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Many Swiss women are concerned about their standard of living when they retire. Is this warranted? Unfortunately, yes, because according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the gender pension gap (i.e., the difference in average pensions for men and women) was 30.8 percent in 2022. The FSO’s research reveals that women’s pensions in Switzerland are just under one-third lower than men’s.

The second and third pillars in particular play a crucial role in this, and they can quickly have a negative impact on pension amounts for women. Women are much more likely to work part-time or take an extended career break after having children. In general, they also have less wealth of their own and therefore save less in pillar 3a and 3b. Women’s careers are also often different to men’s. If they do not make provision for their retirement, this can soon lead to a pension gap.

Although Switzerland’s three-pillar system provides extensive financial security, it also has pitfalls that can directly have a negative impact on retirement provision. This is because as soon as people in Switzerland take a career break or start working part-time, this has an impact on all three pillars. Retirement provision for women is most often affected.

The difference between women and men with regard to the state (OASI) pension is still the lowest, with men receiving an average of just 3 percent more. The situation is quite different for the second pillar, because only just under half of Swiss women receive a pension from occupational pension provision at all. Only those who work and earn more than CHF 22,680 (as of 2025) annually under one employment relationship pay into the pension fund in principle. Women often fail to reach this threshold owing to part-time employment or unpaid care work – such as caring for children or family members and taking care of the household. If they do succeed in reaching this threshold, the payout from the pension fund is still 44 percent lower on average than for men.

In order to be financially secure, women should examine all three pillars of the pension system at an early stage, regardless of their marital status. This is the only way to obtain a comprehensive overview and make the necessary pension provision.

Regularly request an individual account statement from the OASI compensation office. This will also help you to find out if you already have a pension gap – for example, if you extended your maternity leave. For each missing contribution year, your state pension will be reduced by 2.3 percent (or 1/44) for life. You may be able to make a back payment for this missing contribution within a five-year period. All other gaps must be covered by building wealth another way. An alternative to the individual account statement is the OASI pension forecast, which specifically shows how high your pension could be. The pension forecast makes sense as part of retirement planning – it’s free of charge after the age of 40.

Compensating gaps in the second pillar is much more difficult as they may be much larger. Here too, you have the option of requesting an insurance certificate that shows your expected pension fund benefits. Any gaps here can be offset by accumulating third-pillar assets or purchasing pension benefits. However, there are a few things that you should bear in mind. For example, you can only pay into pillar 3a if you have an income on which OASI contributions are compulsory. In addition, the amount that can be paid into pillar 3a is limited from a tax perspective (for example, persons who have joined a pension fund can pay in a maximum of CHF 7,258 for 2025). It’s also worth considering pillar 3b options so you can make financial provision for every situation in life. Pillar 3b comprises life insurance and savings plans, among other things.

Life is constantly changing, as is our financial situation. What women need to look out for, both professionally and privately.

Children turn not only your life upside down but also your finances. It’s mainly women who have to ensure they will be financially secure in later life while providing childcare.

It’s not just having a financial buffer that can ensure that women are more financially secure in later life. The right insurance also covers many eventualities that may affect you and your loved ones.

Women generally need to consider the financial impact of each stage of life to a greater extent than men. Here are some tips on what you should bear in mind:

The Swiss pension system is unique but is suffering as a result of the country’s demographic changes. Numerous reforms aim to prevent this and improve the financial security it provides for women.

Most Swiss women will have less money when they retire than their male partners, friends or former colleagues. For this reason, women should always start their retirement planning honestly and at an early stage. How much can you expect your income and expenses to be when you retire? Are breaks or part-time work conceivable during your career? What do your own finances look like (i.e., outside of marriage or a relationship)?

Only those who plan early can make up gaps in the first and second pillars or build up assets in the third pillar. After all, things sometimes develop differently in reality compared to how you picture them. Most Swiss women divorce in their 40s, and it can sometimes be difficult to make sufficient provision for retirement. As a result, one in four retired women in Switzerland is unfortunately dependent on supplementary benefits from the OASI.

If you’re working, you should start paying into pillar 3a as early as possible. As an employee with a pension fund, you can pay in up to CHF 7,258 per year (2025 figure). Adjust the amount if you get a promotion. This allows you to make provision for retirement without having to make sacrifices in your daily life.

Women’s careers are generally different to men’s. Therefore, women should focus more on their retirement provision. According to the 2022 report by the ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ Chief Investment Office (CIO), half of the respondents are also aware of this. There is a noticeable trend in the right direction with more and more women increasingly taking care of their finances. They are planning their budget for when they retire and closing their pension gap independently of their partner.

Initial studies show that women can be even more successful here than men. This is because they tend to have a lower risk tolerance and make longer-term plans. Sustainable investing is also very important to many women. Once you’ve taken the first step, there’s a good chance that you will have adequate provision in place for your retirement.