What happens to my Swiss pension fund when I become unemployed?

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me exactly what would happen to my pension fund savings if I quit my job?

Hi there,

When you leave a Swiss employer and become unemployed, you will normally have to open a vested benefits account at a bank or take out a vested benefits life insurance policy. You must then ask your occupational pension fund (2a) to transfer your second pillar assets to your vested benefits solution. Your assets remain in the vested benefits solution and ideally accrue interest until you join another pension fund.

If you leave your employer and become self-employed, you can choose between cashing out your pension fund assets or placing them in a vested benefits solution. Cashing out your pension fund savings can make sense if, for example, you plan to use 3a retirement savings accounts to fund your retirement.

Voluntary occupation pension plans, sometimes referred to as "2b" pension plans, are another solution. These enable you to continue contributing to your second pillar savings as a self-employed or unemployed individual. A number of voluntary occupational pension plans are offered by the Substitute Occupational Benefit Institution and by Agrisano.

Best regards from Moneyguru