Pension Fund Statement (CH) – How to Read It
Your BVG pension fund statement (Pensionskassenausweis) contains the most important numbers for retirement in Switzerland. Learn what each line means, how to spot gaps, and which figures matter most.
- This document is your pension “dashboard” — it shows assets, insured salary, and projected retirement income.
- Mandatory vs extra-mandatory often explains why projected pensions differ from expectations.
- Small errors matter: coordination deduction, missing insured salary components, or wrong civil status can reduce benefits.
In Switzerland, your Pillar 2 pension (BVG) can become a major part of your retirement income. The most important document to understand your BVG situation is your annual pension fund statement (often called Pensionskassenausweis).
The problem: many people receive it, skim it, and file it away — without noticing that it includes everything you need to check whether your pension plan is on track.
In this guide, we break the statement down section by section, explain what to look for, and show you how to use the numbers for better retirement decisions.
1. What is a pension fund statement?
A pension fund statement is your annual summary from your employer’s pension fund. It shows:
- your insured salary (the basis for BVG calculations)
- your accumulated retirement assets
- contribution amounts (you + employer)
- projections for retirement income and lump sum options
- risk benefits (disability and survivors)
If you want the Pillar 2 overview first: Pillar 2 (BVG) Explained.
2. The 5 numbers to check first (quick scan)
If you only have 2 minutes, scan these five items first:
| Number | Where it appears | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total retirement assets | “Retirement capital” / “Altersguthaben” | Shows how much you’ve built so far |
| Insured salary | “Insured salary” / “versicherter Lohn” | Drives contributions and future growth |
| Mandatory vs extra-mandatory split | Separate account lines (if shown) | Affects conversion rates, interest, rules |
| Projected pension at retirement | Retirement projection section | Baseline for planning your retirement budget |
| Conversion rate assumption | Often in notes or projection details | Small changes can change pension a lot |
If projected retirement income looks “too low”, the reason is often a low insured salary, a large extra-mandatory share, or a lower conversion rate.
3. Insured salary & coordination deduction
Your pension fund does not insure your full salary. The statement usually shows how the insured salary is calculated. The biggest factor is the coordination deduction, which removes the AHV-covered portion to avoid double insurance.
If your insured salary feels surprisingly low, check:
- Is part-time work reducing your insured salary heavily?
- Do you have multiple employers (risk of under-insurance)?
- Are bonuses/allowances included or excluded?
Deep dive: Coordination Deduction BVG · BVG for Part-Time Workers
4. Retirement assets: mandatory vs extra-mandatory
Many statements show your retirement capital split into: mandatory BVG and extra-mandatory BVG. This matters because the pension fund may apply different conversion rates and rules at retirement.
A big extra-mandatory share can mean lower conversion rates — and therefore lower annuity than you expected.
Read next: BVG Extra-Mandatory Benefits · BVG Pension Calculation
5. Contributions: employee vs employer
Your statement usually shows how much you and your employer contributed in the last year. Understanding this is useful for:
- evaluating the “quality” of your employer pension plan
- comparing pension plans when switching jobs
- forecasting how quickly your capital can grow
Contributions explained: BVG Contributions Switzerland
6. Projected retirement benefits (annuity & lump sum)
Most statements show estimated retirement benefits at the normal retirement age, often including:
- Projected annual pension (annuity)
- Possible lump sum (capital withdrawal)
- Assumptions (interest, salary growth, conversion rate)
Projections are not guarantees. They rely on assumptions that can change (salary, market returns, pension fund rules).
Compare your options: Lump Sum vs Annuity Switzerland · Retirement Withdrawal Strategies
7. Risk benefits: disability & survivors
A pension fund statement doesn’t only cover retirement — it also includes “risk coverage” like:
- disability pension (if you can’t work)
- spouse/partner pension
- orphan’s pension
These benefits depend on marital status, children, and pension fund regulations. If something is wrong, update your HR / pension fund quickly.
8. Buy-ins (Einkäufe): gaps & potential tax benefit
Many statements include a line like “maximum buy-in amount”. That number shows how much you could potentially pay into the pension fund to close gaps.
- increase your retirement assets
- reduce taxes (depending on your situation)
- improve projected pension benefits
9. Red flags: mistakes and what to do
Common issues worth checking every year:
| Red flag | Why it matters | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Insured salary seems too low | Lower contributions & lower retirement capital growth | Ask HR/pension fund for calculation details |
| Missing previous employer capital | Assets might be stuck in vested benefits | Check vested benefits accounts |
| Wrong personal data | Risk benefits can be incorrect | Update marital status/children details |
| Large extra-mandatory share | Lower conversion rates possible | Review retirement strategy (annuity vs lump sum) |
10. How to use the statement for retirement planning
Your pension fund statement becomes powerful when you combine it with:
- AHV projection (Pillar 1)
- Pillar 3 savings (3a/3b)
- a realistic retirement budget
- Write down your projected BVG pension (annuity) and/or lump sum.
- Add your expected AHV pension.
- Compare with your desired retirement budget (monthly).
- If there’s a gap: plan 3a contributions, buy-ins, or later retirement.
Next reads: Retirement Budget Switzerland · How Much Pension Will I Get? · Pension Gap Switzerland
11. FAQ: pension fund statement (Switzerland)
What is a pension fund statement in Switzerland?
It’s the annual BVG (Pillar 2) document from your pension fund showing insured salary, retirement assets, contributions, and projected benefits for retirement and risk events.
Why is my insured salary lower than my gross salary?
Because BVG uses insured salary rules and the coordination deduction. Some salary components may not be insured depending on the pension plan.
What should I check first on my statement?
Total retirement capital, insured salary, mandatory vs extra-mandatory split, projected pension, and the conversion rate assumptions.
Can I use the statement to plan buy-ins (Einkäufe)?
Yes. Many statements show the maximum possible buy-in amount. Whether it makes sense depends on taxes, retirement strategy, and withdrawal rules.
Turn your pension statement into a clear plan
BudgetHub helps you store key pension numbers, combine AHV + BVG + 3a, and see whether you’re on track — with a simple retirement gap overview.
Create your free budget