3-pillar principle

Your financial security in retirement rests on three pillars: state, occupational and private retirement provision. The three pillars complement each other and provide the best possible financial security.

Pillar 1 secures your subsistence needs

Pillar 1 is compulsory for everyone who resides or works in Switzerland. It covers basic subsistence needs in old age, provides you with insurance in case of invalidity and protects your surviving dependents in the event of death. Supplementary benefits are only paid out under specific circumstances.

Pillar 2 secures an appropriate standard of living

The occupational pension is compulsory for all employed persons with a yearly income of at least 21,330 Swiss francs (2019). Pillar 2 is intended to secure the accustomed standard of living. In combination with pillar 1, it should comprise around 60 to 70 percent of your last salary. Anything beyond this must be covered by private retirement provision.

Pillar 3 closes your provision gap

Pillars 1 and 2 often aren’t enough to sustain your accustomed standard of living in old age. Pillar 3 lets you close that gap. Payments are voluntary but you’ll also save on taxes with pillar 3a because you can deduct the payed-in amounts from your taxable income.

Do something good for your future: Deal with your retirement early and regularly. You can then best use all the options the three pillars offer – and look forward to a financially carefree retirement.