header.search.error
From 1 June 2027, you will have more flexibility to designate children and life partners as beneficiaries in pillar 3a.
From 1 June 2027, you will have more flexibility in how you structure the beneficiaries of your pillar 3a assets.
If you die, the assets held in pillar 3a are not distributed in the same way as the rest of your estate. They generally do not form part of the estate, but are paid out directly to the beneficiaries – regardless of what your will says. Who receives the money is defined by law in the beneficiary order.
The following statutory order of priority currently applies:
This clear structure has one drawback: It is rigid and does not always reflect today’s family and living arrangements. For married people, for example, the assets are paid out in full to the spouse – even if you would like to treat your children as equal beneficiaries. Anyone who is separated but not yet divorced and has children soon realizes that the statutory order may not reflect their personal circumstances. This is precisely where the amendment to the ordinance comes in.
Whether pillar 3a, retirement or home ownership, we offer personal advice and help you plan and save for your retirement step by step according to your goals.
New beneficiary rules will apply from 1 June 2027. They give you greater flexibility in deciding who receives your pillar 3a assets if you die. Three key changes are planned.
In future, you will be able to move one or more people from the second rank into the first rank. The first rank will therefore no longer be reserved for a single person but may include several beneficiaries.
Example: If you’re married, you will in future be able to include your children alongside your spouse in the first rank and divide your pillar 3a assets among them.
In future, if you move people from the second to the first rank, you will be able to decide for yourself how the assets are allocated within the first rank. For example, you may allocate 30% each to your spouse and two children. If you do not specify an allocation, the assets will be divided equally.
The safeguard clause is intended to ensure that no one ends up being excluded by the new flexibility. Each beneficiary in the first and second ranks must receive at least 10% of the pension assets on the pillar 3a account.
Good to know: This safeguard clause applies not only to pillar 3a. To harmonize the pension systems, the minimum share of 10% will also be incorporated into the Vested Benefits Ordinance (FZV) of the second pillar.
The new options will only be available from the date they come into force on 1 June 2027. Until then, the current rules apply. Beneficiary designations submitted before this key date are generally subject to the previous law. A new declaration submitted after 1 June 2027 is subject to the new law. If nothing is done, the existing beneficiary arrangement remains unchanged.
While the regulatory amendment provides greater flexibility, it is not without limits. It does not extend the group of eligible beneficiaries. You may still designate only those individuals permitted by law. This means you cannot simply name someone outside these statutory categories as a beneficiary.
The lower-ranking categories (parents, siblings and other heirs) also remain unchanged. The new minimum allocation does not apply to them, and their order can still be adjusted as before.
Save for your old age and benefit from tax breaks. Open your pillar 3a account easily in the UBS Mobile Banking App.
To ensure your wishes are complied with, you need to take action. These four steps will help ensure that your assets are paid to the intended beneficiaries:
One common misconception relates to wills: A will does not determine who receives your pillar 3a assets. As a rule, only the written notification submitted to your pension institution is legally valid. If no such notification exists, the statutory order applies, regardless of any provisions made in a will. However, pillar 3a assets are taken into account when calculating compulsory shares under inheritance law.
The current beneficiary rules for pillar 3a follow a strict hierarchy. Spouses and registered partners must always rank first. As a result, the rules often fail to reflect the realities of unmarried couples, blended families or families with children from previous relationships.
The new rules from 1 June 2027 will be particularly helpful for people with more complex family situations:
Important: These new options will not apply automatically. Once the new beneficiary rules enter into force, you must actively notify your pension institution in writing of the allocation you want.
Arrange an appointment for a nonbinding consultation, or if you have any questions, just give us a call.
Disclaimer
This publication is for personal information purposes only within Switzerland and is not to be understood as a recommendation, offer or solicitation of an offer for investment or other specific products and services. It is not intended to form investment, legal or tax advice and should not be used as the basis for financial decisions. Before making a decision, you should obtain professional advice.
All the information and opinions contained in this publication come from reliable and trustworthy sources. Nonetheless, UBS does not accept any contractual or implied liability for any incorrect or incomplete information. The views of non-UBS authors are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of UBS AG and its affiliates. Complete or partial reproduction without the express consent of UBS is not permitted.
© UBS 1998 - 2026. All rights reserved. The key symbol and UBS are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS.
