and taxation.

Understand the three pillars Occupational pension and pension fund Pillar 3a Life insurance

Plan my retirement Analyse my occupational pension 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.