Guides
100 educational articles for people living and working in Switzerland.
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💼 Salary & Tax
10 guides in this topic
How Swiss Taxes Work: Federal, Cantonal and Municipal
Why where you live matters so much, which deductions are available and how the tax return works.
💼 5 min readYour Swiss Payslip Explained: From Gross to Net
AHV, ALV, pension fund, accident insurance – what each deduction means and what you can influence.
💼 6 min readMoving to Switzerland: Money Basics for Expats and Cross-Border Workers
Withholding tax, banking, insurance deadlines and what happens to your pensions when you move.
💼 6 min readFilling In Your Swiss Tax Return: A Practical Guide
Documents, deadlines, deductions people forget and what to do if you disagree with the assessment.
💼 6 min readTax at Source (Quellensteuer): Who Pays and When to Ask for a Correction
How tax at source works for foreigners, when ordinary assessment is mandatory and how to claim deductions.
💼 4 min readCharitable Giving in Switzerland: How Donations Reduce Your Tax
Which donations are deductible, the limits and how to document gifts.
💼 5 min readLegal Tax Optimization for Employees: Seven Levers That Work
Pillar 3a, buy-ins, deductions and timing: the main ways employees lower their tax bill legally.
💼 5 min readTax Differences Between Swiss Cantons: What to Compare Before You Move
Income, wealth and property taxes vary widely. How to compare and what else matters.
💼 4 min readChurch Tax in Switzerland: Who Pays and How to Leave
How church tax works, what it finances and the steps to leave a church.
💼 5 min readProfessional Expenses and Home Office: What You Can Deduct
Flat rates versus actual costs, meals, commuting and the treatment of a home office.
🏔️ Retirement & Pensions
15 guides in this topic
The Swiss Three-Pillar Pension System Explained
AHV, pension fund and private savings: how the three pillars work together and what each one gives you.
🏔️ 7 min readPillar 3a: The Complete Guide to Tax-Free Retirement Saving
Contribution limits, how to choose between a bank account and securities, and how to cut tax on withdrawal.
🏔️ 6 min readAHV: How Your State Pension Is Calculated
Contribution years, average income, the scale 44, early and late retirement and the 13th pension.
🏔️ 7 min readYour Pension Fund (BVG): Buy-Ins, Conversion Rates and Choices
How the second pillar works, why conversion rates matter and when a voluntary purchase pays off.
🏔️ 5 min readChanging Jobs: What Happens to Your Pension Fund Savings
Vested benefits, the transfer to your new fund and what to do in a gap between jobs.
🏔️ 6 min readUsing Your Pension Fund to Buy a Home (WEF)
How the early withdrawal for home ownership works, its tax effect and the risks for your cover.
🏔️ 6 min readPension or Lump Sum? How to Choose at Retirement
Compare lifelong annuities with capital withdrawals: taxes, risk, flexibility and deadlines.
🏔️ 5 min readPension Fund Buy-Ins: A Step-by-Step Strategy
How to find your buy-in potential, spread purchases over several years and avoid common traps.
🏔️ 6 min readRetirement Planning in Switzerland: A Checklist by Age
What to do in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s to reach retirement with enough money.
🏔️ 5 min readAHV Contribution Gaps: How to Find and Close Them
Why missing years reduce your pension, how to check your account and when you can still pay back.
🏔️ 5 min readAHV 21: What the Reform Means for Retirement Age and Flexibility
The higher reference age for women, flexible retirement from 63 and the compensation for the transition generation.
🏔️ 5 min readPillar 3a Withdrawal: How to Plan the Tax
When you can withdraw, why staggering helps and what to coordinate with your pension fund.
🏔️ 5 min readRetiring Before 65: Accessing Pension Money and Bridging the Gap
From which age you can draw each pillar and how to finance the years in between.
🏔️ 4 min readYour Pension Fund’s Health: Funding Ratio, Interest and Conversion Rate
Which figures show whether your fund is stable and what to do if it is not.
🏔️ 5 min readRetiring Abroad: What Happens to Your Swiss Pensions and Taxes
Paying out AHV abroad, pension fund options and the tax consequences of leaving.
🏠 Mortgage & Property
15 guides in this topic
Buying Property in Switzerland: Equity, Affordability and Costs
How much equity you need, what banks calculate and which costs surprise first-time buyers.
🏠 6 min readSARON vs. Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Which One Should You Choose?
Understand the mortgage types available in Switzerland and how to weigh certainty against cost.
🏠 5 min readThe End of the Eigenmietwert: What Changes for Homeowners
Swiss voters decided to abolish the imputed rental value. Here is what it means for taxes and mortgages.
🏠 6 min readRenting in Switzerland: Deposit, Reference Rate and Your Rights
How much rent you can afford, what the deposit rules are and when you can ask for a rent reduction.
🏠 6 min readMortgage Amortization: Direct, Indirect or Not at All?
Compare the ways to repay a Swiss mortgage and the effect of the Eigenmietwert reform.
🏠 5 min readHow to Negotiate a Better Mortgage in Switzerland
Where margins differ, when to ask and why brokers and early renewals can save thousands.
🏠 5 min readMaintenance and Renovation Costs for Swiss Homeowners
How much to budget each year, what is tax-deductible and how condominium funds work.
🏠 5 min readCan Foreigners Buy Property in Switzerland? The Lex Koller Rules
Which permits allow a home purchase, what is restricted and where to check the rules.
🏠 5 min readMoving Out of a Rental: Notice, Handover and Getting Your Deposit Back
The steps from termination to a clean handover and the release of the rent deposit.
🏠 4 min readStress-Testing Your Mortgage: Can You Handle Higher Rates?
A simple way to test your budget against rate rises and falling income.
🏠 5 min readRent or Buy? A Decision Guide for Swiss Households
The factors that matter beyond the monthly payment: equity, risk, flexibility and tax.
🏠 4 min readProperty Taxes and Tax Values in Switzerland
What the tax value is, which property taxes exist and how land transfers are taxed.
🏠 5 min readThe Home Purchase Process in Switzerland: From Offer to Land Register
The steps, the role of the notary and how long each part takes.
🏠 4 min readRenting Out Property: Income, Costs and Tax
How rental income is taxed, what you can deduct and what to check in the lease.
🏠 5 min readBuilding Your Own Home: Budget, Financing and Pitfalls
What to include in the budget, how construction loans work and why a reserve matters.
📈 Savings & Investing
13 guides in this topic
Wealth Tax in Switzerland: Who Pays and How to Reduce It
Why Switzerland taxes net wealth, typical rates and legal ways to limit the burden.
📈 7 min readInvesting in Switzerland: ETFs, Brokers and Taxes for Beginners
Where to invest, why fees matter, and how Swiss tax rules treat dividends, interest and capital gains.
📈 7 min readEarly Retirement (FIRE) in Switzerland
High salaries make FIRE realistic, but pensions, health insurance and tax need careful planning.
📈 6 min readBuilding a Simple ETF Portfolio as a Swiss Investor
Asset allocation, home bias, currency, accumulating vs. distributing funds and rebalancing.
📈 5 min readBonds for Swiss Investors: Yields, Risks and Tax
How bond prices and yields move, what Swiss Confederation bonds offer and how interest is taxed.
📈 5 min readTax-Free Capital Gains: When Does Trading Become Professional?
Why private gains are tax-free in Switzerland and the criteria that can change that.
📈 4 min readStamp Duty on Securities: A Hidden Cost for Swiss Investors
What the securities transfer tax is, when it applies and how brokers show it.
📈 5 min readInvesting for Beginners: Your First Five Steps
From emergency fund to your first ETF purchase: a simple order of operations.
📈 4 min readDollar-Cost Averaging or Lump Sum? How to Invest a Larger Amount
The trade-off between investing all at once and spreading purchases over time.
📈 5 min readSwiss Real Estate Funds and Property Shares: A Way to Invest Without Buying a Home
How real estate funds work, what drives their price and how they are taxed.
📈 4 min readGold and the Swiss Franc as Safe Havens: What Role in Your Portfolio?
How gold behaves, what it costs to hold and how much is reasonable.
📈 4 min readSustainable Investing in Switzerland: How to Choose ESG Funds
What the labels mean, how to compare funds and the trade-offs with cost and performance.
📈 5 min readChoosing a Broker in Switzerland: Fees, Safety and Features Compared
The cost items to compare, how client assets are protected and what to check before opening an account.
💳 Loans & Credit
7 guides in this topic
Consumer Credit and Debt in Switzerland: Rules and Smart Payoff
The legal interest cap, how leasing works, and how to get out of debt.
💳 6 min readDebt Collection in Switzerland (Betreibung): Process and Your Rights
What happens after an unpaid bill, how to object and how to avoid a record in the register.
💳 5 min readCredit Cards and Overdrafts in Switzerland: Costs and Smarter Alternatives
Interest, fees and the habits that keep card debt from growing.
💳 5 min readCar Loan, Leasing or Cash: Which Is the Cheapest Way to Pay?
How the three options compare in cost, flexibility and risk.
💳 4 min readPersonal Loans: How to Compare Offers and Avoid Hidden Costs
The effective rate, fees and insurance add-ons that decide the true price.
💳 4 min readRefinancing and Early Repayment: When Does It Pay Off?
How to compare switching costs with interest savings and what contracts allow.
💳 5 min readAvoiding the Debt Spiral: Warning Signs and First Aid
How to recognise trouble early, prioritise payments and get help.
🛡️ Insurance & Health
11 guides in this topic
Swiss Health Insurance: Choosing Your Franchise and Model
How the deductible, 10 % co-payment and managed-care models affect your yearly cost.
🛡️ 6 min readSwiss Insurance Essentials: What You Need and What You Do Not
Mandatory insurance, the sensible extras and the policies that are often oversold.
🛡️ 5 min readSupplementary Health Insurance and Premium Subsidies
What supplementary insurance covers, when it pays off and how to claim cantonal premium reductions.
🛡️ 6 min readDisability and Income Protection: How Switzerland Covers You
IV, pension fund and daily sickness allowance: what they pay and where gaps appear.
🛡️ 5 min readRisk Life Insurance in Switzerland: How Much Cover Do You Need?
What AHV and the pension fund pay to survivors and how to fill the rest with term cover.
🛡️ 4 min readHow to Switch Your Health Insurer: Steps, Deadlines and Pitfalls
The yearly process for changing basic insurance and what to do with supplementary cover.
🛡️ 4 min readFamily Doctor, HMO and Telemedicine Models: Cheaper Insurance With Rules
How alternative insurance models work, who benefits and what you give up.
🛡️ 5 min readAccident Insurance (UVG) Explained: Who Is Covered and for What
Occupational and non-occupational accidents, daily allowances and what to do when you change jobs.
🛡️ 4 min readLiability and Household Insurance: What Cover Makes Sense
What the two policies protect, how to choose sums insured and common exclusions.
🛡️ 4 min readLegal Protection and Travel Insurance: Are They Worth It?
What these optional policies cover, typical exclusions and who should consider them.
🛡️ 5 min readLong-Term Care in Switzerland: What It Costs and Who Pays
Nursing home and home care costs, what health insurance and AHV contribute and how to plan.
🧾 Budget & Everyday
10 guides in this topic
Budgeting in Switzerland: Cost of Living and Smart Savings
High salaries, high prices. How to build a realistic budget and where Swiss households can save.
🧾 6 min readYour First Job in Switzerland: Money Basics for Young Adults
Read your contract, pick insurance, start saving and avoid the early debt traps.
🧾 5 min readWhere to Keep Your Cash: Savings Accounts, Emergency Funds and Deposit Protection
How much cash to hold, where to put it and what happens if a bank fails.
🧾 5 min readCar or No Car? The True Cost of Mobility in Switzerland
Compare owning a car with public transport, car sharing and the GA travelcard.
🧾 5 min readSaving on Groceries and Everyday Costs in Switzerland
Practical ways to cut spending on food, shopping and daily life without losing quality.
🧾 4 min readEnergy Costs at Home: Electricity, Heating and Subsidies
How to estimate your energy bill, where the savings are and what support exists.
🧾 4 min readPhone, Internet and Subscriptions: Cutting Recurring Costs
How to review contracts, compare providers and cancel what you do not use.
🧾 5 min readManaging Money as a Couple: Accounts, Goals and Fair Sharing
How couples can organise accounts, split costs and plan together.
🧾 4 min readTeaching Children About Money: Pocket Money, Saving and First Accounts
Age-appropriate ways to build good money habits.
🧾 4 min readSaving for Big Purchases: Car, Wedding, Holiday or Renovation
How to set a target, pick the right account and automate the plan.
🧰 Business & Freelance
10 guides in this topic
Self-Employment in Switzerland: Social Insurance, Taxes and VAT
What freelancers and sole traders must register, insure and set aside.
🧰 6 min readGmbH or Sole Proprietorship? Choosing a Legal Form in Switzerland
Liability, capital, taxes and administration compared.
🧰 5 min readVAT for Small Businesses in Switzerland: Registration, Rates and Methods
When you must register, how input tax works and how the flat-rate method can simplify things.
🧰 6 min readHiring Your First Employee in Switzerland: Costs and Obligations
Contracts, social insurance registration, payroll and the real cost on top of gross salary.
🧰 5 min readStarting a Business in Switzerland: A Practical Checklist
From idea to first invoice: registration, insurance, banking and budgeting.
🧰 5 min readFreelancer Pricing and Invoicing in Switzerland
How to set a rate, write invoices and handle late payers.
🧰 5 min readRetirement Provision for the Self-Employed: AHV, 3a and Voluntary Pension Funds
How to build retirement savings without an employer pension fund.
🧰 4 min readBookkeeping Basics for Small Businesses
What records to keep, how long and how to track profit and margin.
🧰 4 min readInsurance for Small Businesses: What Protects Your Income and Assets
Liability, income protection, property and cyber cover: what to prioritise.
🧰 4 min readCash Flow Management: Staying Solvent When Clients Pay Late
Forecasting, payment terms and tools to reduce the risk of running out of cash.
💱 Currency & Economics
5 guides in this topic
Inflation and Your Money: Protecting Purchasing Power in Switzerland
Why low inflation still matters, which assets keep up and how to keep your savings working.
💱 5 min readCurrency Risk for Swiss Investors: Why the Strong Franc Matters
How exchange rate moves change returns on foreign assets and when hedging helps.
💱 5 min readThe Swiss National Bank, the Franc and Interest Rates: What Savers and Borrowers Should Know
How the policy rate affects savings, mortgages and the exchange rate.
💱 5 min readSalaries and the Cost of Living in Switzerland: Is the Gap Worth It?
How to compare a Swiss salary with a foreign one after prices, tax and insurance.
💱 4 min readShopping Across the Border: Savings, VAT Refunds and Customs Rules
How much you can save, what the allowance is and how to declare goods.
👨👩👧 Life Events & Family
4 guides in this topic
Family Finances in Switzerland: Allowances, Leave and Childcare Costs
Child allowances, parental leave pay, childcare costs and saving for your children.
👨👩👧 6 min readInheritance in Switzerland: Law, Wills and Cantonal Taxes
Compulsory portions after the 2023 reform, how wills work and why tax depends on your canton.
👨👩👧 6 min readMarriage and Money in Switzerland: Property Regime, Taxes and Pensions
How the default property regime works, what marriage changes for taxes and AHV, and why a contract can help.
👨👩👧 6 min readFinancial Checklist for Big Life Events: Baby, Divorce, Job Loss and Inheritance
What to review and update when your situation changes.