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

Pillar 3a comparison 2026:

The best 3a providers in the test

Who at a young age wrong pillar 3a choice can quickly lose tens of thousands of francs by the time they retire. Yes, you read that right.

Last year, the Swiss market gained a new digital pillar 3a and lost an old one, and the most favourable providers now only differ by a few hundredths. Nevertheless, the choice will determine four- to five-figure sums for decades.

As of summer 2026 we have compared all relevant digital pillar 3a providers. With Real money tests and the weaknesses that are not in any brochure.

We don't rate according to fees alone. But according to what is really worthwhile in the long term.

So let's start with an overview!

CHF 1finpensionfranklyVIACTrue WealthneonYuhSwissquote
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 2Neon Bank comparison report Neon Invest comparison swiss investment app tradingapp comparison reportyuh experience switzerland yuh review test report of yuh experience report rating comparison vs kasparPillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 3
Total fees **0.39% - 0.42%0.43% up to approx. 0.44% (fee only on invested assets)0.00% Management + 0.12%-0.21% TER0.39% - 0.45% (degressive with assets)0.50% (All-in)0.60% (Investment strategies; fee-free saving)
Available share quotas0% - 99%10% - 95%0% - 99%0% - 99%25% - 99%20% - 99%45% to 75%
Staggering possible?Maximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsMaximum 5 potsNo (only 1 pot)No (1 account per person)
Minimum investment amountCHF 1CHF 1CHF 1CHF 1,000CHF 1CHF 10CHF 100
Home ownership promotionCHF 250FreeCHF 300 (except for mortgage with Viac)CHF 250CHF 400CHF 400N/A.
More offers - Freedom of movement
- Free assets		- (Indirect: ZKB offers)
- Freedom of movement		- Freedom of movement
- Insurances
- Mortgage		- Free assets- Banking app neon
- Investing with neon invest		• Banking
• Investing
• Youth account		• Broker
• Banking
• Crypto
- Mortgage
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 BasellandschaftSimply3a Foundation (Custodian bank: Lienhardt & Partner)simply3a (custodian bank: Lienhardt & Partner)Owned by Swissquote (UBS Vitainvest Strategy Fund)
Special advantagesVery reasonable total feesApp and desktop solutionOptional death/disability cover possibleAutomatic staggering. Automatic staggering of 3a and 3bDirectly in the existing neon banking appEverything in the Yuh app, for existing Yuh usersEverything under one roof, for existing Swissquote customers
Promotion?CHF 25 voucherCHF 35 voucher(refer-a-friend codes)Code CHFRANKE: CHF 100 fee bonus for free assets---
Schwiizerfranke RatingPillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 4Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 5Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 5Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 5Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 8Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 9Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 9
Test report Test reportTest reportTest report Test report Test report Test report

Note on utilisation: The comparison tables and Schwiizerfranke’s own data analyses on this page are the result of Schwiizerfranke’s own research and are available at Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licenced. We would be pleased to receive a link if you cite the data.

  • The pillar 3a solutions have been tested & verified by us
  • Offer you an attractive and secure pension solution
  • Includes attractive advantages for you as a new customer

Difference to the Kassensturz test

Many people are looking for the 3a fund winner. Our approach is slightly different: we not only weigh up fees, but also flexibility, staggered withdrawal, equity ratio, fund class and tax practice. That's why the most favourable provider in the pure fee test doesn't automatically have to be the best choice for you.

Table of contents

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

When selecting a pillar 3a provider – whether 3a account, 3a funds or securities solution – it is important to know what you want to do with your 3rd pillar intend to do.

As investment strategies can overlap and complement other investments in your discretionary assets, you should Pay attention to the following factors in the 2026 pillar 3a comparison:

 

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?

A 3a account does not fluctuate, but usually offers a deeper expected Return on investment as a broadly diversified investment solution. Long-term investors therefore opt for Pillar 3a fund solutions held in a 3a custody account and invest their long-term Pension assets in Securities.

At Pillar 3a securities comparison It is striking that there is a wide variety of investment strategies to choose from – from Pillar 3a equity funds to sustainable solutions – and the providers can differ drastically. Therefore, ask yourself How you want to invest (e.g. global, with a focus on Switzerland or sustainable and, in particular, how much risk you want 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.

Schwiizerfranke professional tip: Several pots from several suppliers

Don't fixate on a single provider. Instead, open several 3a pots with at least two different pension foundations. Two reasons:

1. staggered payment of optimised taxes. On withdrawal, the 3a assets are taxed separately at a progressive rate. If you withdraw everything at once, you pay significantly more. If you stagger 4 pots over 4 years, you break the progression and save four to five figures depending on the volume and canton.

2. more flexibility with advance withdrawals for home ownership. The WEF lock-in period of 5 years applies per pension fund. If you have pots with several providers, you can withdraw money for home ownership more often.

Caution with WEF: The tax authorities often aggregate WEF withdrawals within 5 years when calculating tax. Check with the cantonal tax office beforehand.

Bonus - Bankruptcy protection in the 3a area: In the case of pure 3a savings accounts, bankruptcy privileges apply up to CHF 100,000 per insured person and pension fund. In the case of securities solutions, as offered by all providers in our comparison, the securities are considered special assets of the pension foundation. They are segregated in the event of bankruptcy and do not require separate deposit protection.

Our financial tips for 2026

"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".

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

Online broker comparison trading platforms comparison Swiss broker comparison test
Swiss bank account recommendation test experience report account
swiizerfranke ebook investment guide switzerland pdf download
Pillar 3a Comparison Recommendation Experience Report
Crypto Broker Switzerland Comparison Buy Bitcoin
swiss online finance course investing pensions online learning live calls swiss online finance course

Pillar 3a fees comparison

Pillar 3a — Overview of total costs (as at July 2026)
Provider Total costs p.a. Max. Share quota
True Wealth0.12% - 0.21% (0% Management + TER)99%
finpension0.39% - 0.42%99%
neon0.39% - 0.45% (degressive)99%
frankly0.43% All-in fee95%
VIACup to approx. 0.44% (only on invested assets)99%
Yuh0.50% All-in99%
Swissquote 3a Easy0.60% (Savings account with no fees)75%
Descartes0.65% - 0.80%100%
Inyova0.80% - 1.04%100%

The most important pillar 3a providers in a direct duel

finpension, VIAC and frankly dominate the digital pillar 3a market in Switzerland. Here are the key differences between the three top providers.

finpension vs VIAC: the most important differences

finpension vs VIAC in direct comparison
Criterion finpension VIAC
Fees0.39% - 0.42%up to approx. 0.44%
Max. Share quota99%99%
WEF advance withdrawalCHF 250CHF 300
Fund classesInstitutional IPF tranchesCSIF and Swisscanto pension funds
Special featureCrypto admixture up to 5%, no FX premiumMortgage Coupling Bank WIR

finpension has structurally lower fees and access to institutional IPF tranches. Over decades, this can mean a four- to five-figure yield advantage. VIAC is the only provider to offer a mortgage partnership with the WIR bank: anyone who deposits their 3a as collateral receives SARON conditions. Both run via regulated investment foundations, and both allow up to five pots for staggered withdrawals.

VIAC vs frankly: the main differences

VIAC vs frankly in direct comparison
Criterion VIAC frankly
Feesup to approx. 0.44%0.43% All-in fee
Max. Share quota99%95%
WEF advance withdrawalCHF 300free of charge
Investment FoundationTerzo (Bank WIR)Savings 3 (ZKB)
Special featureMortgage Coupling Bank WIRZKB Pension Foundation

frankly is the only top provider to offer a free WEF advance withdrawal. This remains a real advantage when buying your own home. In addition, frankly operates via the ZKB's Sparen 3 pension foundation. As a cantonal bank, ZKB enjoys a special status, but this does not make 3a assets a normal ZKB account. In return, VIAC has a slightly higher equity exposure, more room for manoeuvre when choosing a strategy and the unique mortgage link with Bank WIR.

finpension vs frankly: the most important differences

finpension vs frankly in direct comparison
Criterion finpension frankly
Fees0.39% - 0.42%0.43% All-in fee
Max. Share quota99%95%
WEF advance withdrawalCHF 250free of charge
Fund classesInstitutional IPF tranchesSwisscanto pension fund
Special featureCrypto admixture up to 5%ZKB Pension Foundation

finpension has very low fees, a very high equity allocation (99%) and access to the institutional IPF tranches, which offer better refunds of US withholding tax. Over a savings period spanning several decades, this really adds up. In contrast, frankly scores points with its free early withdrawal for the World Economic Forum and the established ZKB Sparen 3 pension foundation.

Sounds like hundredths. Makes the difference of a mid-range car between the ages of 30 and 65.

Concrete calculation example: Anyone who starts at the age of 30, pays CHF 500 into Pillar 3a every month and achieves a net return of 5% will have Pillar 3a assets of around CHF 570’430 by the age of 65. A provider charging an additional 0.5% per year would cost you around CHF 59,651 in the same scenario – reducing your final balance to CHF 510,779.

But fees are only one aspect. The investment strategy is the other. Let's take a closer look.

A brief overview: finpension stands out for its low fees and a consistent institutional fund structure. frankly scores highly with its free early withdrawal for retirement planning and a straightforward standard solution. VIAC offers the greatest flexibility in terms of individual strategy, as well as a mortgage link to Bank WIR.

The differences in fees between the three providers are now very small. It is therefore worth looking beyond the hundredths of a per cent: at the fund structure used, the service provided, the options for staggered payments, and how you intend to use your Pillar 3a later on.

Pillar 3a Finder: Provider overview selection

Pillar 3a fund comparison: investment strategies put to the test

All of the above providers offer passive investment strategies. Many studies show that broadly diversified passive strategies often outperform active funds in the long term after costs. .

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 relies on a Balancing strategy and thus differs from traditional portfolios weighted by market capitalisation. This may result in a different distribution of risk and return, but does not guarantee lower losses.

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: test of the best 3a providers 11

Pension funds or ETFs: what’s really in your Pillar 3a

Two 3a providers may track the same global index and charge almost identical fees, but use different fund classes. Whether your strategy involves an ETF, a standard index fund or an institutional pension fund affects how much of the dividends from foreign shares actually reaches you. The differences in fees between the major providers are often just a few hundredths of a per cent these days. That is why the fund structure can be just as important in the long term.

Special pension funds are available only to pension schemes. Thanks to this restricted investor base, they can, depending on the country, benefit from tax relief that is not available in the same way to ordinary ETFs or index funds open to the general public. At Swisscanto, you can recognise such funds by the abbreviation «IPF».

Our analysis of two Swisscanto funds tracking the same foreign equity index shows that the IPF variant outperformed by around 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points per year compared with the standard option. These are historical figures for two specific funds; they do not represent a guaranteed future additional return. Furthermore, the difference only has a proportional impact on a mixed 3a portfolio. Most fee comparisons do not show this difference at all.

What fund structures do the major providers use?
ProviderFund classes used
finpensionin the classic building blocks of the standard strategies offered by Swisscanto and UBS’s institutional pension funds
VIACThe standard strategies mainly comprise institutional funds, whilst individual strategies also offer a choice of ETFs
franklySwisscanto pension funds and investment groups of the Swisscanto investment foundations
YuhSwisscanto index funds in the NT and NTH1 classes, excluding the IPF tranches compared here

Yuh scores highly for its direct integration of Pillar 3a into a fully-fledged banking app. Which solution is best suited therefore depends not only on the fund structure, but also on fees, strategy, investment options and ease of use.

The table is limited to providers whose fund structure we have been able to review sufficiently on the basis of publicly available documents.

Here’s how to check with your provider: Open the strategy factsheet and check the fund names and ISINs. At Swisscanto, «IPF» indicates an institutional pension fund. Other fund houses use different designations, but the criterion remains the same: is the fund reserved exclusively for pension schemes?

Our own analysis, as at July 2026, based on publicly available fund data and factsheets.

Investment Rageber Switzerland PDF investing beginner tips book ebook switzerland finances beginner

Free eBook: Your Investment Guide 2026!

In the Wealth Letter you get:

  • ✓ 3 specific financial tips every week (3 min read)
  • ✓ Exclusive financial tips & strategies for the practice
  • ✓ Instant bonus: 19-page investment eBook for free (value: CHF 29)

Over 8,000 subscribers are already benefiting. 100% Added value. 0% Spam. Cancellable at any time.

How to get more out of your Pillar 3a

Choosing the right provider is important. But even more important is how you use your Pillar 3a afterwards.

Choose the proportion of shares in your portfolio to suit your investment horizon. Money that you won’t need for many years to come is better able to withstand short-term stock market fluctuations. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to buy a home or retire soon, your investment strategy shouldn’t fluctuate unnecessarily.

Set up several 3a pots. This allows you to withdraw your pension savings in instalments at a later date and reduce the tax rate applied to the payouts. You can find details on pension pots, pension foundations and the WEF in the ‘Expert Tip’ section above.

Don’t just compare the administration fee. Other relevant factors include fund costs, foreign currency fees, the fund classes used, the maximum equity allocation and the costs associated with an early WEF withdrawal.

Make regular payments and make the most of the maximum amount. A standing order ensures that the payment isn’t left until the end of the year. Anyone who makes the annual Maximum amount make full use of it and claim the full tax benefit. Under certain conditions, from 2026 onwards you will also be able to retrospectively fill any contribution gaps that arose from 2025 onwards.

Other pillar 3a providers: Strengths and limitations at a glance

In addition to our main selection, there are other pillar 3a providers that we have reviewed. Each has its own strengths and is better suited to specific use cases than the broad recommendation. Here is a brief overview of the points you should consider when making your choice.

Yuh 3a

Yuh is Swissquote’s banking app. The 3a package was launched in 2023 and costs a flat rate of 0.50% per year. Two points to bear in mind:

  • One 3a pot per person. This means that the staggered withdrawal on retirement cannot be implemented directly.
  • Standard fund classes. Yuh uses Swisscanto index funds in the standard investor classes (NT/NTH1). Providers such as finpension make use of institutional IPF tranches thanks to the investment foundation structure. We explain what this means in the section on fund structure.

Yuh still makes sense for existing Yuh Power users with an all-in-one banking logic. Details in the Yuh experience report.

Selma Finance 3a

Selma is a digital Swiss wealth manager with robo-advisor logic. The 3a offering is solid and simple to implement. To consider when choosing:

  • One account per person. No graduation possible.
  • Fees 0.64% to 0.90% including ETF costs. Higher than the top digital group.
  • Use index ETFs in Pillar 3a instead of pension funds. These ETFs are not eligible for the withholding tax relief available for pension funds. However, as Selma also holds a high proportion of Swiss assets, the effect is less pronounced than it would be with a purely global portfolio.

Selma remains a valid option for its free asset management product, but there are more favourable alternatives in the 3a area. More in the Selma experience report.

VZ Asset Centre 3a

VZ is primarily an advisory set-up with physical locations throughout Switzerland. Anyone who opens a 3a custody account there pays around 0.68% management fee plus around 0.15% TER, i.e. around 0.83% total costs per year. This puts VZ well ahead of the digital providers.

The added value lies in the personalised advice. Anyone who appreciates and utilises this can justify the higher costs. For pure 3a self-optimisers, the cost-benefit ratio is less attractive.

Zak (Bank Cler) 3a

Bank Cler's Zak app offers a simple 3a solution with a flat fee. Functionally cleanly implemented. Please note when choosing:

  • One 3a account per person. As with Yuh, the staggering is not directly realisable.
  • Limited choice of strategy compared to finpension or VIAC.

A plausible choice for Zak users focussing on maximum simplicity and banking integration. Details about the banking app in the Zak experience report.

Alpian 3a

Alpian is positioning itself as a digital premium bank for wealthy private clients. The 3a offering is relatively new and invests in BlackRock funds with a global or Swiss risk profile.

Currently one 3a account per person, which prevents staggering. The pricing model is designed for customers with larger free assets, which Alpian manages in parallel. As a pure 3a standalone solution, finpension, VIAC or neon are more cost-efficient. More about the digital private bank in the Alpian experience report.

Findependent 3a

Findependent started as a purely app-based Swiss robo-advisor and is planning to launch a 3a product in the second half of 2026. We are keeping a close eye on the launch and will update the comparison accordingly as soon as the conditions are official. More about the provider in the Findependent experience report.

Descartes 3a

Descartes Finance takes a unique approach to investment: the ‘equalisation’ strategy, implemented behind the scenes by the asset manager OLZ. This is complemented by a strong focus on sustainability, which Descartes has maintained long before the ESG hype. Points to consider when making your choice:

  • Fees ranging from 0.65% to 0.80%, i.e. above the leading digital group.
  • Equity allocation up to 100%; can be spread across up to 5 pots.

For anyone who values the balancing approach or the ESG focus, Descartes remains an attractive option. If the sole aim is to minimise fees, there are cheaper alternatives. Details in the Descartes Experience Report.

Inyova 3a

Inyova is the most clearly focused sustainability provider in the field. Anyone wishing to channel their pension savings specifically into environmental and social causes and have a say in individual investment themes will find the most comprehensive range of options here. Points to bear in mind when making your choice:

  • Fees ranging from 0.80% to 1.04%, well above the leading group. That is the price to pay for the thematic focus.
  • «Sustainable» doesn’t always mean «sustainable». It’s worth taking a look at the portfolio to see whether its focus really matches your expectations.

Anyone looking to make a conscious choice to invest in green pension provision – and who is prepared to accept higher fees in return – will find Inyova to be an exciting, sustainable Pillar 3a option.

Good to know: Three providers, one engine

Yuh, neon and Glarner Regionalbank do not develop their 3a solution entirely in-house. All three rely behind the scenes on the same infrastructure from Descartes («Pension as a Service»), with the private bank Lienhardt & Partner acting as custodian bank, the simply3a Foundation and Swisscanto index funds.

This only applies to the technical platform, not the investment strategy. Each provider chooses its own approach. It’s good to know if you’re wondering why some 3a apps are so similar.

Top recommendations for 2026

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

Swiss bank account recommendation test experience report account
Pillar 3a comparison: The best 3a providers in test 12
ETF buy Switzerland recommendation savings plan exchange traded funds investing
Pillar 3a Comparison Recommendation Experience Report
Swiss Online Broker Recommendation Test Comparison
Bank account recommendation best Swiss bank account test

Conclusion - The big pillar 3a comparison and test

There is no such thing as the best pillar 3a provider. The choice must always be suit you personally. But there is a clear top group.

finpension, VIAC and frankly dominate the digital 3a market. Anyone looking for maximum returns and very low fees over decades will find that finpension hardly any way around it. Anyone planning to buy their own home benefits from the free WEF at frankly. If you are looking for more strategic room for manoeuvre and mortgage advantages, then VIAC in safe hands.

More important than choosing the perfect provider: Open several pots, ideally with at least two different pension foundations. This will give you tax flexibility and more options for early withdrawals for home ownership.

Feel free to share your 3a experiences in the comments.

FAQ on the pillar 3a comparison

In 2026, the maximum amount in pillar 3a will remain unchanged at CHF 7,258 for employees with a pension fund.

In addition, from 2025 onwards, you will even be able to fill any gaps in 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.

VZ Vermögenszentrum charges around 0.68% management fee plus around 0.15% TER for the securities-linked pillar 3a, totalling around 0.83% total costs per year. This puts VZ well ahead of digital providers such as finpension, VIAC or neon (all below 0.45%). The added value of VZ is the personalised advice with physical locations. Those who actively use this can justify the higher costs. For pure 3a self-optimisers, digital providers are more cost-efficient.

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

Yes, Kassensturz has tested various 3a providers. The results confirm what our Schwiizerfranke test also shows: digital providers such as finpension, Viac and Frankly perform significantly better than traditional bank products thanks to lower fees. As of December 2025.

For most investors, I recommend finpension (lowest fees at 0.39%) or Viac (best app and flexibility). Important: A pure 3a savings account is hardly worthwhile due to low interest rates – opt for a securities solution. In my test, opening an account with all the top providers took less than 10 minutes.

57 responses

  1. Hello Eric

    I was just wondering why Swissquote isn’t on the list? With fees of 0.6%, Swissquote is definitely in the running too…

    Best wishes, Joh

    Reply

    1. Hello Joh
      Good point – there are, of course, (a great many) 3a providers; the table is driven not only by the market but also by the community.
      Swissquote 3a won’t make it into the table at the moment, but I’ll have a look to see where we can include it in the comparison. Thanks for your input!

      Reply

  2. Hello, I'm missing a pillar 3a account that also takes sustainability criteria / ESG into account. That would be worth comparing 😉 or does anyone here have any tips?

    Reply

    1. Hello Verena,
      Some of the providers have the option of choosing an ESG focus. Some pure ESG offerings have disappeared from the market entirely because they did not perform well (e.g. Freya 3a)

      Reply

  3. Hey Eric,
    Great overview! Two important points could be added:
    1. foreign currency fees (FWR):
    VIAC incurs FWR, finpension does not. This can be strategically interesting: use VIAC for CHF investments, finpension for global investments - this avoids unnecessary currency costs.
    Source: https://finpension.ch/de/wissen/beste-saeule-3a/
    2. bitcoin exposure:
    finpension is currently the only pillar 3a provider with a Bitcoin option (TER 0.25%). For all those who want crypto exposure in their tax-privileged 3a assets.
    Source: https://finpension.ch/de/saeule-3a-investieren/indexinstrumente/
    Depending on the investment strategy, these differences can be decisive!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the addition, Simon - they're very valuable!
      Regarding Bitcoin: This is now also possible with VIAC.

      Reply

  4. Hello Eric

    I would just like to say a big compliment – I am a fan of your website. It is very informative and clearly laid out, with excellent tips 🙂 in various categories! A big thank you for putting so much effort into this website and keeping it up to date!

    One more comment on 3a: I am curious to see what findependent will deliver starting this summer.

    Reply

  5. Hello Eric
    Thanks to your Autopilot course, I am finally optimising my finances – a really great course, thank you very much! A question about 3a: I have a normal 3a account with 57,000 at a bank, which is no longer being topped up. In addition, I (unfortunately!!!) took out a 3a policy with a fund at Mobiliar, which I can't get out of after doing some research, or rather, it's no longer worthwhile due to my age (54). Does it make sense to reduce the amounts at Mobiliar to £100/month and put the rest into staggered pots, e.g. at True Wealth? And does it make sense to transfer the entire normal 3a account to True Wealth?

    Thank you very much.
    Best regards, Soli

    Reply

    1. Thank you very much for your feedback on the Autopilot Course, Cheers!
      3a policies are a tricky thing. Especially when it comes to mixed life insurance. I have written a detailed article on this topic here: 3a Keep the policy or not?

      At 54, you theoretically still have a good investment horizon until you reach normal retirement age, allowing you to invest in shares as part of a balanced strategy. Providers such as True Wealth etc. can help you design your investment strategy. Leaving the money in an account for another 10 years would be an expensive decision.
      But you have to make the decision yourself; I'm not allowed to give you investment advice here 🙂
      The easiest way is to open a free account with a provider of your choice and enter your situation there once. You will then receive a possible suggestion, which you can then review for yourself.

      Does that help you?
      Best regards and good luck,
      Eric

      Reply

  6. 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?

    Reply

    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.

      Reply

  7. 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

    Reply

    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)

      Reply
Write a comment

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked.

Get your free
Precaution Guidebook
receive!
No thanks.