Life Insurance

Pure term life insurance only pays out in the event of death – which is why premiums are very low. For CHF 500'000 in death benefit, you pay about CHF 30-100 monthly depending on age.

Endowment life insurance combines savings and risk protection. It pays out a capital sum at the end of the term, even if you're still alive. Sounds attractive, but has massive drawbacks: the return is poor (often under 1%), costs are high, and flexibility is low.

Our clear recommendation: separate risk protection and saving. A cheap term insurance for the death benefit, and invest the saved money in pillar 3a or free investments. That way you get better protection AND a better return.

The right sum insured depends on your situation. Rule of thumb: 3-5 times the main earner's annual net income, plus outstanding mortgage, minus existing assets.

Example: main earner with CHF 120'000 net income, mortgage of CHF 600'000, assets of CHF 100'000. Need: (120'000 × 4) + 600'000 - 100'000 = CHF 980'000.

We also take into account: AHV survivors' pensions, pension fund benefits, and the partner's planned employment. Often the required sum is lower than expected – or it decreases over time as the children grow up and the mortgage is paid off.

The pension fund (2nd pillar) already provides death benefit protection: survivors' pensions for spouses and children, sometimes also a death benefit lump sum. These benefits vary greatly depending on the pension fund.

Before taking out private life insurance, you should know what your pension fund already offers. Often a supplementary policy is enough to close gaps, rather than high full coverage.

We analyse your pension fund benefits and calculate the actual additional need. This helps you avoid over-insurance and save on premiums.

Life insurance can also be taken out as pillar 3a. The premiums are then tax-deductible (up to CHF 7'056 for employees, 2024). The advantage: you save on taxes while being insured at the same time.

The disadvantage: pillar 3a insurance is less flexible than bank products. You're bound to the premium payments, early exit is expensive, and the return on the savings portion is often below average.

Our recommendation: a 3a insurance policy only makes sense if you need to 'force' yourself to save regularly. Otherwise: pillar 3a with a bank (better return, more flexibility) and a separate term insurance.

With life insurance, you determine who receives the money in the event of death. This beneficiary clause is crucial – and is often set incorrectly.

The standard is usually: 1. spouse, 2. children, 3. parents, 4. heirs. This can be problematic: unmarried partners get nothing, blended families have complex situations, and in the event of divorce the beneficiary clause must be changed.

We help you set the beneficiary clause optimally and coordinate it with your will and the beneficiaries in your pension fund and pillar 3a. This ensures the money goes to the right people in the event of death.