Overview
Pension planning works best when the pillars are coordinated. The question is not only how much to pay into pillar 3a, but what is missing, how much can be locked in, which risks fit your situation and how much flexibility you need.
What I check
- Pension fund certificate review
- Bank or insurance pillar 3a analysis
- Pillar 3b as the flexible part of the strategy
- Voluntary pension fund purchases and tax impact
- Capital, protection and retirement planning
When it is useful
- You want tax efficiency with a clear logic
- You do not understand your pension fund certificate
- You already have pillar 3a and want to review it
- You have a partner/family to protect
- You want to avoid products that are too rigid
Useful documents to prepare
- Latest pension fund certificate
- Pillar 3a and 3b statements/contracts
- Salary certificate or last tax return
- AHV statement if available
- Main goals: home, family, retirement or future capital
Pillar 3b: flexible, but not automatically better
Pillar 3b can complement pillar 3a when more flexibility, protection or wealth planning is needed. Duration, costs, taxation, coverage and exit options should be clear before signing.
When changing may not be necessary
If your current strategy is clear, affordable and flexible enough, optimising existing contracts may be better than opening new ones.