Yuh 3a

How do I open a Pillar 3a with Yuh?

It’s easy like Sunday morning: download the Yuh app (if you haven’t already done so) and follow these few steps to open your Yuh 3a account.
You must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • live in Switzerland
  • not be a US citizen
  • have an ID card or passport and proof of address (electricity or mobile phone bill)

If you already have a Yuh account or have followed the steps above, simply go to the Save section in the app, click on the Yuh 3a icon and follow the process from there.

How much does Yuh 3a cost me?

Did we already tell you, we don’t like pigs in a poke? Yuh is an open book; hidden costs are an alien concept. For Pillar 3a, the total all-in costs are 0.50% per year on the invested pension assets. No more and no less. This makes us one of the cheapest providers in Switzerland.

Here are some more details: fees of 0.50% per annum are calculated on the total amount of invested assets on a 365-day pro-rata basis. On a 3-month basis, the fee is 0.125%. Fees are debited directly from your Yuh 3a account.

When are fees charged?

Quarterly. Fees are charged on the last day of each quarter.

How can I transfer my existing Pillar 3a to Yuh?

Every new transfer is music to our ears! We’ll help you call a taxi to bring your existing Pillar 3a over to Yuh in the wink of an eye. First, make sure your Yuh account is up and running. Open your Yuh app and go to Save > Yuh 3a > Overview > Help me to… > Make a transfer in request > Transfer in from another 3rd pillar. And boom! From here you can download a pre-filled form with your account details to send to your current 3a provider.

Where can I find the pillar 3a tax certificate for my tax return?

The annual tax certificate for your pillar 3a account with Yuh is generated in the middle of January, if not before. You can find the certificate in the pillar 3a area under «Overview» > «Statements».

Where can I find my contracts, my bank statements and the regulations?

You can find all documents in the 3a section under “Overview” > “Help me to…”.

Can I open more than one Yuh pillar 3a account?

At the moment, we only allow one Yuh pillar 3a account per person, but we’re working non-stop so that we can offer multiple accounts in the near future.

Can I designate a beneficiary for my pillar 3a account?

Yep! And you can also change your designated beneficiary at any time. In order to do so, please use the following forms: Change of designated beneficiary

As a general rule, any of the following people can be designated as the beneficiary:

– surviving spouse or registered partner
– direct descendants, any natural person who received significant support from the deceased person, any person in a cohabiting relationship with the deceased person without interruption for the last five years prior to death or any person who is liable to provide maintenance for one or more common children;
– parents;
– siblings;
– any other heirs.

Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to designate your dog, your cat, your hamster or your goldfish.

How safe are my retirement assets with a digital Pillar 3a?

The short answer: very safe. The long answer: your money is invested by Yuh in securities and – in contrast to pension savings held on an ordinary bank account – securities are classified as segregated assets. These assets are protected in the event of bankruptcy, and do not form part of the estate in bankruptcy. To cut a long story short, if the financial institution goes bankrupt, your cash is fully protected.

This is also one of the reasons why we invest in bonds rather than holding cash, as much stronger protection is available for securities than for pure cash deposits at a bank.

Did you also know that cash deposits held in conventional pillar 3a accounts (i.e. pure banking solutions without securities) do not qualify as segregated assets and hence do not benefit from this deposit protection? This means that, if the bank were to become bankrupt, pension savings would not be paid out very quickly, but rather – if at all – only after a liquidation process lasting for years. However, under bankruptcy law, any deposits of up to 100’000 CHF are privileged. This means that these claims are paid out in advance of other creditors.

What returns have the portfolios achieved in the past?

There’s no future without a past! That’s why it’s important for us to provide detailed performance information on the various strategies within your app. You can find precise information in the details relating to the individual investment strategies.

What does sustainable investing mean?

Our pension strategies are managed with reference to environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. If a company does not fulfil these key sustainability criteria, we exclude them from our investment universe (ESG exclusion criteria).

The grounds for exclusion recommended by the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments (SVVK-ASIR) are:

– companies that do not comply with the principles of the UN Global Compact
– companies with the lowest sustainability rating

– companies involved in serious controversies

– particularly sustainable companies are preferred and more heavily weighted as part of the portfolio optimisation process (ESG integration according to best-in-class approach).

What’s the investment profile for?

The investment profile is intended to propose the right model portfolio for you. Profiles have an equity component of between 20% and 99%. From the venturesome to the risk-averse, there’s something for everyone!

How can I find out what the right investment profile for me is?

When you open a Yuh pillar 3a account, you’ll be asked a series questions. This can help us to analyse your risk appetite and recommend one of 5 strategies to you.

Don’t worry, you can change the recommended strategy at any time.

Pension system

What is pillar 3a?

Pillar 3a helps you to think about tomorrow, starting today: it’s a private pension scheme and it’s completely optional.

Why should I have a Pillar 3a?

Sometimes a crystal ball would come in handy in life. Alternatively, a healthy dose of realism will do the trick: In the future, it will become increasingly unlikely that old-age and survivors’ insurance and occupational benefits will be sufficient to continue your accustomed lifestyle after retirement. Private pension plans help to reduce or even close the so-called pension gap.

What is a pension gap? (Asking for a friend)

A pension gap is less cool than a gap year and less technical than a gap angle, but it’s real: If your income in old age is not sufficient to ensure the continuation of your accustomed standard of living, you’ll be facing a pension gap. The rule of thumb is that you should have 80% of your most recent gross salary at your disposal. If the amount you have is less than this, the difference is referred to as a pension gap.

How much can I pay into my Pillar 3a each year?

The maximum is 7’056 CHF for employed persons with a pension fund, and 20% of earned income up to a maximum of 35’236 CHF for employed persons without a pension fund.

Is there a minimum term?

No, here, too, you’re as free as a bird! You can close down your pension plan at any time without notice.

Can I make retrospective payments into a pillar 3a account?

That would be fantastic, but unfortunately it’s not an option! Retrospective payments into “tied” pillar three accounts are not allowed, either for the full maximum amount or any part thereof.

Can I also pay into my Pillar 3a on a monthly basis?

Absolutely! Depending on your personal preferences, you can set the monthly automatic transfer of your choice directly in the app. You can also pay weekly, quarterly, annually or in the form of individual payments.

Can I hold on to my securities funds after I retire?

As they say, all good things come to an end. In most cases, you have to withdraw your savings from your pillar 3 account in one go. At the latest, this is the end of the month in which you draw your pension.

However, if you are able to demonstrate that you will continue to work after reaching statutory retirement age, you’re allowed to defer the withdrawal of your pillar 3 savings by up to five years.

If you don’t need your money straight away, you can invest it with Yuh in a product of your choosing. However, you won’t qualify for tax-deductibility anymore.

What is the latest time when my pillar 3a savings will be paid out?

You can normally access the money in your pillar 3 account when you retire or at the earliest five years before the regular retirement age (65 years).

However, if you are able to demonstrate that you will continue to work after the statutory retirement age, you’re allowed to defer the withdrawal of your pillar 3 savings by up to five years.