Here you’ll find a brief overview of the Swiss pension system.
We’ve explained the different amounts shown on your pension certificate.
Are you changing employers or leaving Switzerland for good? What will happen to the pension savings you’ve accumulated?
You’re allowed to make voluntary pension contributions to make up for any gaps in your coverage. These contributions increase your future retirement benefits and are tax-deductible.
Forms
How long before I retire do I need to decide if I want to receive a lump-sum payment?
There is no specific deadline.
Can I withdraw my retirement savings if I leave Switzerland permanently?
If you leave Switzerland for an EU country (plus Iceland and Norway), you won’t be able to withdraw all of your vested termination benefits if the country you’re going to has a mandatory occupational pension system (such as France’s social security system). You will be able to withdraw only the supplementary portion of your benefits, that’s to say, the amount your employer contributed above the legal minimum. The amount that corresponds to the legal minimum under the LPP will have to be transferred to a vested benefits account or policy. That doesn’t mean you lose that money. As early as five years before the legal retirement age, you can ask the vested benefits foundation where your retirement savings are held to pay you the entirety of your savings.
If you leave Switzerland for a country outside the EU, you can withdraw all of your vested termination benefits.
Are the Fund’s investments socially responsible?
We’ve incorporated BCV’s socially responsible investment (SRI) strategy into our investment management. BCV’s five key measures are to:
- Comply with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment
- Follow strict ESG-based AGM voting guidelines for our investment funds
- Align our list of excluded companies with that of the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments
- Use ESG benchmark indices in our investment management, without compromising on risks or returns
- Exclude companies with significant coal-related revenues, in order to support the energy transition
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