2027 review season. Two different deadlines: most supplementary contracts must be cancelled by 30 September, basic insurance by 30 November. We read both — and only move what should move. Supplementary by 30 Sep · basic by 30 Nov.
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 Nicole Bohne 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.
0%
Pillar 1 · AHV
State, pay-as-you-go.
Basic subsistence.
0%
+ Pillar 2 · BVG
Occupational, capital-funded.
With your employer.
0%
+ Pillar 3 · 3a / 3b
Private, voluntary.
The part you control.
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.
| Pillar | Type | Mandatory? | Key 2026 figure | Pension target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — AHV / AVS | State pension, pay-as-you-go | Yes — all residents | Max single CHF 2,520/mo · couple CHF 3,780/mo | ~30% of average salary |
| 2 — BVG / LPP | Occupational, capital-funded | Yes — above CHF 22,680/yr | Entry threshold CHF 22,680/yr | ~30–40% additional |
| 3 — Säule 3a / 3b | Private, tax-advantaged (3a) | Voluntary | Cap CHF 7,258 employed / CHF 36,288 self-employed | Fills the remaining gap |
The numbers behind pillar 1: the maximum AHV pension needs 44 contribution years plus an average annual income of at least CHF 90,720 — each missing year cuts roughly 2.27%. The minimum single pension is CHF 1,260/month, and from December 2026 all AHV recipients receive a 13th annual pension payment for the first time. Behind pillar 2: retirement-savings contributions only begin the January after age 24, and the fill mechanism for missing years is the BVG buyback (Einkauf) — each buyback franc is deductible at your marginal rate (often 30–45% for high earners), and mid-career arrivals routinely hold CHF 50,000–200,000 of buyback room they don't know about. Your Pensionskasse certificate (Vorsorgeausweis) shows your specific room.
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.
The arrival-age math makes the point concretely. AHV wants 44 contribution years; BVG wants employer-matched saving from age 25. Arrive at 30 and you reach ~35 AHV years (~80% of the full pension) with 5 years of missing BVG accumulation; arrive at 40 and the AHV gap alone is ~43%. The later the arrival, the more architectural weight 3a and the BVG buyback have to carry — bilateral social-security agreements can count home-country years toward the qualifying period, though not toward the Swiss benefit itself.
| Arrival age | AHV years to 65 | AHV gap | Typical strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | ~40 | ~9% | 3a maximisation; modest buyback if applicable |
| 30 | ~35 | ~20% | 3a max + BVG buyback prioritisation |
| 35 | ~30 | ~32% | Aggressive BVG buyback + 3a max |
| 40 | ~25 | ~43% | Buyback as largest single lever; 3a + 3b combined |
| 45 | ~20 | ~55% | Architecture review essential; 3b alongside 3a + buyback |
Nicole'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.
The federal-cantonal-communal math, with a calculator for your canton and income.
02Withdrawal tax by canton, staggering across tax years, and the leaving-Switzerland mechanics.
03Cheaper and flexible vs guaranteed value and family protection — the honest comparison.
04Tax-deductible but restricted, or free but undeducted. A 3-question quiz routes you.
05VIAC · frankly · finpension · banks · insurance contracts, side by side with costs.
06Up to 20% of net income, capped CHF 36,288 — the grosse-3a math and a calculator.
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 57 reviews on GoogleShe assisted and guided me through the entire process of obtaining my Swiss pension refund.
My 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.
What I appreciated the most is that she was trying to help me solve my problem, not simply sell me an insurance policy.
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
★★★★★
“She assisted and guided me through the entire process of obtaining my Swiss pension refund.”
Ryan K. · Google
★★★★★
“What I appreciated the most is that she was trying to help me solve my problem, not simply sell me an insurance policy.”
Thomas P. · Google
★★★★★
“After several bad experiences with other brokers, working with Mr. Robert Kolar was a completely different experience.”
Dragos H. · Google
★★★★★
“Robert is the best person to partner with if you need to do difficult things such as relocate.”
E. Burke-Murphy · Google
★★★★★
“My session with Robert was one of the most efficient consultation sessions I'd ever had.”
Milad F. · Google
★★★★★
“I was looking to change a supplementary insurance plan, and Robert guided me with professionalism and patience.”
Diana M. · Google
★★★★★
“After returning to Switzerland from abroad, Robert was a tremendous help consulting me about all the changes.”
Steven · Google
★★★★★
“Highly recommend consulting Expat Savvy before making any online insurance comparisons.”
Zendaya B. · Google
★★★★★
“Working with Ben was great. Very prompt and responsive. Would highly recommend to anyone.”
Michele · Google
★★★★★
“Beide arbeiten Hand in Hand und haben die individuellen Anforderungen unserer Kunden immer im Blick.”
Katharina K. · Google
★★★★★
“She assisted and guided me through the entire process of obtaining my Swiss pension refund.”
Ryan K. · Google
★★★★★
“What I appreciated the most is that she was trying to help me solve my problem, not simply sell me an insurance policy.”
Thomas P. · Google
★★★★★
“After several bad experiences with other brokers, working with Mr. Robert Kolar was a completely different experience.”
Dragos H. · Google
★★★★★
“Robert is the best person to partner with if you need to do difficult things such as relocate.”
E. Burke-Murphy · Google
★★★★★
“My session with Robert was one of the most efficient consultation sessions I'd ever had.”
Milad F. · Google
★★★★★
“I was looking to change a supplementary insurance plan, and Robert guided me with professionalism and patience.”
Diana M. · Google
★★★★★
“She assisted and guided me through the entire process of obtaining my Swiss pension refund.”
Ryan K. · Google
★★★★★
“What I appreciated the most is that she was trying to help me solve my problem, not simply sell me an insurance policy.”
Thomas P. · Google
★★★★★
“After several bad experiences with other brokers, working with Mr. Robert Kolar was a completely different experience.”
Dragos H. · Google
★★★★★
“Robert is the best person to partner with if you need to do difficult things such as relocate.”
E. Burke-Murphy · Google
★★★★★
“My session with Robert was one of the most efficient consultation sessions I'd ever had.”
Milad F. · Google
★★★★★
“I was looking to change a supplementary insurance plan, and Robert guided me with professionalism and patience.”
Diana M. · Google
Illustrated portraits — households we've advised on health, pension, and the architecture between them.
Life insurance, insurance-wrapped 3a, tax optimization · FINMA F01536402
Nicole now handles the booking flow for life-insurance and 3rd-pillar architecture reviews. The call checks whether an insurance wrapper belongs in the plan, whether banking 3a is cleaner, and which tax lever actually fits your household. Written summary within 3 working days.
Book your first Swiss insurance reviewThe 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 Nicole.
Book your first Swiss insurance review