Knowledge

For decisions with far-reaching consequences.

Calculators, specialized topics, and discussions with experts about financial decisions that are difficult to correct later on. The calculators provide an initial guide. In the financial plan, we use your numbers and consider them in context.

Caveo advises individuals who are tax residents of Switzerland.

Pension analysis in the Caveo app

See where your retirement planning has gaps in just a few minutes.

You enter your income, family information, and your AHV, pension fund, and Pillar 3a documents. The app runs through three scenarios and shows you what’s missing.

  • AgeWill your income after retirement be enough to maintain your standard of living?
  • DisabilityWhat happens if you can no longer work due to illness or an accident?
  • DeathHow much is your family short, and until when?
App StoreGoogle Play

This analysis is automated and does not replace professional advice. The financial plan takes your business, taxes, and assets into account. We'll transfer your information there so you don't have to enter it twice.

Caveo app: retirement and disability risk assessment

"The Financial Planner" podcast

Philippe Muntwyler grills experts—but not their wallets. Three episodes to get you started.

Episode 52 · Prof. Dr. Erwin W. Heri

A 7% return and everyone gets rich? The fairy tales of the financial world

What return promises don't tell you, and what really matters in the long run.

Episode 51 · Nico Fiore

Your pension fund decides what to do with your money. But why, exactly?

Who makes the decisions in the second pillar, and where insured individuals have a say.

Episode 47 · Thierry Borgeat, arvy

Rome didn't fall in a day. Neither will your ETF portfolio, perhaps

On crises, patience, and investor behavior.

All episodes on YouTube →

Calculators

Pension fund

Pension fund buy-in: tax savings and final deadline

Tax savings in the year of contribution, approximatelyCHF 17'500

The last purchase must have taken place exactly three years prior to the capital withdrawal, meaning no later than 2029. A buy-in is safe until the end of 2028. Until then, the purchase can be spread out over several tax years.

You may make contributions up to the contribution limit specified on your pension statement. Benefits resulting from contributions may not be withdrawn as a lump sum for a period of three years (Art. 79b, para. 3, BVG). With large contributions, the marginal tax rate decreases, resulting in smaller savings.

Real estate

Affordability in retirement: how much do you still need to pay off?

Housing costs relative to income in old age59.1 %

A mortgage of no more than CHF 433'333 would be affordable in old age. You would need to pay off CHF 566'667 by the time you retire, so that the costs do not exceed one-third of income. That's about CHF 47'222 per year over 12 years.

Income in retirement: annual AHV and pension fund benefits; in the case of a lump-sum withdrawal, a conservatively estimated income derived from it. Banks’ rule of thumb: imputed interest rate of 5%, ancillary costs of 1% of the property’s value, and expenses not exceeding one-third of income. Many banks also require that the mortgage be paid down to two-thirds of the property’s value by the time the borrower retires. Some banks take assets into account.

Marital property and inheritance law

Who gets what in the event of a divorce or death?

No arrangements, by law
Person B CHF 1'500'000Children CHF 600'000
Through a will, B is the primary beneficiary
Person B CHF 1'800'000Children CHF 300'000
With a prenuptial agreement and a will
Person B CHF 2'000'000Children CHF 100'000

If Person A dies, Person B first receives their separate property and half of the community property. The remainder, CHF 1'200'000, constitutes the estate. Since 2023, the children's statutory share has been one-quarter of the estate. Under the prenuptial agreement, all marital property goes to B. Only A's separate property is then included in the estate.

Outline for married couples with a share in marital gains under the inheritance law in effect since 2023. Separate property consists of assets a person brought into the marriage, inherited, or received as a gift. Marital gains consist of assets accumulated during the marriage, including Pillar 3a. In the event of a divorce, the pension fund assets accumulated during the marriage are also divided equally. Children from previous relationships, cohabitation, prenuptial agreements providing for separate property, and usufruct are not included in this diagram. This diagram does not replace legal advice.

Gifting and bequests

How much do you need for yourself, and how much can you share with others today?

Freely available today, approximatelyCHF 921'000

For yourself, you'll need about CHF 2'079'000: CHF 60'000 per year from your assets until you reach the age of 95, plus the reserve. Any amount above that could be given as a gift today or passed on as an advance on an inheritance.

The idea comes from the book *Die with Zero*: Money is often more useful to children at age 35 than at age 65. Assumptions: Return on investment, after costs and inflation, of 1% per year; expenses and pensions remain constant. Gifts may be counted as a waiver of assets when calculating future supplemental benefits; depending on the canton and the recipient, they are subject to gift tax and are generally offset among descendants.

More calculators

You can already use two; four more will follow. If you're missing one, we'll work out your question during our conversation.

From plan to portfolio

Two examples of how your financial plan can become an investment strategy.

Death benefit gap

How much capital your family would be short.

In preparation

Salary or dividend

Net result of both routes at your level of profit.

In preparation

Staggering lump-sum withdrawals

Tax on payments from 3a accounts, vested benefits, and pension funds.

In preparation

Annuity or lump sum

At what age does each option make sense?

In preparation

When can I stop?

Early retirement with a bridge payment until eligibility for AHV.

Topics

A brief explanation from our financial planners. Each topic is part of your financial plan. You can manage your policies in the Caveo app.

For business owners

Salary, dividends, or a pension fund?Three ways to transfer corporate profits to personal assets

Three ways to transfer corporate profits into personal assets, and what each one costs. Salaries are subject to AHV contributions but increase your insured salary and your ability to make additional pension contributions. Dividends receive preferential tax treatment for holdings of 10% or more but do not contribute to your pension. Employer contributions to the pension fund are considered business expenses and transfer company profits into your retirement savings without dividend tax. Taxes are only levied when you withdraw the funds. The best mix depends on your profits, your age, and your retirement date.

Calculate for your situation →

1e plan for owners and managementYour own investment strategy for retirement planning

Custom investment strategy for salary portions of CHF 136'080 or more. For salary portions exceeding CHF 136'080, participants in the 1e Plan can choose their own investment strategy. This offers potential returns and tax advantages, but without a guaranteed minimum rate of return. It is important to ensure collective participation, equal treatment, and compliance with the plan’s provisions; otherwise, the tax authorities will not recognize the contributions.

Calculate for your situation →

Salaries insured twiceDeadline: end of 2026

What employers with multiple pension plans must confirm by the end of 2026. Employers with multiple pension funds must ensure that the same salary is not insured more than once. Compliance must be confirmed by the end of 2026. If the plans do not align, the amounts may be treated as a hidden distribution of profits.

For business owners →

The "silent million" on your balance sheetHidden reserves and succession

Hidden Reserves, Indirect Partial Liquidation, and Why a Seven-Year Lead Time Matters. Hidden reserves are taxed upon sale or liquidation. Those who systematically release them over several years and plan contributions to their pension fund will retain significantly more. In our model calculation with CHF 1 million in reserves, the amount was CHF 202'100. Funds not necessary for business operations also increase the risk of an indirect partial liquidation.

For business owners →

Investing your assets after selling your businessReturn sequence risk

Those who live off their assets after selling are particularly vulnerable in the early years: It’s nearly impossible to make up for poor stock market performance early on. That’s why we allocate assets in a phased plan based on time horizon.

See the example calculation →

Retirement planning, taxes, and assets

Retirement: pension or lump sumTiming, withdrawals, income

When you can stop working, whether you choose a pension or a lump-sum payment, how to stagger withdrawals from your pension fund, 3a account, and vested benefits, and what your income will be afterward. The pension is guaranteed for life, but it’s inflexible. Apart from survivor’s pensions, nothing remains for heirs. A lump-sum payment is flexible and can be bequeathed, but it carries investment and longevity risks. A combination of the two is often a sensible choice. The decision must usually be submitted years before retirement and cannot be reversed.

Go to the financial plan →

Pension fund buy-ins and the three-year rulePotential, deadlines, taxes

How much you can contribute, whether a contribution is worthwhile, and how to comply with the three-year waiting period before making a lump-sum withdrawal. Benefits resulting from a contribution may not be withdrawn as a lump sum for three years (Art. 79b, para. 3, BVG). Otherwise, the tax authorities may retroactively revoke the deduction. Anyone who wishes to take a lump-sum withdrawal at age 62 must complete the contributions by age 59 and should spread them out over several tax years.

Go to the pension fund calculator →

Pillar 3aContribute, catch up, stagger

Starting in 2026, it will be possible to retroactively make up for contribution gaps dating back to 2025. Having multiple accounts allows for staggered withdrawals and reduces taxes.

Go to the financial plan →

TaxesDeductions and withdrawal planning

The greatest opportunities for optimization rarely lie in individual deductions, but rather in purchases, timing of purchases, and the allocation between business and personal expenses.

For business owners →

Real estate and mortgagesAffordability and amortisation

How much of a home you can afford—both now and after retirement—and whether direct or indirect amortization is a better fit.

Go to the affordability calculator →

Investing your assetsStrategy before product

First, the financial plan specifies what you need the money for and when you'll need it. Only then can you develop an investment strategy.

Go to Caveo Wealth →

Life InsuranceCalculate the gap, get flexible coverage

On average, our customers are short about CHF 550'000 in death benefits. Our premium schedule can be adjusted each year to fit your situation.

Calculate the gap →

Heirs and estatesPlanning for the family

Who receives what, how statutory shares and benefits under pension plans interact, and what arrangements the company must put in place.

Schedule a meeting →

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Knowledge · Caveo