Clearwise
THE CLEARWISE JOURNAL

Understand more. Decide better.

In-depth guides, worked examples and selected sources for your personal and business decisions in Switzerland.

172 articles available

A carpenter opening a new workshop beside an unfinished cabinet
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Starting a business: pension cash is not free start-up capital

Verify social-insurance status before planning an early payout.

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Pension folders and calculator arranged for comparison
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Compare vested-benefits providers beyond the advertised rate

Fees, transfer service and investment design can matter as much as interest.

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An HR specialist welcomes a new employee with a pension-document folder — illustrative generated photograph
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

A new job: transfer pension capital before considering a buyback

Existing vested benefits and new contributions must not be confused.

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A woman sorting archived pension documents at home; illustrative scene
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Finding forgotten pension assets: start with the official search

A trace request identifies institutions; it is not an immediate cash payout.

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A couple and adviser discussing an apartment purchase beside a document folder
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Using vested benefits for a home: fund the property without forgetting retirement

A lawful early withdrawal still has long-term consequences.

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A traveller reviewing pension documents beside a station window
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Returning to France: the pension paperwork has its own timetable

The French affiliation check is distinct from departure and tax formalities.

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A departing traveller organising separate pension document cases at a station
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Leaving Switzerland for the EU: separate compulsory and extra-mandatory assets

Moving abroad does not automatically unlock the entire second pillar.

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Two adults reviewing pension records with a professional
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Divorce: include every vested-benefits account in the pension picture

Accurate records matter more than assumptions about who paid the premiums.

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A traveller reviews financial documents beside a railway-station window — illustrative generated photograph
Vested benefits & LPP · 10 Oct 2026

Cash or securities in vested benefits: match the real transfer horizon

A future job can shorten the investment horizon unexpectedly.

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A freelance photographer with camera gear reviews irregular receipts at a loft desk; illustrative photograph
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

Variable income: make 3a sustainable before maximising it

A contribution plan should survive a weak quarter, not only a good year.

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A calculator and two plain financial folders on a sunny desk
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

A 3a tax saving is a before-and-after calculation

The contribution is not the saving, and a marginal rate is only a first approximation.

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A mature couple organising their retirement withdrawal documents
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

Five years from retirement: plan the 3a exit before the deadline

Coordinate timing, working status, investment risk and taxation.

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Hands weighing a home purchase against pension savings
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

Using 3a for a home: withdrawing and pledging do different jobs

Coordinate property finance with retirement capital and liquidity.

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Coins and hourglass illustrating long-term savings costs
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

Small annual fees, large long-term differences

Read the complete cost structure before relying on a return chart.

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Transparent blocks form an uneven investment path on a desk — illustrative generated photograph
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

100% equities in 3a: time horizon is not the whole answer

Combine horizon, loss capacity and the date you may need the assets.

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An unmarried couple with a small child quietly reviews a sealed folder on a garden bench; illustrative photograph
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

Who receives your 3a? A beneficiary review worth doing now

A will and a pension beneficiary declaration are not interchangeable.

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Savings jars, a navy folder and a house key on a table
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

3a and 3b: flexibility has more than one meaning

Distinguish legal access, product terms and tax treatment.

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A man comparing archived and current retirement contribution documents
Pillar 3a & 3b · 10 Oct 2026

The first 3a catch-up year: what 2026 actually allows

Only eligible gaps beginning in 2025 are involved; historic gaps are not all reopened.

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An independent ceramic artist reviewing a reserve in her studio
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

Choosing a sickness waiting period: start with your cash reserve

A cheaper premium may transfer the first weeks of incapacity back to your balance sheet.

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Ceramic craftswoman reviewing her irregular-income budget
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

Retirement saving on variable income: design a commitment you can keep

Coordinate voluntary pension saving with seasonality, contributions and essential cash.

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A self-employed florist compares household and business bills — illustrative generated photograph
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

When you stop working, which bills stop? Separate household and business protection

Protect lost personal income without overlooking rent, leases and business continuity costs.

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A woman founder assesses a partially furnished new pottery studio with unopened equipment crates; illustrative photograph
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

Using pension money to start a business: the cost beyond the cash injection

A pension withdrawal can fund a launch while permanently changing retirement resilience.

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A furniture maker with an arm brace at home beside a family paperwork discussion
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

After daily allowances end: plan for long-term incapacity

Temporary income protection and lifelong consequences need different planning layers.

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An entrepreneur reviewing company formation documents
Self-employed protection · 10 Oct 2026

From sole trader to company: your insurance does not convert itself

Legal form, employment and insured entities must be aligned at the transition.

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