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The best 3a providers in the test
You are no doubt familiar with pillar 3a as a very popular form of pension provision in Switzerland. With pillar 3a, you can save for your retirement at a favourable tax rate or save for home ownership. But which of the many 3a providers is best for you?
This article provides you with a Pillar 3a comparison and a good overview of digital pillar 3a providers. 3a funds are particularly profitable, which is why this comparison focuses on providers with securities.
The individual 3a providers are compared in terms of what they offer and their respective advantages and disadvantages, as well as their fees. At the end of the article, you will know exactly which pillar 3a option suits you best!
So let's start with an overview!
| CHF 1 | Finpension | Frankly | Viac | True Wealth | Descartes | Selma Finance | Inyova |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Total fees ** | 0.39% - 0.42% | 0.44% | 0.00% - 0.44% | 0.13% - 0.21% | 0.65% - 0.80% | 0.64% - 0.90% | 0.80% |
| Available share quotas | 0% - 100% | 10% - 100% | 0% - 99% | 0% - 99% | 20% - 100% | 15% - 97% | 25% - 100% |
| Staggering possible? | Maximum 5 pots | Maximum 5 pots | Maximum 5 pots | Maximum 5 pots | Maximum 3 pots | No | No |
| Minimum investment amount | CHF 1 | CHF 1 | CHF 1 | CHF 1,000 | CHF 1 | CHF 1 (the money is invested from CHF 500) | CHF 100 |
| Home ownership promotion | CHF 250 (if longer than 1 year at Finpension) | Free | CHF 300 (except for mortgage with Viac) | CHF 250 | CHF 400 | CHF 300 | CHF 400 |
| More offers | - Freedom of movement - Free assets | - (Indirect: ZKB offers) | - Freedom of movement - Insurances - Mortgage | - Free assets | - Free assets - Freedom of movement | - Free assets | - Free assets |
| Investment Foundation | finpension 3a Pension Foundation | Pension Foundation Savings 3 of the Zürcher Kantonalbank | Terzo Pension Foundation of Bank WIR | 3a Digital Pension Foundation of the Cantonal Bank of Basellandschaft | Independent Pension Foundation 3a Zurich | VZ Pension Foundation 3a | Liberty Foundation for 3a Retirement Savings |
| Special advantages | Very reasonable total fees | App and desktop solution | Free death or disability cover | Automatic staggering. Automatic staggering of 3a and 3b | Investment strategy Equal weighting | Combination with free assets reconcilable | Geared towards sustainability |
| Promotion? | CHF 25 voucher | CHF 35 voucher | (refer-a-friend codes) | 0.0% Management fee | - | CHF 34 | 12 months free of charge |
| Schwiizerfranke Rating |  |  | | |  |  | |
| Test report | Test report | Test report | Test report | Test report | Test report | Test report |
When choosing a pillar 3a provider, it is important to know what you intend to do with your pillar 3a. This article compares the 3a fund and 3a securities providers.
As investment strategies can overlap and complement other investments in your discretionary assets, you should Pay attention to the following factors when comparing pillar 3a 2024:
For example, would you like to save towards a home ownership subsidy and align the 3a investment strategy with the strategy of your free assets (pillar 3b)? Then look out for a provider where this is possible.
Surely you know that inflation leaves nothing left of the interest on the account. Long-term investors therefore opt for Pillar 3a fund solutions in a 3a custody account and invest their long-term pension assets in securities.
When comparing pillar 3a, you will quickly realise that there is a wide range of investment strategies to choose from and that the providers sometimes differ drastically. Therefore, ask yourself how you would like to invest (e.g. globally, with a focus on Switzerland or sustainably and, in particular, how much risk you would like to take).
The biggest job has already been taken away from you, because all the above supplier have Fair pillar 3a fees. All fees in the above comparison for the best pillar 3a in Switzerland have been carefully checked by Schwiizerfranke and a preselection has already been made for you to simplify the selection.
The differences are usually no longer great, but let's discuss the fees in a little more detail.
Don't fixate on a single provider, but consider opening several 3a pots with several providers. This has three important advantages:
Several pots at several pension foundations are therefore very advantageous!
"Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others".
We have compiled our top selection for you from all our tests and experience reports:
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"It's not tragic whether I pay 0.5% more or less fees". Don't be so sure! Because in the 3a area we often talk about big numbers.
Example: You start paying CHF 500 per month into your pillar 3a every year until you retire at the age of 30. With a return of 5% per year, this adds up to an impressive CHF 570,430 by the age of 65.
A provider with 0.5% fees more per year than an alternative provider costs you a whole CHF 59,651 in fees in this case and thus inhibits compound interest. The new final amount is now only CHF 510,779, so we're talking about a difference equivalent to a good mid-range car.
It is important to understand that almost each provider has different fee structures has. The comparison is therefore not easy and cannot be made across the board. Because in some cases there are also additional fees and surcharges which were not initially declared.
But don't worry, all the providers in the comparison above are very reasonably priced. As a rule of thumb, you should immediately exclude all providers with fees of more than 1%. Especially Favourable pillar 3a providers are:
Bear in mind that fees are only one side of the equation. The investment strategy will also be decisive for your pillar 3a return. Let's talk about this briefly too.
All of the above providers offer passive investment strategies. Science confirms that such passive investment strategies are more successful in the long term than active strategies (**).
Tip: Frankly offers active investment strategies - but you can also switch to the passive investment strategy when you open your Frankly Pillar 3a.
Some solutions in the above comparison of pillar 3a providers offer a sustainable investment strategy.
Sustainable investing sounds good, but on closer inspection it is often not very meaningful. This is because the regulations regarding ESG are not yet very far-reaching in Switzerland. Accordingly, not all sustainability is the same and should always be examined in detail be
Descartes Vorsorge stands out with a special investment strategy (equal weighting). An equal weighting can reduce the investment risk, especially in uncertain stock market times.
True Wealth offers a Reconciliation of pillar 3a and pillar 3b in which a reconciliation to the free assets at True Wealth's robo-advisor is made possible. Such a holistic view of all investments makes perfect sense.
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Choosing a 3a provider that suits you and your plans is already half the battle. In order to get the best out of your pillar 3a, optimise it:
Extremely low total fees
Favourable WEF advance withdrawal
High equity exposure
Very low total fees
Favourable WEF advance withdrawal
High equity exposure & individual strategy
Viac, Frankly and Finpension are all popular providers of pillar 3a securities solutions. All three offer a broad range of investment options at low fees. The main difference is the available services and the customer service that each provider offers.
With regard to the comparison of Viac vs. Frankly vs. Finpension, it is not only fees that should be discussed. The differences in fees are extremely low, which is why factors such as investment strategy should receive far more focus.
So ask yourself what is particularly important to you in a 3a provider based on the above features and then use the table to compare what suits you best. Because there is no such thing as the perfect provider for everyone.
Feel free to share in the comments whether you decide in favour of Finpension or Viac or frankly or something else!
Your key to success! Discover our top recommendations from real testimonials.
Hopefully this comparison has helped you to find the best 3a account for you in Switzerland. Due to the long investment horizon and the often large amounts involved, a thorough pillar 3a comparison is definitely worthwhile.
With the right pillar 3a app, you can not only save tax in the long term (thanks to the sliding scale, especially when withdrawing), but also build up small assets.
Remember that there is no such thing as the best pillar 3a provider, but that this question must always be answered individually.
If you want to know how you can get even more out of your pillar 3a, you shouldn't miss this article.
Otherwise share with pleasure your 3a experiences about individual providers in the comments! What did you notice positively and negatively in your 3a test and your personal experiences?
** Sources:
Scientific study on active and passive investments
*** Note
The fees of the pillar 3a funds and providers can vary depending on the use and products used. Schwiizerfranke can therefore give no guarantee about the exact pillar 3a fees.
The equity risk is usually determined depending on your investment period and risk perception, as well as other factors.
Don't worry, the respective pillar 3a securities providers will support you in determining your investment strategy.
"Is there a pillar 3a securities comparison? The securities used are very similar among the providers. Furthermore, the investment strategy can usually be adapted and aligned with a focus (e.g. focus on Switzerland).
This pillar 3a comparison is limited to 3a custody accounts. To keep the test of pillar 3a funds comparatively clear, interest accounts are compared separately.
Here is a contribution that clarifies whether a custody account, an account or even insurance can be useful for you.
The best place to take out a pillar 3a depends on your personal preferences, circumstances and goals.
So first make clear exactly what you want with your pillar 3a and then which provider can best serve you.
The best pillar 3a solution that is best for everyone simply does not exist.
30 responses
Hi,
Is it also possible to invest completely individually in ETFs or index funds? In other words, I don't just want to choose a "strategy", but also decide which product I want to invest in each month, for example?
Are there providers for this and is it even permitted (state regulation)?
Thanks!
Hello Elisabeth
Some providers allow the strategy to be customised. However, there are of course severe restrictions here and it is not possible to choose completely freely. In my opinion, this is a good thing for most people 🙂
You are only completely free in "3b", i.e. in free assets
Hi Eric, when you write that it makes sense to choose different 3a providers, I think it's easy to decide which one to choose. One account each with Finpensio, Frankly, Viac, TrueWealth and a 5th and possibly 6th of your choice. Perhaps an insurance solution could also be considered. Have I got that right?
Greetings Michel
Hello Michel,
under no circumstances! I wouldn't recommend an insurance solution in the 3a. If you need insurance, it's better to take it out in the free area, then you'll be flexible and can cancel it when you no longer need it.
Hoi Eric,
I have a quick question about Yuh. There is also a pillar 3a solution with fees of 0.5% per year. There are also 5 risk levels, whereby the one with 99% shares makes the most sense in my opinion. As I have my account with Yuh, I find the solution quite practical and the fees are comparable. Have you looked into it? Are there any disadvantages?
Thank you and best regards Matthias
Hello Matthias,
If you are already with Yuh, that is of course a great advantage.
The fees could be lower, but they are fair. Overall, the solution is exciting, but there are also Yuh 3a disadvantages:
Currency hedging cannot be cancelled and must therefore always be paid for. If you don't want to invest sustainably, you can't switch it off either. And the strategies are unfortunately not customisable - if that is desired at all.
Dear Eric, does it make sense to make a 3a WEF advance withdrawal even though I don't need it? I could already make a staggered withdrawal.
Kind regards
Hello Walmona,
Do you mean in the 5 years before the ordinary pension? Depending on your tax situation, this definitely makes sense as a rule. Here is a Article to that.
Before this deadline, early withdrawals are only possible under certain circumstances (e.g. owning a home, self-employment, leaving Switzerland) and these are also closely scrutinised.
Hello, Eric,
I would like to know if you can make a declaration on taxation at retirement age? I thought capital gains from ETFs are tax-free in Switzerland, why do you have to pay tax on them when you retire?
Is it not also more sensible to take out a global ETF savings plan via a broker in order to access the capital invested at any time? (As far as I know, capital gains are also tax-free here & the fees can be lower than with e.g. Frankly pillar 3a)
Hello Pascal! In principle, capital gains from ETFs are tax-free in Switzerland as long as you hold them as part of your private assets. However, the situation is different when paying out pillar 3a, in which ETFs can also be invested. In this case, it is not the capital gain that is taxed, but the entire capital saved, as it is considered pension capital.
A global ETF savings plan via a broker naturally offers you more flexibility, as you can access the capital at any time. The tax treatment and fee structure can indeed be more favourable here. However, the tax advantages of pillar 3a are not available.
In my opinion, Frankly was and is a pioneer in online 3a solutions. Simple and clear. Above all, it's good for the vast majority of users that you don't have an infinite number of options and settings, as this can quickly become overwhelming. The performance is also good. So with frankly you can regularly deposit a chunk and sleep well. Time will do the rest. What more could you want?
Oh, maybe a starting discount...? With this code, frankly is currently offering us a few francs.
Hello Eric
Thank you very much for the free guidebook.
I was cheated again until I had no more money.
The Luzerner Kantonalbank blocked me and made sure that I received a guardianship from the Kesb.
I got a good man who pays all my bills with my AHV pension.
Kind regards from Leo
I'm glad that you got good support, Leo!
All the best for the future!
Hello everybody
About 3 years ago I was persuaded by an adviser to take out my 3a with Pax. I have been paying in full since then. Since I've been looking more closely at my finances recently, I can't find the information I need to find out whether this was the right decision...
Can you please help me with this???
Hello Daniel,
if it is a 3a policy in the form of a mixed life insurance policy, you will find here a contribution to that.
And here is another comparison 3a policy vs. account vs. custody account.
Congratulations Eric on your great site. I've already learnt a lot there.
I use 3a from True Wealth and am very satisfied. The app is also very user-friendly and clearly organised. I also find it perfect that it is automatically divided into 5 accounts without me having to worry about it.
I also use True Wealth for my "free" investments (and also for my wife and the children's portfolios). I'm also very happy with this and think it's great that the strategy for 3a and free assets is identical.
If you want to benefit from only 0.25% asset management fee for 1 year (save 44%) you are welcome to use the link when opening!
Hello Eric
First of all, a big compliment and thank you for your homepage and the comprehensible financial reports. 😃
My question: I am considering opening a 3a account with TW. In your table you state that the minimum investment amount is CHF 1. On the TW homepage, however, it says that the minimum deposit is CHF 1000. What applies now or am I confusing something?
Greetings Stefan
Hello Stefan
Thank you very much for your good feedback!
And thank you very much for pointing this out - True Wealth has probably adjusted it! Initially it was CHF 1, but now I can confirm that it has risen to CHF 1000 for pillar 3a.
Presumably because otherwise the costs would be too high for them in percentage terms.
I have adjusted the post, thanks to your info 🙂
Dear greetings
Eric
Good day
I wanted to ask what your opinion is on Yuh's 3a pillar
With kind regards
Raphael
Hello Raphael
Thank you for your question. A post on this is already planned 🙂 Kind regards
Eric
Dear Eric
Thank you very much for your great work! I always consult your site with great benefit before making my financial decisions. Right now I'm in the process of opening another 3a pillar. Although it will still be around 10 years before I start liquidating the pillars, I would be interested to know not only the running costs but also the fees that will be incurred on withdrawal. For older people like me, this would also be a decision criterion that could be useful in your overview.
Best regards
Dear Franziska,
Thank you very much for your positive feedback! I'm particularly pleased to receive news like this 🙂
Regarding your question: I am not aware of any fees that are due for the regular liquidation of pillar 3a custody accounts. The situation is different for early withdrawals for home ownership promotion; you can find information on this in the table above.
If your question was also about taxes, these depend largely on your income. Accordingly, you should make the withdrawal in stages, as described here.
Best regards and see you soon,
Eric
Have a few codes here for VIAC to manage the first CHF 1000 free of charge:
eqEonJ
rs7GZ91
ECnBWBF
I read an analysis on true wealth 3a at thepoorswiss. In fact, the asset allocation of a 99% equity strategy does not seem optimal to me. Too much Europe, too little USA, etc. Stamp duty on ETFs and dividend withholding
What do you think about these points?
Thomas
Hello, Thomas,
Thank you very much for your input and the advice.
This is where opinions differ! I cannot go into this sufficiently in a commentary, but this much can be said:
If you take the last 20 years and compare the net return of the SPI vs. the S&P500, at first glance the US index wins. But not if you look correctly and take into account the currency loss, because the dollar lost value against the franc. In net and currency-adjusted terms, the SPI did better for us Swiss.
There are TOP economists who deliberately focus on Switzerland and there are TOP economists who nevertheless strongly overweight international stocks. We only know what the past has brought, but not 100%ig what the future will bring. I am therefore reluctant to go out on a limb...
I hope this helps you a little?
Kind regards
Eric
Well explained 🙂
Greetings Eric
Thank you for your interesting tips on pillar 3a. I have learned a lot, even though I have had a Pillar 3a account for over 10 years. (I've been with Frankly for just under 1.5 years).
But what I don't understand is the WEF (
Home ownership promotion).
What is it exactly, what do I need it for?
With some providers this is free, with others between 250-400chf.
Is free good or bad?
How should I understand this?
Thank you
Dear Andre
thank you for your positive message 🙂
A WEF is only relevant for you if you want to promote home ownership with pension assets.
You can use money from your pension fund (2nd pillar) or from pillar 3a for owner-occupied residential property.
Since we are talking about 3a in this post:
The various 3a providers usually charge fees for such an advance withdrawal. So "free" is good, here the fees are more or less already paid and included in the all-in-fee.
If you plan to make several early withdrawals from pillar 3a, you should of course take any fees into account.
Love!
Eric
Hello, Eric,
When you write "Build up your 3a assets in several 3a pots in order to be able to draw on the individual pillars in stages later on" do you mean in parallel, i.e. pay in e.g. 2000.00 per year at the same time or one after the other as soon as an amount of e.g. 30,000.00 is reached?
Many thanks and big compliments to this blog and the many explanations and tips!
Dear greetings, Iris
Hello Iris,
Thank you very much for your great feedback 🙂 I am very happy about that.
There are different strategies to fill your 3a pots. The most common is to open successive pots (e.g. open a new pot every CHF 30,000).
However, you can also, for example, open several pots from the beginning (e.g. 5 pots) and use these Parallel by standing order fill. Although this involves more work, it also has advantages depending on the investment objective, as described above.
As described, it can also be advantageous to spread your Pillar 3a pots over several providers and thus investment foundations (e.g. Frankly, Finpension, Viac, ...).
There are many different ways to reach the desired goal. The question is simply what your goal is, what is best suited for it and what effort you are willing to put into it.
Regardless of whether you are saving for a WEF or for a regular retirement in pillar 3a, it is essential to build up several pots in order to be able to approach the withdrawal intelligently from a tax perspective later on, and draw staggered to be able
Best wishes and good luck 🙂
Eric