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At digital 3a pension area a great deal has happened in the last few years. Viac surprised the pension industry as a first mover with its digital solution. At the latest since the major advertising campaign by ZKB on Frankly digital pension solutions are present to the Swiss. Finpension successfully launched its 1e collective foundation in 2016 and has been successfully positioning itself in the digital 3a segment for years.
What the Finpension offer in the market, what innovations they offer and what you should definitely know about Finpension, you will find out in this article!
The Finpension 3a strategy is simple: Invest broadly in equities and keep fees as low as possible.
How is it done? The 6 index strategies to choose from offer access to a wide selection of index funds. The following are available Funds of Credit Suisse (CS) and Swiss Canto. It is also possible to mix funds when creating a new strategy.
Depending on the risk profile, the Share ratio between 0% and 99%. The liquid part is 1% in cash for each strategy.
If you wish, you can use the automatic Rebalancing switch off. If you want to do this, set the Finpension Rebalancing in the context menu for each desired portfolio individually. Note, however, that your risk may increase. After all, you want to have a good and successful Finpension 3a experience. By default, a rebalancing is done automatically if the deviation from the desired strategy is greater than 1%.
The 0% Stock Strategy contains 100% cash, which always earns interest at the SNB key interest rate (it doesn't get any better than that).
With the Strategies with 20% to 99% Shares then real estate and, above all, shares are added. The simulated historical return of the last 5 years shows that a high share quota has paid off. Further on in the article, you will also see that Finpension does particularly well in this area compared to its competitors.
Thanks to the Finpension 3a Pension Foundation, it is possible to invest in investments that are not possible for us as private individuals. These products are extremely inexpensive, which is why Finpension is the 0.39% Flat fee can offer. Finpension Change of strategy are of course free of charge, likewise fall Stamp duties only apply to foreign funds. Furthermore, care is always taken to invest in Swiss franc tranches in order to avoid foreign currency fees. Should a Currency exchange are necessary, are used for this maximum 0.05% (so-called 5 basis points), which is very inexpensive.
Especially positive for individualists: The given strategies can be adapted free of charge. A Counselling is includedYou will not be left alone if you have any concerns or requests for changes. However, the platform is basically set up in such a way that no advice is necessary. Since it provides some assistance to unsure customers, it still has a positive impact on our Finpension 3a experience.
The Finpension strategy is not based on active management, which costs expensive fees. Rather, one relies on passive index fundswhich invest broadly diversified in entire markets and thus in hundreds of companies. This Investment approach is also recommended for the private financial investment. You save fees, hedge your risk broadly and thus beat pretty much all other strategies in the long term. Only, as already mentioned, Finpension as a pension foundation can do this even more cheaply than you could privately.
Anyone who invests passively privately (in ETFs, for example) can also do so in pillar 3a and even still Save taxes.
Finpension brings know-how and possibilities from other business areas to make their 3a area particularly attractive and inexpensive. The Flat fee from Gross 0.42% is unbeaten on the market so far. As with FranklyHowever, this also means higher fees on strategies where there are actually only low or no fees. The advantage is that strategies with fewer shares invested in bondsThe salary is therefore not simply held in cash and thus a return is achieved after all.
However, anyone who has looked at the performance chart above will most likely tend towards higher equity ratios (+ 80%). In this segment, one thing becomes clear for our Finpension 3a experience report: Here Finpension offers a Extremely inexpensive pension solution on!
At Finpension, the Strategies to be put on a sustainable footing and even the Focus Switzerland or Global is thus possible. Sustainability is not a defined term, by the way. So you should pay attention to the details of the products used if sustainability is particularly important to you. The following products are used Finpension strategies currently the following ESG features:
How well sustainability is implemented in financial products is not so easy to verify. The criteria used by Finpension Products are subject to the MSCI-ESG rating. Some funds have an excellent AAA rating, others only A to BBB. If you want to know exactly what is going on, you have to dive into the individual factsheets of the strategies. At this point, a summarised version for each strategy would be helpful.
| Fee ** | Finpension 3a Equity ratio |
|---|---|
| 0,39% | 20% Shares |
| 0,39% | 40% Shares |
| 0,39% | 60% Shares |
| 0,39% | 80% Shares |
| 0,39% | 99% Shares |
| Fee ** | Viac Equity exposure (strategy) |
|---|---|
| 0,40% | 20% shares (Global 20) |
| 0,40% | 40% Shares (Global 40) |
| 0,40% | 60% shares (Global 60) |
| 0,40% | 80% Shares (Global 80) |
| 0,40% | 97% shares (Global 100) |
**Sources: Finpension strategies and fees (incl. VAT) / Viac strategies and fees. Errors in Finpension or Viac comparison reserved, please check up-to-dateness.
The Finpension Vested Benefits Foundation (FZ) offers an attractive investment opportunity just like the 3a solution. Low Fees of 0.39% per year and a High flexibility at the investment strategy stand out in particular here. The Finpension Vested Benefits Foundation offers a strategy with Extremely high equity exposure and at the same time Very low TERwhich should be very exciting for investors willing to take risks.
By the way, if you have Finpension Vested Benefits Foundation you can also use the Coupon code CHFRZ5 as you will then receive CHF 25 into your Finpension vested benefits account.
With the Finpension 1 e Management pension plan a special option is available to employees with an annual income of CHF 132,300 or more (as of 2023).
High earners can thus be offered a 1e cadre pension with, for example, 80% share quota and inexpensive fees at 0.02% TER.
Risk cover can also be included and, for example, a disability pension can be included.
In May 2024, the Finpension Invest the Finpension investment solution for free assets live. Here are some features:
As Finpension Invest is very comprehensive, you will find a separate Finpension Invest experience report with all the details.
After FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) has issued the first Swiss crypto fund "Crypto Market Index Fund". The pension provider is responsible for the Possibility indirectly in cryptocurrencies to invest. More precisely the prices of cryptocurrencies via securities and futures contracts. pictured.
Finpension is the first 3a provider in Switzerland to offer the Addition of cryptocurrencies in the 3rd pillar. The TER Fees of the "Crypto Market Index Fund", however, lies with about 2% and thus about 50 (yes, fifty) times as expensive as index funds in the stock market. The fluctuations of the crypto markets should also not be forgotten. Therefore, Finpension's current allocation is limited to maximum 5% cryptocurrencies in the 3a portfolio limited.
Finpension is transparent, uncomplicated and inexpensive. The fees are extremely low and the constant innovations make the provider an absolute TOP provider for pillar 3a and, with Finpension FZ, also for vested benefits.
Our community also regularly gives Finpension very positive reviews. A stronger focus on sustainability and lower fees with low equity ratios would still be desirable. But especially for young people with a long investment horizon and high equity exposure, Finpension could be your favourite. With high equity ratios Frankly another alternative. A Stock ratio of 99% and a simple operation stands out positively in the Finpension 3a experience report. Our Finpension 3a review is therefore very positive and we can recommend the solution with a clear conscience. Are you as enthusiastic?
Then please use our Finpension coupon code CHFRZ5 for discounted fees!
Do you have any more questions about Finpension or suggestions on what to do with your pension?
Leave us a comment there!
Transparency note: This article was created in collaboration with Finpension. The presentation and description has nevertheless been created independently and freely by us.
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20 responses
With Finpension and Viac, can I choose my own strategy for each account and decide which account to save in?
This is not possible with TrueWealth, where there is a strategy and all accounts are saved equally.
Hello Eric
Finpension sounds very attractive, but in the 3a account comparison TrueWealth scores better in terms of fees (0.15% - 0.25%). However, I'm not sure if this reflects the total fees, is Finpension the cheapest provider overall?
Hello Rahel,
Thank you for your question.
Fees can vary between providers over time and are only part of the calculation. The performance/investment strategy and tax optimisation (Finpension is very good here, for example) should also be looked at.
Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable and secure with a provider. Only then will you stick to the investment strategy in the long term and ultimately achieve a good return. It is therefore important to decide which provider is best you personally.
Can I also use Finpension as a Swiss abroad (living in Germany) for my 3a and vested benefits remaining in Switzerland? Do the same conditions apply?
Hello Marlise,
As far as I know, Finpension is only possible if you are resident in Switzerland. However, you can ask them again to be on the safe side.
Save 52 CHF on fees with this special code!
Happy investing!
The article needs to be updated, finpension fees are 0,39% VAT included now. VIAC is now offering 100 Global at 99% share.
I believe the code promo is no longer valid, they changed their offering apparently.
An additional disadvantage might be, their lack of ID control upon opening account, you will have to provide the ID at withdrawal, which is strange.
Hi Liz
actually the article is updated since a few days. 0.39% should be written everywhere. Isnt it?
The code is still valid and should work. Otherwise please let me know.
Regarding Viac 100: When you take a look into the latest factsheet there is still 97% stocks. So far, they are not increasing the rate.
Many thanks for your closer look
The factsheet says 99% shares (factsheet from June 2024).
to participate in the contest to win 6883 chf finpension free deposit, feel free to use referral code while registering at finpension and deposit at least 1000 chf within 12 months
I was a bit surprised that Finpension did not require identification when opening an account. Does anyone have an explanation why? I actually thought everything was very good, but that took away my confidence 😅.
Unlike banks, pension foundations are not obliged to carry out an identity check. Would you still like us to check your personal details on the basis of an identity document? Then a digital ID check is now available to you. To do this, open your profile in the top right-hand corner in the app (after registration). There you will find the menu item "ID check (optional)".
Thanks for the explanation @Finpension! 🙂
Would be possible to open with Finpension up to 5 3a accounts like in Viac? Thanks
Hi Mario, like in Viac its allowed to open up to 5 accounts on Finpension.
Hello,
thank you for the clear and very helpful experience report.
I am now also with Finpension with my Vorsorge 3a.
Greetings, Pascal
Please indicate the Finpension Code when registering!
9PYHRQ
So far only losses with Finpension and profit with VIAC, despite low shareholding!?
Hello, Manuel,
You would have to look in detail at which strategies you have chosen and which securities are then bought. The stock markets always fluctuate in the short term, there will be price losses with every provider. The emphasis is on Courselosses. You should look at your 3a in the long term and here a comparison after 10, 20 or even better 30 years would be exciting.
But you will certainly find out the background when you look at the securities in detail. There will be differences here. Which security will perform best in the long run remains to be seen.
I think it's great that you're testing different providers. If you decide to use Pro Viac, for example, you can open up to five 3a accounts there.
Love 🙂