Three pillars — AHV, BVG, 3a/3b. Tax-deductible by federal law (Art. 33 DBG, Art. 81 BVG). Materially different mechanics if you're leaving Switzerland in 5 years vs settling. The 45-minute review with Hans Steiner runs your specific gap analysis, tax-effect modelling per canton, and a written summary within 3 working days.
45 minutes with Robert. Free.
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Switzerland runs a three-pillar pension system: AHV (state, mandatory), BVG (occupational, employer-linked), and 3rd pillar (private, optional). The 3rd pillar splits into pillar 3a (tax-deductible up to CHF 7,258 employed / CHF 36,288 self-employed without BVG in 2026; withdrawal-restricted under Art. 5 BVV3) and pillar 3b (no tax deduction, no cap, fully flexible). For expats, the architecture decisions hinge on planned years in Switzerland, leaving-Switzerland tax mechanics, and whether insurance 3a's premium-waiver-and-death-benefit features fit an actual coverage gap. We sell insurance 3a; we tell you when banking 3a is the cleaner answer.
Switzerland's pension system is structured by federal law into three pillars. Together they target a retirement income of around 60% of final salary; the gap between that target and your desired retirement income is what the 3rd pillar fills.
AHV / IV — Bundesgesetz über die AHV
Mandatory state pension covering basic subsistence. Funded pay-as-you-go via salary contributions (employee + employer) plus federal subsidy. Pays a monthly pension at retirement age (currently 65 men, 64 women, both rising to 65 by 2028 under AHV 21).
BVG — Bundesgesetz über die berufliche Vorsorge
Mandatory for employees earning above the BVG threshold (CHF 22,680 in 2026). Employer co-contributes. Capital-funded: your contributions plus interest accumulate in a vested-benefits account. Voluntary buy-ins (Einkauf) are tax-deductible — a powerful lever for higher earners.
3a / 3b — BVV3 (Säule 3a) + KVG-private (Säule 3b)
Optional individual savings. Pillar 3a: tax-deductible up to CHF 7,258 employed / CHF 36,288 self-employed without BVG (2026); withdrawal-restricted. Pillar 3b: no tax deduction, no cap, fully accessible.
Swiss-born locals plan pension with a 30–40-year horizon and zero cross-border exposure. Most expats have neither.
The Swiss pension system rewards depth and time. For expats, the architecture decisions hinge on three variables that don't appear in standard Swiss pension advice: how long you'll stay, where you'll go next, and which pension regime your destination respects.
A 5-year-in-Switzerland horizon changes the pillar 3a math entirely. Leaving for the UK is straightforward (treaty network); leaving for the USA hits FATCA mechanics that most Swiss advisors don't know. Settling permanently and buying property activates the home-purchase withdrawal lever (Art. 5(1)(a) BVV3). Each shape needs different architecture.
Hans's review is built around these variables — gap analysis runs against the realistic horizon, not the default Swiss-permanent-resident assumption.
Three variables that change the architecture
Every pension review covers the same four work areas — applied to your specific household, horizon, and destination plans.
Insurance 3a (premium waiver, death benefit) where there's an actual coverage gap; banking 3a (cheaper, flexible) when no gap warrants the wrap. Most clients hold both.
Pay the full 3a allowance by 31 December for current-year deduction. Late payment misses the deduction. We map the schedule against your specific cantonal tax stack.
Multiple 3a accounts let you withdraw across different tax years — flattening the privileged-rate progression. The lever matters most for higher 3a balances at withdrawal.
Self-employed without BVG: up to 20% of net income, capped CHF 36,288. Self-employed with voluntary BVG: capped at the employed CHF 7,258. The eligibility check is the first conversation.
Each page below covers one specific decision in the architecture. Pick the question closest to where you are.
We are an independent insurance advisory regulated under Article 45 VAG, FINMA-registered F01067278. We sell insurance 3a — life-insurance-wrapped pillar 3a contracts with premium waiver in disability and a guaranteed death benefit. We do not sell banking 3a apps (VIAC, frankly, finpension, traditional bank 3a). When banking 3a is the cleaner answer for your situation, we say so. We earn no commission on banking-3a recommendations — that's the point of the disclosure.
Restraint as differentiator, not slogan. "Banking 3a is the cleaner answer" appears in roughly 60% of pension reviews — most clients don't have a coverage gap that warrants insurance 3a's wrap. The conversation is honest because we have nothing commercial to gain by recommending the other side.
What clients say.
4.8 from 51 reviews on GoogleMy session with Robert was one of the most efficient consultation sessions I'd ever had.
Highly recommend consulting Expat Savvy before making any online insurance comparisons.
Working with Ben was great. Very prompt and responsive. Would highly recommend to anyone.
Beide arbeiten Hand in Hand und haben die individuellen Anforderungen unserer Kunden immer im Blick.
After several bad experiences with other brokers, working with Mr. Robert Kolar was a completely different experience.
Robert is the best person to partner with if you need to do difficult things such as relocate.
I was looking to change a supplementary insurance plan, and Robert guided me with professionalism and patience.
After returning to Switzerland from abroad, Robert was a tremendous help consulting me about all the changes.
Continue with 3rd pillar.
Articles.
Some of the people we've advised
Illustrated portraits — clients we've worked with on Swiss pension architecture since 2017.
Financial Planner IAF & Federal Diploma of Higher Education
Pension, 3rd pillar, life insurance, cross-border situations. Independent under Article 45 VAG, FINMA-registered (F01067278). The 45-minute pension review runs gap analysis, tax-effect modelling per canton, and architecture decisions (insurance vs banking 3a, account count, withdrawal staging). Written summary within 3 working days. Languages: German, English, French.
Book a pension review with HansThe three pillars, the 3a tax lever, the leaving-Switzerland mechanics, the insurance-vs-banking architecture — applied to your specific situation. We sell insurance 3a where it fits an actual coverage gap; we tell you when banking 3a is the cleaner answer. Free, 45 minutes, in English, with Hans.
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