Pillar 3 pension provision (3a/3b)
Close your AVS/LPP gaps, ease your tax bill and build capital: pillar 3 is the tier of retirement provision you manage yourself.
Two minutes is all it takes: tell us who you are and what needs covering. We come back with compared quotes.
The essentials
At retirement, pillar 1 and pillar 2 pensions replace only part of your final salary, often less than people expect, especially for middle and higher incomes. Pillar 3 exists to close this pension gap, at your own pace and according to your priorities: retirement, home ownership, protecting your family.
Pillar 3a, the restricted form, offers a direct tax advantage: contributions are deducted from taxable income, up to a ceiling set each year by the federal government. In return, the capital stays locked until retirement, except in the cases provided for by law, notably buying your own home, becoming self-employed or leaving Switzerland permanently.
Pillar 3b, the flexible form, does not carry the same deduction but remains available without conditions: amounts, duration and beneficiaries are freely chosen. Then comes the choice of vehicle: the banking solution favours flexible contributions, while the insurance solution includes cover in the event of death or loss of earning capacity. The right structure depends on your situation.
What this insurance covers
-
Restricted pillar 3a
Contributions deducted from taxable income up to the current ceiling; capital available at retirement or in the early-withdrawal cases provided for by law.
-
Flexible pillar 3b
Savings with no statutory lock-in and no withdrawal conditions, some French-speaking cantons also allow a limited tax deduction.
-
Banking solution
Retirement savings account or fund: contributions when you choose, breaks possible, and an investment horizon adjusted to your profile and risk tolerance.
-
Insurance solution
Savings combined with risk cover: in the event of death or loss of earning capacity, the savings target is preserved, notably through waiver of premiums.
-
Early withdrawal for home ownership
Your pillar 3a assets can finance the purchase of your main residence or serve as indirect amortisation of your mortgage.
-
Staggered withdrawals
Spreading savings across several 3a accounts lets you stagger withdrawals over several tax years and soften the tax levied on the capital.
Who it is for
- Employees who want to reduce their taxable income while saving for retirement.
- Future homeowners building up own funds for a property purchase.
- Families who want to protect their loved ones in the event of death or loss of earning capacity.
- Self-employed people without a pension fund, for whom pillar 3a plays a central role.
- People a few years from retirement who are planning how to stagger their withdrawals.
How we support you
-
Analysing your risks
What you have, what is missing, what overlaps: an honest assessment.
-
Competitive tenders
Several insurers approached against a precise specification, compared item by item.
-
Long-term follow-up
Set-up, renewals, claims: a single point of contact, year after year.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I pay into pillar 3a each year?
The contribution ceiling is set each year by the federal government, with a higher amount for self-employed people without a pension fund. It changes regularly: check the current figure before you contribute. Paying in early in the year rather than in December also gives the capital more time to work.
Pillar 3 with a bank or with an insurer: which to choose?
The bank offers flexibility: contributions when you choose, the option to pause, and a simple change of institution. Insurance adds risk cover: if you lose your earning capacity, the contributions continue on your behalf, and a lump sum goes to your loved ones if you die. In return, the commitment is more rigid and an early exit can mean a loss. We compare both options against your family situation and your plans.
Can I withdraw my pillar 3 before retirement?
Yes, in the cases provided for by law: buying or building your main residence, amortising a mortgage, becoming self-employed, leaving Switzerland permanently or buying into your pension fund. An ordinary withdrawal is possible at the earliest five years before the AVS reference age.
Why open several 3a accounts?
The capital in a 3a account is withdrawn in a single payment, and the tax on it is progressive: the more you withdraw in the same year, the higher the rate. Spreading your savings across several accounts lets you stagger withdrawals over several tax years and soften this progression. This planning starts several years before retirement.
Also worth exploring
Your quote request
Two minutes is all it takes: tell us who you are and what needs covering. We come back with compared quotes.
Which insurance covers do you need?
Step 1 / 3
Your request, in brief
The email is sent from your own mail client: no data is transmitted through this site. Supporting documents are exchanged via the secure client area, never by email.
Jules Rossier, non-tied insurance intermediary within the meaning of Art. 45 of the Insurance Supervision Act (ISA), registered with FINMA under no. F01581788.