Content:

  • The pension fund statement informs you like an account statement about the status of your pillar 2 assets.
  • You receive your pension certificate at least once a year.
  • The younger you are, the more the information on it will change before retirement.
  • As well as your pension assets, the statement also provides information about a disability pension, possible advance withdrawals and buy-ins.
  • To the conclusion
A smartphone with the UBS app open lies on top of an opened letter.

Every year, the pension fund statement lands in your mailbox or email inbox. Many recipients quickly lose interest because of the dry list of tables packed with numbers. But for many employees, pension fund assets are the most significant assets they own. So it’s worth taking a closer look. Doing so allows you to see what options you have for optimizing your pension. The overview gives you the opportunity to change course in good time in order to improve your pension situation in pillar 2 or, if necessary, pillar 3.

What is the pension fund statement?

Once a year, all of the approximately 1,300 pension funds send the pension fund statement, also known as the pension certificate, to all its members. It’s similar to an account statement and contains important information about the status of your occupational pension.

The pension fund statement at a glance
 
  • You will usually receive the statement by post or digitally by April every year.
  • The information on the statement usually reflects the status up to the end of the previous year. If, for example, your salary, working hours or marital status have changed you will only see the impact on your pension provision in an updated version of the pension fund statement. If you need an up-to-date version due to major professional or private changes, you can ask your employer’s HR department or the pension fund directly. Many pension funds now also offer online portals where the relevant information can be accessed at any time.
  • If you do not understand the information on the pension certificate, you can ask the pension fund for clarification. They are obliged to provide you with information.

What information is shown in the pension fund statement?

The pension certificate will look different depending on the pension fund. However, some essential information is always included. According to the BVG Act, the pension fund must inform you annually on its own initiative about your benefit entitlements, insured salary, contribution rate and pension assets. On request, it must also provide further information, such as investment income, actuarial risks, administrative costs, reserves and the funding ratio.

Plan your retirement at an early stage

When you think about your retirement, you are faced with some important decisions. Let’s draw up a plan together based on your personal wishes, so that nothing stands in the way of a relaxed financial future.

How should you evaluate the information?

The most important information on the pension fund statement is your expected pension or lump-sum payment, which you will receive from pillar 2 when you retire. In addition, you will usually find other important information, such as:

  • benefits in the event of death or disability,
  • financing property through advance withdrawals and
  • your maximum possible pension fund buy-in.

Please note: Although you see specific figures on the statement, these are subject to change based on your current income, the current conditions of the pension fund and the legal situation. Between now and retirement, the figures on the pension certificate will change. This is especially true the younger you are. Conversely, the figures become more meaningful the closer you get to retirement.

We use eleven important sections on the pension certificate to explain how you should understand this information and what you can do with it.

Do I have a pension gap?

If the benefits from pillars 1 and 2 are not enough to maintain your desired standard of living in retirement, you’ll need to save more. Find out how much today.

Conclusion

Rather than a bureaucratic burden, your pension certificate is an opportunity to look for ways to improve your insurance benefits. It’s best to make active use of your pension fund statement: as soon as you receive it, you should read it carefully and check whether you are in an optimal position regarding your occupational pension. If you discover gaps and need to take action, you can do so in good time.

Good to know

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