Time is your best ally
Starting your 3a young gives a decisive edge: time. Over decades, contributions and their reinvested returns compound, so a modest amount paid early can weigh far more at retirement than a larger amount paid late. Every year gained counts.
How much to contribute when starting
No need to pay the maximum from the start. What matters is starting, even with small regular amounts, then increasing as your income grows. The ideal is to aim for the annual cap (CHF 7,258 for an employee in 2026) when possible, since that maximizes the tax deduction — but regularity beats amount at the beginning.
What strategy for a young worker
With a long horizon (30-40 years to retirement), a young person can usually afford a high equity share in their 3a, time smoothing market volatility. A low-fee bank 3a in funds is often the best fit. Watch fees above all: over decades, a fee gap has a major impact on the final capital.