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One-stop pension provision and risk coverage

Private pensions

Do you know what your income will be in retirement and are you familiar with the benefits of Pillar 3? What will happen to your family if you can no longer work or if you die?
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Our offering for your personal pension

Pillar 3a and 3b private pensions enable you to secure your financial future so you are ready for whatever situations life may bring your way. Whether you want to protect yourself against risks such as death and disability, build your wealth in a targeted manner for later or invest your money wisely, our SmartFlex retirement solutions provide you with the greatest level of flexibility to do just this.

SmartFlex pension solutions

SmartFlex pension plan 3a/3b SmartFlex capital plan 3a/3b SmartFlex income plan 3b
Description

Build up your savings and withdraw them as a lump sum

Pension plan with risk protection (death, disability)

Invest for your old age and draw a lump sum

Retirement plans with minimum term life coverage

Invest your savings and draw a monthly income

No risk insurance
Financing Regular payments of at least CHF 600 per year One-time payment of at least CHF 15,000 (3a) / CHF 25,000 (3b) One-time payment of at least CHF 15,000 
Term 3a: min. 7 years
3b: min. 10 years		 min. 10 years, max. 30 years min. 10 years, max. 30 years
Security options
  • Earnings protection
  • Contract maturity management
  • Earnings protection
  • Contract maturity management
  • Investment management
  • Investment management
  • Income leveling option
  • Income protection
Advantages
  • Tax advantages
  • Inheritance and bankruptcy privilege
  • Tax advantages
  • Inheritance and bankruptcy privilege
  • Attractive special interest rates
  • Regular income
Main purpose Save Invest Plannable income

Why take out private pension provision?

For most people, OASI/IV and OPA benefits from Pillars 1and 2 are not enough to enable them to maintain their accustomed standard of living when they retire. The primary aim of Pillar 3 private pension provision is to give you more financial freedom when you retire. If you opt for the Pillar 3a/3b retirement solutions, you can avoid income gaps in retirement and benefit from various other financial advantages.

Why are contributions from Pillars 1 and 2 not enough?

Although OASI and pension fund annuities do give you a basic income in retirement, the benefits from Pillars 1 and 2 only amount to about 60 percent of your previous monthly income. In most cases, you will need about 80 percent to maintain your accustomed standard of living.

What is Pillar 3?

Pillar 3 is one of the three pillars that make up the Swiss pension system, which consists of: Pillar 1 (state coverage), Pillar 2 (occupational benefits insurance) and Pillar 3 (private pension provision). The main objective of Pillar 3 is to close any pension gaps. The Swiss pension system subdivides Pillar 3 into Pillar 3a (pensions with certain restrictions) and Pillar 3b (flexible pensions). 

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2025 AXA pension monitor

Couples and families rarely discuss the financial consequences of separation, divorce and childcare – with considerable pension gaps. Parents are particularly affected: Many reduce their working hours without considering what impact this has on their pension provision. Every third mother feels that they are not well insured if their partner were to die. One fifth of families do not have any additional financial protection. Learn more now (in German)!

Ensure your accustomed living standard with a private pension

If you start early enough, you won’t have to worry in your old age. State and occupational pensions are often not enough, but individual retirement solutions enable you to close these gaps in a targeted manner. This way you can maintain your accustomed lifestyle and look forward to your future.

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When should I start planning for retirement?

The earlier, the better. As soon as you start earning a steady income – ideally when you start working – it’s worth saving for retirement on your own. Our SmartFlex pension plan lets you build up your savings right away to take advantage of return opportunities over the long term for a financially healthy retirement. You can also add term life insurance, a premium waiver in the event of occupational disability and/or an occupational disability pension to the pension plan.

But even if you only start saving later, it’s still worth it. If you start at least ten years before you retire, you can take advantage of attractive returns and tax benefits with the SmartFlex capital plan.

Even shortly before you retire is not too late: With the SmartFlex income plan, you can make a one-time investment and then draw a regular pension from it.

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    There’s no getting around this question if you’re looking for a suitable 3a pension solution. We have the answers.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I pay into Pillar 3?

The maximum amount for Pillar 3a tax deductions is adjusted annually. For 2025 it is

  • a maximum of CHF 7,258 for employees
  • a maximum of CHF 36,288 for self-employed individuals with no pension fund
How can I save on tax with a private pension plan?

The federal government supports Pillar 3 with attractive tax benefits, enabling you to earn massive tax savings as well as save up for your future. Pillar 3a in particular is considered to be a sensible measure for tax optimization and therefore saving.

Tax advantages of Pillar 3a

  • The annual premium is deducted from your taxable income (up to the legally defined maximum amount).
  • Earnings (interest and bonuses) are exempt from income tax during the term.
  • Lump-sum payouts are taxed at a reduced special rate.

Tax advantages of Pillar 3b

  • Periodically financed, endowment life insurance is exempt from income tax. Provided the following conditions are met, the same applies for life insurance financed by a single premium:
    • The policy was taken out before the insured’s 66th birthday.
    • The insured was 60 when the lump sum was paid out.
    • The policy pays out after five years at the earliest.
    • The policyholder and the insured are the same person.
  • Earnings (interest and bonuses) are exempt from income tax during the term.
What’s the difference between Pillars 3a and 3b?

Pillar 3 is ideal for saving money and planning your financial future. A distinction is made between   pension provision with certain restrictions (Pillar 3a) and  flexible pension provision (Pillar 3b). Generally speaking, we recommend a combination of both Pillars 3a and 3b for sustainable financial security.

  • Pillar 3a aims to provide sufficient income in old age and is subject to legal provisions regarding annual contributions and the date of the payout. It can only be financed with premiums. However, the law permits only a limited amount to be paid into the plan each year. You can offset these contributions against your tax up to the maximum amount, but you can only draw them before retirement subject to certain conditions. Reasons for early withdrawal include the purchase of residential property, leaving Switzerland for good or drawing a full disability pension.
  • Pillar 3b is flexible regarding the term, beneficiaries and amount of contributions. It can be financed with premiums or with a single payment. You can withdraw your savings at any time, but there are no tax advantages.
Why should I opt for private pension provision from an insurance company?

By opting for Pillar 3 from an insurance company, you are protecting yourself and your loved ones in the event of disability and death. In addition, with private pension provision from an insurance company, you are committed to making regular payments up to retirement age, which has a positive impact on the capital you accumulate as well as a compound interest effect. The differences are explained in detail in our article Building up a pension – a comparison of banks and insurance companies .

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Always there for you

Do you have any questions, or would you like a no-obligation pension consultation? Our experts are there for you.

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Further information to help you plan your financial future

The three-pillar system explained in simple terms

The purpose of the three-pillar pension system is to provide financial security for people in Switzerland in their old age and in the event of disability or death.

To the three-pillar system

Personal retirement planning with shares

If you want to build your savings for retirement reliably and over the long term, you’ll do best with targeted investments in diversified shares.

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Save tax with Pillar 3

Families have plenty of expenses. Pillar 3 offers you a simple way to save while protecting your loved ones at the same time.

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Pillar 3 maximum contribution for 2025

Interest rates at an all-time low and steadily rising life expectancy are placing a huge strain on the first and second pillars of the Swiss pension system. This is why individual retirement planning is all the more important. Save on taxes with Pillar 3a.

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