Bridge period
The years between stopping work and the start of pensions and locked savings, paid from accessible money.
In Switzerland 3a and vested benefits open five years before the AHV reference age and AHV starts at 65, so someone stopping at 50 has a bridge of ten to fifteen years.
Tools that use it
Related terms
- Vested benefitsYour pension-fund money when you are not employed, held in a vested-benefits account or policy until you start a new job or retire.
- Pillar 3aTax-advantaged private pension savings: contributions are deducted from taxable income, withdrawals are taxed separately at a reduced rate.
- AHV contributions for non-employed peopleAHV contributions paid by people without (enough) work income, based on wealth and pension income.
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Swiss pensions
Your pension fund before 65: annuity, lump sum or leave it
What you can do with second-pillar money if you stop working early: early retirement, a vested benefits account, a lump sum, and the tax and risk trade-offs.