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Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 1

Pillar 3a comparison 2025:

The best 3a providers in the test

You are no doubt familiar with pillar 3a as a very popular form of pension provision in Switzerland. With pillar 3a, you can save for your retirement at a favourable tax rate or save for home ownership. But which of the many 3a providers is best for you?

This article provides you with a Pillar 3a comparison and a good overview of digital pillar 3a providers. 3a funds are particularly profitable, which is why this comparison focuses on providers with securities.

The individual 3a providers are compared in terms of what they offer and their respective advantages and disadvantages, as well as their fees. At the end of the article, you will know exactly which pillar 3a option suits you best!

So let's start with an overview!

CHF 1FinpensionFranklyViacTrue WealthDescartesSelma FinanceInyova
finpension 3a experience finpension experience test review referral code coupon code finpension permissivenessFrankly ZKB Pillar 3a comparison viac vs. finpension vs. true wealth pillar 3a comparisonViac 3a experience test comparison vs finpensionPillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 2Descartes Finance robo advisor sustainable sustainable robo advisor switzerlandPillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 3Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 4
Total fees **0.39% - 0.42%0.44% 0.00% - 0.44%0.13% - 0.21%0.65% - 0.80% 0.64% - 0.90%0.80%
Available share quotas0% - 100%10% - 100%0% - 99%0% - 99%20% - 100%15% - 97%25% - 100%
Staggering possible?Maximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsNoNo
Minimum investment amountCHF 1CHF 1CHF 1CHF 1,000CHF 1CHF 1
(the money is invested from CHF 500)
CHF 100
Home ownership promotionCHF 250 (if longer than 1 year at Finpension)FreeCHF 300 (except for mortgage with Viac)CHF 250CHF 400CHF 300CHF 400
More offers - Freedom of movement
- Free assets
- (Indirect: ZKB offers)
- Freedom of movement
- Freedom of movement
- Insurances
- Mortgage
- Free assets- Free assets
- Freedom of movement
- Free assets- Free assets
Investment Foundationfinpension 3a Pension FoundationPension Foundation Savings 3 of the Zürcher KantonalbankTerzo Pension Foundation of Bank WIR3a Digital Pension Foundation of the Cantonal Bank of BasellandschaftIndependent Pension Foundation 3a ZurichVZ Pension Foundation 3aLiberty Foundation for 3a Retirement Savings
Special advantagesVery reasonable total feesApp and desktop solutionFree death or disability coverAutomatic staggering. Automatic staggering of 3a and 3bInvestment strategy Equal weightingCombination with free assets reconcilableGeared towards sustainability
Promotion?CHF 25 voucherCHF 35 voucher(refer-a-friend codes)0.0% Management fee-CHF 3412 months free of charge
Schwiizerfranke RatingPillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 5Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 6Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 6Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 6Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 9Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 10Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 10
Test report Test reportTest reportTest report Test report Test report Test report

What you should bear in mind when choosing a pillar 3a provider

When choosing a pillar 3a provider, it is important to know what you intend to do with your pillar 3a. This article compares the 3a fund and 3a securities providers.

As investment strategies can overlap and complement other investments in your discretionary assets, you should Pay attention to the following factors when comparing pillar 3a in 2025:

 

Does the pillar 3a provider suit my plans?

For example, would you like to save towards a home ownership subsidy and align the 3a investment strategy with the strategy of your free assets (pillar 3b)? Then look out for a provider where this is possible.

Pillar 3a comparison providers pillar 3a test report 3a experience frankly vs viac vs finpension vs true wealth

Which 3a fund and investment strategy would I like to choose?

Surely you know that inflation leaves nothing left of the interest on the account. Long-term investors therefore opt for Pillar 3a fund solutions in a 3a custody account and invest their long-term pension assets in securities.

When comparing pillar 3a, you will quickly realise that there is a wide range of investment strategies to choose from and that the providers sometimes differ drastically. Therefore, ask yourself how you would like to invest (e.g. globally, with a focus on Switzerland or sustainably and, in particular, how much risk you would like to take).

 

Are the pillar 3a fees fair?

The biggest job has already been taken away from you, because all the above supplier have Fair pillar 3a fees. All fees in the above comparison for the best pillar 3a in Switzerland have been carefully checked by Schwiizerfranke and a preselection has already been made for you to simplify the selection.
The differences are usually no longer great, but let's discuss the fees in a little more detail.

Pro Tip:

Don't fixate on a single provider, but consider opening several 3a pots with several providers. This has three important advantages:

  • You can later purchase the pots in stages and thus optimise your taxes
  • pots with different providers / pension schemes, you can apply for a WEF more often within 5 years. (If you have everything with one provider, you may only do a WEF every 5 years).
  • Your cash deposits are better protected, as cash would otherwise only be protected up to CHF 100,000, depending on the provider

 

Several pots at several pension foundations are therefore very advantageous!

Our financial tips for 2025

"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".

We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:

Pillar 3a fees comparison

"It's not tragic whether I pay 0.5% more or less fees". Don't be so sure! Because in the 3a area we often talk about big numbers.

Example: You start paying CHF 500 per month into your pillar 3a every year until you retire at the age of 30. With a return of 5% per year, this adds up to an impressive CHF 570,430 by the age of 65.
A provider with 0.5% fees more per year than an alternative provider costs you a whole CHF 59,651 in fees in this case and thus inhibits compound interest. The new final amount is now only CHF 510,779, so we're talking about a difference equivalent to a good mid-range car.

It is important to understand that almost each provider has different fee structures has. The comparison is therefore not easy and cannot be made across the board. Because in some cases there are also additional fees and surcharges which were not initially declared.

But don't worry, all the providers in the comparison above are very reasonably priced. As a rule of thumb, you should immediately exclude all providers with fees of more than 1%. Especially Favourable pillar 3a providers are:

Bear in mind that fees are only one side of the equation. The investment strategy will also be decisive for your pillar 3a return. Let's talk about this briefly too.

Pillar 3a Finder: Provider overview selection

Comparison of pillar 3a fund and investment strategies

All of the above providers offer passive investment strategies. Science confirms that such passive investment strategies are more successful in the long term than active strategies (**).

Tip: Frankly offers active investment strategies - but you can also switch to the passive investment strategy when you open your Frankly Pillar 3a.

Some solutions in the above comparison of pillar 3a providers offer a sustainable investment strategy.

Sustainable investing sounds good, but on closer inspection it is often not very meaningful. This is because the regulations regarding ESG are not yet very far-reaching in Switzerland. Accordingly, not all sustainability is the same and should always be examined in detail be

Descartes stands out with a special investment strategy (equal weighting). A Equal weighting can reduce the investment risk, especially in uncertain stock market times.

True Wealth offers a Reconciliation of pillar 3a and pillar 3b in which a reconciliation to the free assets at True Wealth's robo-advisor is made possible. Such a holistic view of all investments makes perfect sense.

Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 12
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Tips for getting the most out of your pillar 3a

Choosing a 3a provider that suits you and your plans is already half the battle. In order to get the best out of your pillar 3a, optimise it:

  1. The 3a investment strategy: Tailored to you and your financial goals and needs.
  2. Building up your 3a assets: Build up your 3a assets in several 3a pots so that you can draw on the individual pillars in stages later. Also use different providers or investment foundations if you have planned a WEF. Then you can make an early withdrawal more often within 5 years.
  3. The maximum amount: Would you like to take advantage of the current maximum tax advantage of the pillar? Then, if possible, also make full use of the annual maximum amount of pillar 3a .

Reader request: Viac vs. Frankly. vs. Finpension comparison

Finpension

4.7/5

Extremely low total fees

Favourable WEF advance withdrawal

High equity exposure

Frankly

4.7/5

Very low total fees

Free WEF advance withdrawal

High equity exposure

Viac

4.7/5

Very low total fees

Favourable WEF advance withdrawal

High equity exposure & customised strategy

Viac, Frankly and Finpension are all popular providers of pillar 3a securities solutions. All three offer a broad range of investment options at low fees. The main difference is the available services and the customer service that each provider offers.

  • Viac is the pioneer for digital securities solutions in pillar 3a. The low fees and the now broad product range (vested benefits, mortgage and insurance) are very popular. Viac is also particularly convincing for those who Adapt investment strategy individually would like.
  • Frankly also offers a wide range of investment options and very low fees. Frankly should be of interest to all long-term investors who do not want to build their own investment strategy.
  • Finpension is pushing the fee battle further and further in the Finpension vs Viac vs Frankly comparison. Finpension represents for very Price-sensitive investors with a long investment horizon represents an exciting candidate.

With regard to the comparison of Viac vs. Frankly vs. Finpension, it is not only fees that should be discussed. The differences in fees are extremely low, which is why factors such as investment strategy should receive far more focus.

So ask yourself what is particularly important to you in a 3a provider based on the above features and then use the table to compare what suits you best. Because there is no such thing as the perfect provider for everyone.

Feel free to share in the comments whether you decide in favour of Finpension or Viac or frankly or something else!

Top recommendations 2025

Your key to success! Discover our top recommendations from real testimonials.

Conclusion - The big pillar 3a comparison and test

Hopefully this comparison has helped you to find the best 3a account for you in Switzerland. Due to the long investment horizon and the often large amounts involved, a thorough pillar 3a comparison is definitely worthwhile.

With the right pillar 3a app, you can not only save tax in the long term (thanks to the sliding scale, especially when withdrawing), but also build up small assets.
Remember that there is no such thing as the best pillar 3a provider, but that this question must always be answered individually.

If you want to know how you can get even more out of your pillar 3a, you shouldn't miss this article.

Otherwise share with pleasure your 3a experiences about individual providers in the comments! What did you notice positively and negatively in your 3a test and your personal experiences?

** Sources:

Scientific study on active and passive investments 

*** Note

The fees of the pillar 3a funds and providers can vary depending on the use and products used. Schwiizerfranke can therefore give no guarantee about the exact pillar 3a fees.

FAQ on the pillar 3a comparison

At Year 2025 the Maximum amount in pillar 3a which will give you more deductible money and greater tax savings. In addition, from 2025, you will even be able to use any gaps in your pillar 3a retroactively into pillar 3a shoppingif you have paid in nothing or less for a year. This allows you to subsequently close future pension gaps from 2026 and thus save tax.

The equity risk is usually determined depending on your investment period and risk perception, as well as other factors.

Don't worry, the respective pillar 3a securities providers will support you in determining your investment strategy.

"Is there a pillar 3a securities comparison? The securities used are very similar among the providers. Furthermore, the investment strategy can usually be adapted and aligned with a focus (e.g. focus on Switzerland).

This pillar 3a comparison is limited to 3a custody accounts. To keep the test of pillar 3a funds comparatively clear, interest accounts are compared separately. 

Here is a contribution that clarifies whether a custody account, an account or even insurance can be useful for you.

The best place to take out a pillar 3a depends on your personal preferences, circumstances and goals. 

So first make clear exactly what you want with your pillar 3a and then which provider can best serve you.

The best pillar 3a solution that is best for everyone simply does not exist.

A 3a account is interest-bearing, while a securities solution invested in ETFs or funds. This offers higher potential returns, but also entails fluctuations. A traditional account, on the other hand, remains stable, but usually with lower interest income, which is generally lower than inflation.

A Cost-effective solution like pillar 3a are not available on the free market to the same extent, as only the third pillar offers tax advantages. Nevertheless, a Solution like pillar 3a (e.g. ETF portfolio with a robo advisor) if you want access to your money at all times.

That depends on your risk appetite. Those who invest their assets in 3a accounts for the long term often choose a higher Equity share in the Pillar 3a with ETF. If you have security needs, you can access more Bonds set. A good mix can vary depending on your life situation.

At Pillar 3a in comparison pay attention to the Interest rate and the fees. Many offers of a Cantonal Bank also enable fund investments (i.e. Pension fund) or 3a savings accounts. The best way to start is with "Compare interest rates and costs free of charge" on the banks' websites or Moneyland.ch to get a quick overview of the market.

The VZ Asset Centre offers a solid solution for pillar 3a, but is rather expensive at 0.98% in fees per year. It scores points with various strategies and a broad selection. You can invest your pillar 3a payments there depending on your risk profile. However, as always, check the fees and service in detail.

Because sometimes asked, here is the link to the Raiffeisen Rio 3a test report and to the Vontobel Volt 3a test.

42 responses
  1. Hi Eric
    I have a question about your pro tip "You can purchase pots from different providers / pension schemes more than once for a WEF within 5 years. (If you have everything with one provider, you can only do one WEF every 5 years)."

    Let's say my goal is to buy my own home in 2030 and I want to do a WEF.
    Example 1:
    - Two 3a investment accounts with Frankly with CHF 40,000 each.
    - I can withdraw the entire CHF 80,00 directly in 2030 (or just part of it). 5 years later, I could withdraw the newly paid-in money again.
    Example 2:
    - A 3a investment account with Frankly with CHF 40,000 and a 3a investment account with finpension with CHF 40,000
    - Can I receive the money from Frankly and finpension for the WEF in the same year?
    - What is the advantage of drawing the CHF 40,000 from Frankly in 2030 and then, for example, the CHF 40,000 from Finpension in 2032? I would have to take out the mortgage in 2030. Would this be for new investments in my own home, such as a new heating system or photovoltaic system?

    Are there any other points to consider for married persons?

    1. Yes, you can make several WEF withdrawals from different 3a providers (or pension funds) within 5 years - the blocking period applies per provider, not in total.
      In concrete terms, this means that if you have an account with frankly and finpension, for example, you can draw on both in the same year or staggered over time. Whether a staggered withdrawal makes sense depends heavily on your financing situation - in practice, when buying a house, the bank usually wants the entire equity amount at the time of closing. Individual later withdrawals can then only be used for renovations or larger investments.
      For married couples, each person has their own 3a accounts and can make separate early withdrawals.

  2. Hello Eric

    First of all, a big compliment for the very informative and comprehensible content on your website.

    I have a 3rd pillar A account with UBS with a balance of over CHF 30,000. This money is held there like in a traditional savings account. Since the beginning of this year, I have also had a second 3a account with VIAC, into which I pay monthly and which is invested in ETFs.

    Now I would also like to invest the assets with UBS, but not directly with UBS, partly because of the fee structure.
    Is it possible to transfer this 3a account to another provider (e.g. Truth Wealth) and gradually invest the amount there?

    Thank you in advance for your feedback!
    Kind regards
    Rahel

    1. Dear Rahel,
      Thank you very much for your great feedback!
      Yes, you can move the 3a assets without any problems. Your new provider will usually provide you with good support.
      You can only ever transfer whole pots. You can invest gradually, for example, by choosing a conservative strategy (e.g. with Finpension, TW etc.) and then gradually increasing the equity risk.

      Good luck!
      (No investment recommendation)

  3. Hello,

    As a person with a B permit, I honestly don't see any advantage in investing in pillar 3a - or am I wrong?
    As far as I understand it, you can't file a regular tax return with a B permit unless you earn over CHF 120,000.
    Without a tax return, however, you cannot deduct the payment into the 3a from your taxable income, which is actually the main advantage of this pillar.
    And what particularly bothers me is that the credit balance is still taxed when it is later withdrawn - as a so-called capital benefit (approx. 5-10 % depending on the canton).
    In concrete terms, this means
    The money has already been fully taxed once (because no 3a deduction was possible),
    and has to pay taxes again later when he receives it.
    This feels like a kind of "double taxation" to me
    Or have I overlooked something?

    1. Hello Helena,
      You are absolutely right! Or rather, it depends: Income level, canton, etc. play a role in the decision.
      However, pillar 3a is not worthwhile across the board and especially not always for foreigners.

      Pillar 3a + voluntary tax return for B permits can be a very expensive mistake, which I made myself - and my tax advisor at the time let me walk straight into it.
      So that this doesn't happen to you and others: Here is a Important contribution for all foreigners with a B permit.

  4. Hello Eric
    Could providers such as PostFinance be of interest in the 3a pillar comparison as they have no fees, or am I making a mistake?

    1. Hello David,
      For long-term investors in pillar 3a, PostFinance is not an optimal choice despite the free basic account. The total costs (for the funds etc.) of 0.9-1.4% p.a. are significantly higher than with digital providers such as finpension, frankly or Viac, for example, which allow almost 100% equity exposure with only 0.4-0.5% fees. In the long term, this difference amounts to several tens of thousands of francs.

  5. Hello dear Eric,

    Thank you for your good content.

    I read your newsletter today with the 4Profi 3a tips.

    I have a very important comment here regarding timing, from an experience I have had myself:

    I always paid in the full amount at the beginning of the year for 3 years.
    As a result, it took just as long to bring the negative performance back into positive territory. (Corona 2020, Ukraine war etc. were decisive factors here)

    Accordingly, I would recommend paying in monthly for investments over 40-50% to even out the fluctuations.

    For a bank without an investment, the strategy can make perfect sense.

    1. Hello Marcel

      Thank you very much for your valuable advice! In my Newsletter I had recommended paying in the full 3a contribution at the beginning of January if possible, in order to make the most of the interest earned during the year and the compound interest effect.

      However, you are absolutely right that in times of market uncertainty a staggered deposit can be useful to reduce the timing risk.

      With pillar 3a, as with equity investments in general, you should always plan with a long-term investment horizon anyway. Over many years or decades, short-term market fluctuations tend to even out, which mitigates the timing effect somewhat.

      Thank you for sharing this important perspective with us!

      Kind regards
      Eric

  6. What strategy should you choose if you are already 42 years old? My child is grown up and has completed her education. I am divorced and working. No home ownership.
    High risk, with a high equity component?

    1. Hello Nadja
      the 3a tools support you with this question when you open the account.
      I can't give you any advice here, you need more information.

      But in general: you should only choose a 100% equity strategy if you don't need the money +10. In the 3a, it doesn't always have to be retirement; after all, early withdrawal is also possible.
      The easiest way to do this is to use the support provided by your 3a solution, where you will be asked a few questions during onboarding and then receive an investment proposal.

  7. Hi,
    Is it also possible to invest completely individually in ETFs or index funds? In other words, I don't just want to choose a "strategy", but also decide which product I want to invest in each month, for example?

    Are there providers for this and is it even permitted (state regulation)?

    Thanks!

    1. Hello Elisabeth
      Some providers allow the strategy to be customised. However, there are of course severe restrictions here and it is not possible to choose completely freely. In my opinion, this is a good thing for most people 🙂
      You are only completely free in "3b", i.e. in free assets

  8. Hi Eric, when you write that it makes sense to choose different 3a providers, I think it's easy to decide which one to choose. One account each with Finpensio, Frankly, Viac, TrueWealth and a 5th and possibly 6th of your choice. Perhaps an insurance solution could also be considered. Have I got that right?
    Greetings Michel

    1. Hello Michel,
      under no circumstances! I wouldn't recommend an insurance solution in the 3a. If you need insurance, it's better to take it out in the free area, then you'll be flexible and can cancel it when you no longer need it.

  9. Hoi Eric,
    I have a quick question about Yuh. There is also a pillar 3a solution with fees of 0.5% per year. There are also 5 risk levels, whereby the one with 99% shares makes the most sense in my opinion. As I have my account with Yuh, I find the solution quite practical and the fees are comparable. Have you looked into it? Are there any disadvantages?
    Thank you and best regards Matthias

    1. Hello Matthias,
      If you are already with Yuh, that is of course a great advantage.
      The fees could be lower, but they are fair. Overall, the solution is exciting, but there are also Yuh 3a disadvantages:
      Currency hedging cannot be cancelled and must therefore always be paid for. If you don't want to invest sustainably, you can't switch it off either. And the strategies are unfortunately not customisable - if that is desired at all.

  10. Dear Eric, does it make sense to make a 3a WEF advance withdrawal even though I don't need it? I could already make a staggered withdrawal.

    Kind regards

    1. Hello Walmona,
      Do you mean in the 5 years before the ordinary pension? Depending on your tax situation, this definitely makes sense as a rule. Here is a Article to that.
      Before this deadline, early withdrawals are only possible under certain circumstances (e.g. owning a home, self-employment, leaving Switzerland) and these are also closely scrutinised.

  11. Hello, Eric,

    I would like to know if you can make a declaration on taxation at retirement age? I thought capital gains from ETFs are tax-free in Switzerland, why do you have to pay tax on them when you retire?

    Is it not also more sensible to take out a global ETF savings plan via a broker in order to access the capital invested at any time? (As far as I know, capital gains are also tax-free here & the fees can be lower than with e.g. Frankly pillar 3a)

    1. Hello Pascal! In principle, capital gains from ETFs are tax-free in Switzerland as long as you hold them as part of your private assets. However, the situation is different when paying out pillar 3a, in which ETFs can also be invested. In this case, it is not the capital gain that is taxed, but the entire capital saved, as it is considered pension capital.

      A global ETF savings plan via a broker naturally offers you more flexibility, as you can access the capital at any time. The tax treatment and fee structure can indeed be more favourable here. However, the tax advantages of pillar 3a are not available.

  12. In my opinion, Frankly was and is a pioneer in online 3a solutions. Simple and clear. Above all, it's good for the vast majority of users that you don't have an infinite number of options and settings, as this can quickly become overwhelming. The performance is also good. So with frankly you can regularly deposit a chunk and sleep well. Time will do the rest. What more could you want?
    Oh, maybe a starting discount...? With this code, frankly is currently offering us a few francs.

  13. Hello Eric
    Thank you very much for the free guidebook.
    I was cheated again until I had no more money.
    The Luzerner Kantonalbank blocked me and made sure that I received a guardianship from the Kesb.
    I got a good man who pays all my bills with my AHV pension.
    Kind regards from Leo

  14. Hello everybody

    About 3 years ago I was persuaded by an adviser to take out my 3a with Pax. I have been paying in full since then. Since I've been looking more closely at my finances recently, I can't find the information I need to find out whether this was the right decision...
    Can you please help me with this???

  15. Congratulations Eric on your great site. I've already learnt a lot there.
    I use 3a from True Wealth and am very satisfied. The app is also very user-friendly and clearly organised. I also find it perfect that it is automatically divided into 5 accounts without me having to worry about it.
    I also use True Wealth for my "free" investments (and also for my wife and the children's portfolios). I'm also very happy with this and think it's great that the strategy for 3a and free assets is identical.

    If you want to benefit from only 0.25% asset management fee for 1 year (save 44%) you are welcome to use the link when opening!

  16. Hello Eric

    First of all, a big compliment and thank you for your homepage and the comprehensible financial reports. 😃

    My question: I am considering opening a 3a account with TW. In your table you state that the minimum investment amount is CHF 1. On the TW homepage, however, it says that the minimum deposit is CHF 1000. What applies now or am I confusing something?

    Greetings Stefan

    1. Hello Stefan
      Thank you very much for your good feedback!
      And thank you very much for pointing this out - True Wealth has probably adjusted it! Initially it was CHF 1, but now I can confirm that it has risen to CHF 1000 for pillar 3a.
      Presumably because otherwise the costs would be too high for them in percentage terms.

      I have adjusted the post, thanks to your info 🙂
      Dear greetings
      Eric

  17. Dear Eric
    Thank you very much for your great work! I always consult your site with great benefit before making my financial decisions. Right now I'm in the process of opening another 3a pillar. Although it will still be around 10 years before I start liquidating the pillars, I would be interested to know not only the running costs but also the fees that will be incurred on withdrawal. For older people like me, this would also be a decision criterion that could be useful in your overview.
    Best regards

    1. Dear Franziska,
      Thank you very much for your positive feedback! I'm particularly pleased to receive news like this 🙂
      Regarding your question: I am not aware of any fees that are due for the regular liquidation of pillar 3a custody accounts. The situation is different for early withdrawals for home ownership promotion; you can find information on this in the table above.

      If your question was also about taxes, these depend largely on your income. Accordingly, you should make the withdrawal in stages, as described here.
      Best regards and see you soon,
      Eric

  18. I read an analysis on true wealth 3a at thepoorswiss. In fact, the asset allocation of a 99% equity strategy does not seem optimal to me. Too much Europe, too little USA, etc. Stamp duty on ETFs and dividend withholding

    What do you think about these points?

    Thomas

    1. Hello, Thomas,
      Thank you very much for your input and the advice.
      This is where opinions differ! I cannot go into this sufficiently in a commentary, but this much can be said:
      If you take the last 20 years and compare the net return of the SPI vs. the S&P500, at first glance the US index wins. But not if you look correctly and take into account the currency loss, because the dollar lost value against the franc. In net and currency-adjusted terms, the SPI did better for us Swiss.

      There are TOP economists who deliberately focus on Switzerland and there are TOP economists who nevertheless strongly overweight international stocks. We only know what the past has brought, but not 100%ig what the future will bring. I am therefore reluctant to go out on a limb...

      I hope this helps you a little?
      Kind regards
      Eric

  19. Greetings Eric
    Thank you for your interesting tips on pillar 3a. I have learned a lot, even though I have had a Pillar 3a account for over 10 years. (I've been with Frankly for just under 1.5 years).

    But what I don't understand is the WEF (
    Home ownership promotion).
    What is it exactly, what do I need it for?
    With some providers this is free, with others between 250-400chf.
    Is free good or bad?
    How should I understand this?
    Thank you

    1. Dear Andre
      thank you for your positive message 🙂

      A WEF is only relevant for you if you want to promote home ownership with pension assets.
      You can use money from your pension fund (2nd pillar) or from pillar 3a for owner-occupied residential property.
      Since we are talking about 3a in this post:

      The various 3a providers usually charge fees for such an advance withdrawal. So "free" is good, here the fees are more or less already paid and included in the all-in-fee.
      If you plan to make several early withdrawals from pillar 3a, you should of course take any fees into account.

      Love!
      Eric

  20. Hello, Eric,
    When you write "Build up your 3a assets in several 3a pots in order to be able to draw on the individual pillars in stages later on" do you mean in parallel, i.e. pay in e.g. 2000.00 per year at the same time or one after the other as soon as an amount of e.g. 30,000.00 is reached?
    Many thanks and big compliments to this blog and the many explanations and tips!
    Dear greetings, Iris

    1. Hello Iris,
      Thank you very much for your great feedback 🙂 I am very happy about that.
      There are different strategies to fill your 3a pots. The most common is to open successive pots (e.g. open a new pot every CHF 30,000).
      However, you can also, for example, open several pots from the beginning (e.g. 5 pots) and use these Parallel by standing order fill. Although this involves more work, it also has advantages depending on the investment objective, as described above.
      As described, it can also be advantageous to spread your Pillar 3a pots over several providers and thus investment foundations (e.g. Frankly, Finpension, Viac, ...).

      There are many different ways to reach the desired goal. The question is simply what your goal is, what is best suited for it and what effort you are willing to put into it.

      Regardless of whether you are saving for a WEF or for a regular retirement in pillar 3a, it is essential to build up several pots in order to be able to approach the withdrawal intelligently from a tax perspective later on, and draw staggered to be able

      Best wishes and good luck 🙂
      Eric

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