Last update: 17.09.2024 08:34
Are you fed up with low interest rates on your pillar 3a retirement savings account and want to make your retirement savings work harder for you? You can get more out of your money by switching your pillar 3a. You can do this by either transferring your pillar 3a to a provider with a higher interest rate or by investing the money in funds. Because you’ll get much more out of securities in the long term than a savings booklet. That’s why we’ve looked at the best offers for pillar 3a with securities. We opted for VIAC when switching our own pillar 3a. But how exactly does switching pillar 3a actually work? We tried it out and show you step by step.
Step 1: Benefit from CHF 2,000 in free administration with VIAC Code Smolio – for life
On the occasion of its 5th anniversary in 2022, VIAC has expanded its “Refer a Friend” program. If you enter a valid code when registering, a portion of your assets will be managed free of charge for life at VIAC. This is because you do not pay any fees for the quarterly statements.
Our tip: Use our code Smolio for double free credit
We have been using the VIAC solution practically since it was founded. In fall 2023, we spoke with VIAC and agreed on a special code for you. Enter the code Smolio (case sensitive) when you open your account. This code will then be used to manage CHF 2,000 free of charge – for the rest of your life. Incidentally, we don’t receive anything from VIAC for this – we pass on the benefit of double the free assets 1:1 to you!
2,000 assets is twice as much as you get with a normal friend code. The important thing is that you enter the code directly in onboarding or before you make your first deposit under Profile / Friends. Now have fun with our code 🙂
Since December 2022, you can not only invest up to CHF 5,500 for free, but also up to CHF 8,500 if you win five friends for VIAC. Super cool: the existing levels of the program have also been increased by CHF 500 each, i.e. your previous invitations have become “worth more”. With a 30-year investment period and a long-term average share return of 6.7 % and compound interest, you’ll get an extra few hundred francs for yourself 😉
In addition, every invited friend also benefits, as there are no management fees on the first 1,000 francs of assets for life.
Open pillar 3a with frankly now with a CHF 35 bonus
VIAC competitor frankly offers you a welcome bonus of 35 francs when you open an account with the code SMOLIO. You get this as a fee credit if you deposit or transfer at least 1 franc within 3 months. And you save for life with equity ratios of 60% or more thanks to very low fees. We would be grateful if you use our code when opening an account. We will then receive a small fee. This will not make it more expensive for you and we can cover the costs of operating the platform.
Step 2: Install the app
Download the VIAC app to your smartphone(App Store / Play Store).
Step 3: Open your account with VIAC
Open the app on your smartphone and go through the registration process. It only takes a few minutes. You can do everything on your phone. Don’t forget to enter your VIAC code Smolio at the end of the registration process – this is the only way to benefit from free management of your first CHF 2,000 in pension assets when you switch to VIAC. Also validate your e-mail address when you open your account. You will need this in the next step.
Step 4: Trigger transfer order for pillar 3a switch
Then select the “Transfer” button at the bottom of the “Deposit” menu in the app. You can use this method to transfer existing pillar 3a assets from another pension fund to VIAC. If you have pledged your pillar 3a account or are using it for indirect amortization of your mortgage, check with your bank beforehand whether you can also keep the account with another pension fund.
Then click on “Send template by e-mail” to have the transfer order sent to you. You will see confirmation that the e-mail has been sent directly on the screen.
Step 5: Complete the transfer order
Now go to your email inbox. There you will find an e-mail “VIAC transfer order”. A two-page PDF document is attached to the email. Your data has already been entered in this document because you entered it in the app when you registered.
You now only need to make a few entries in the turquoise-colored fields of the form. Firstly, the name and address of your previous pension fund. Secondly, the number of your pension account that you want to transfer from there to VIAC. Thirdly, sign the order.
Our tip: Do you have several pillar 3a accounts?
When switching pillar 3a, you can only transfer one account at a time and only the entire assets of this pension account. If you want to switch several accounts, create another portfolio in the app and initiate a second transfer order.
Step 6: Send the pillar 3a transfer order by post
You do not need to do anything with the enclosed second page of the transfer order.
Send both forms back by post to the pension foundation behind the VIAC. This is the Terzo Pension Foundation of WIR Bank AG, Auberg 1, 4002 Basel. Done. Terzo will take care of everything else for you. They will contact your previous pension fund and ensure that your pillar 3a assets specified on the form are transferred from there to them.
Our tip: Allow enough time
Some pension funds protect themselves with notice periods against rapid pillar 3a transfers. The transfer of your 3a pension assets can then take up to 3 months.
As soon as the credit arrives, which was the case for us after a few days, your transferred credit will be displayed in the VIAC app and you will also be notified by email. From then on, you will benefit from the current interest rate and the opportunities and risks of your chosen investment strategy. Your previous pension fund will close the account, prepare a final statement and send it to you.
Summary VIAC Code
You can switch to VIAC quickly and easily and also save with the VIAC code Smolio. However, first check whether a pillar 3a with securities makes sense for you. Because more return also means more risk. If this is right for you, a pillar 3a switch can be done in 6 simple steps and is not rocket science. How to get more return from your pension money.
Our tip: Use the pillar 3a product finder
Unbelievable – most people pay far too much for their pillar 3a and get too little return. Are you one of them? Find out which pillar 3a solution with securities suits you best with just a few clicks in our free 3a comparison. View the profile of the providers. Or click directly through to the provider.
