Retirement How to invest your retirement savings sustainably

Not long ago, sustainable investing was still a niche phenomenon. Today the relevant approaches are well established. What’s changed?

Firstly, the environment, society and corporate governance, often referred to by the abbreviation ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), have become more prominent. Secondly, it has been shown that ESG-compliant systems are also financially convincing. Companies that act sustainably are characterized by reliable planning and a long-term strategic focus. On the risk side, this makes them more resilient to shocks and better able to withstand economic downturns. They also often prove to be better equipped for future challenges, which is reflected in better performance.

Taking ESG factors into account requires a long-term approach. It is sometimes a matter of preserving the basis of life for future generations. This makes sustainable investing particularly suitable for pension planning: pension investments, like the effects of sustainable investing, are by definition long term.

The first and second pillars are increasingly underfunded due to the progressive aging of our society and the persistent low interest rate environment. This makes pillar 3 all the more important. It is intended for private savings at the individual's own responsibility. Up to a certain amount per year, these are tax exempt (known as pillar 3a). UBS Vitainvest Investment Funds offer the opportunity to invest Pillar 3a assets in securities in order to benefit from developments on the financial markets. In order to take into account the different needs and preferences of savers, several versions of these investment funds are available with different profiles and geographical characteristics. The profiles differ mainly in the equity component, whereby a higher equity ratio is generally associated with higher returns, but also with higher risk.

All UBS Vitainvest Investment Funds have now been further developed to meet the strict ESG criteria defined by UBS. With the repositioning of the investment funds pension savers are given the opportunity to make sustainable provision for the future, thereby combining the advantages of the well-known UBS Vitainvest Investment Funds with the benefits of sustainable investments. This represents another step towards promoting product innovation and the transition to a more sustainable society.