Early preparation for retirement pays off. Personal goals, individual wishes, and financial questions are often unclear; ideally, these should be analyzed and clarified from the age of 50 onward as part of a well-founded and professional pension planning process.

Four paths to retirement
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1. Early retirement
From the AHV (Swiss social security) perspective, early withdrawal is possible from age 60 for women and 62 for men; within the pension fund, an early transition can already take place from age 58.However, early retirement entails financial losses and must be carefully considered. Gaps in pension coverage can be mitigated through voluntary contributions to the pension fund or targeted capital accumulation via private pension savings (3rd pillar). Depending on the employer, a bridging pension may also be requested—this should be checked early.

2. Gradual retirement
A gradual exit from working life offers significant advantages for both employees and companies. Valuable expertise can be retained, and sudden, challenging social changes can be cushioned. In practice, various retirement models are used depending on individual preferences and possibilities. Generally, a phased transition into retirement is possible over a period of 12 years, i.e., from age 58 to 70. From the AHV and pension fund perspective, partial pensions can be drawn before or after regular retirement, with corresponding reductions or increases in benefits.

3. Standard retirement
The standard retirement age is set at 64 for women and 65 for men. From this point onward, the AHV pension and pension fund benefits are paid out as a retirement annuity and/or lump sum.

4. Deferred retirement
Many self-employed individuals and employees have the option to continue working beyond the standard retirement age. Statistical analyses show that about one in ten people in Switzerland, mostly part-time, remain employed. It is possible to defer AHV pension payments by up to 5 years, which can result in a significant increase in benefits, e.g., by 31.5%.

For all four options, it is essential to clarify key questions in advance and take the most optimal and necessary measures at the right time.

Pension planning
- What are my pension benefits and how much will my retirement income be?
- Will I draw my pension fund assets as an annuity, a lump sum, or a combination, and what deadlines must be observed?
- How are my AHV and occupational pension benefits complemented by private 3rd pillar pension savings?

Assets
- How is my wealth structured?
- Are my investments aligned with my risk capacity and tolerance?
- What are sensible investment options for my assets?
- What are my budget goals and financial possibilities from retirement onward?

Taxes
- How can I optimize my retirement from a tax perspective?
- What taxes apply to occupational and private pension benefits?
- How high will my tax burden be before and after retirement?

‍Real estate
- What will my medium- to long-term housing situation look like?
- How will my bank assess the affordability of my mortgage in old age, and are amortizations necessary?
- Am I using the best offers and conditions available on the market?

Inheritance law
- Have I made inheritance arrangements for myself and my family?
- How can I protect my assets against potential future care costs?
- Does it make sense to have an advance healthcare directive and a power of attorney?

Success is not achieved by isolated “super measures.” What matters is addressing these important topics holistically and independently, allowing you to enter a well-deserved retirement in the best possible way—secure, optimized, and with peace of mind.

How is my wealth composed? Are my investments aligned with my risk capacity and risk tolerance?

For an initial, free, and non-binding information session, please contact us by email (kontaktanfrage@vpz.ch) or call our free VPZ hotline at 0800 822 288 to schedule an appointment directly with your consulting specialist. A holistic and forward-looking approach coordinates your situation, identifies opportunities for optimization, and ensures long-term success.