Frequently asked questions

Financial independence, retire early: saving and investing until your savings can pay for your life, so work becomes a choice. Many people use it to work less or differently, not to stop completely.

Yes, for many people. High salaries make high savings rates possible, and AHV and the pension fund cover part of later spending. High costs and the years before pensions start are the hard part.

A first estimate is 25 times your yearly spending at a 4 % withdrawal rate, or about 29 times at 3.5 %. Swiss pensions lower the amount once they start; the calculator works out both.

Because it works twice: saving more grows your money faster, and living on less lowers the amount you need. Two people with very different incomes but the same savings rate need roughly the same number of years.

No. Starting at 45 or 50 shortens the time for growth, but pensions are closer and the bridge is shorter. Even a few years of buffer give you options.

At the reference age of 65. You can draw it up to two years earlier with a lifelong reduction of 6.8 % per year, or up to five years later with a supplement.

Yes. Until the reference age you pay as a non-employed person, based on your wealth and pension income. Paying keeps your contribution years complete.

If your plan allows it, from 58 while you are still insured there. If you leave work earlier, the money moves to vested benefits, which you can draw five years before the reference age.

At the earliest five years before the AHV reference age, or earlier to buy a home, start a business or leave Switzerland for good.

A pension protects against a long life; a lump sum gives flexibility and can be left to heirs. Many people mix both. Our lump sum or pension tool shows the trade-off.

In simplified form: a flat tax on lump-sum withdrawals and a flat wealth tax. A canton-by-canton model is in preparation.

Yes, on net wealth above an allowance, at rates that differ by canton. Money in the pension fund, vested benefits and Pillar 3a is exempt until paid out.

Separately from other income, at a reduced rate that rises with the amount. Spreading withdrawals over several years and accounts usually lowers the total.

For private investors, capital gains are usually tax-free. Dividends and interest are taxed as income, and investments count towards wealth tax.

Sometimes, especially before large withdrawals. Weigh the tax saving against housing, family and quality of life, and check the rules on timing.

Often broad, low-cost index funds or ETFs on world shares, plus some bonds and cash. We do not recommend products; we explain the trade-offs.

No one knows. Our default is 8 % a year for stocks before inflation. World stocks earned more than that in dollars over the last decade, less in francs, and fell sharply in some years. See the market history on the calculator page.

That is sequence risk, the biggest threat to an early retirement. A cash buffer, flexible spending and a lower starting withdrawal rate help.

A lot over decades. A 1 % yearly cost can take a fifth or more of the final amount over 30 years. Low-cost index funds keep more for you.

A strong franc has reduced returns of foreign investments for Swiss investors. Spending in francs from a portfolio partly in francs lowers the risk.

No. It is an estimate from your inputs and our assumptions. Use it to compare choices and revisit it every year.

The simple rule ignores pensions. The amount ’needed on the day’ is the accessible money for the bridge years plus a smaller pot for what pensions do not cover.

Yes. Open the full plan to change returns, costs, the withdrawal rate, pension details and taxes.

Your plan is saved on your device automatically. Use ’Copy share link’ to send it, or download it as a file.

Not yet. For now, combine both incomes, spending and savings, and add both pensions. A couple mode is planned.

No. Calculations run in your browser. Your plan is saved only on your device, and share links carry your inputs in the address.

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An independent Swiss project that writes about financial independence and builds free tools. Read more on the about page.

No. It is general education. For decisions about your situation, talk to a licensed adviser.

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Swiss rules come from official sources such as the AHV memos and the Federal Social Insurance Office, with dates on the methodology page.

Please tell us through the contact page. We correct quickly and note material corrections on the page.