Planning for retirement: why prepare your wealth strategy in advance?

Planning for retirement is not simply about deciding when to stop working or calculating the amount of your future pension income. Decisions made in the years leading up to retirement can have implications for future income, taxation, investments, property and even the transfer of wealth to the next generation. 

Annabelle Guitton, Wealth Planning Specialist at Piguet Galland in Lausanne, supports clients in reviewing their pension arrangements, planning for retirement and structuring their wealth. She holds a Swiss Federal Diploma in Financial Planning and has more than twenty years of experience, taking a holistic approach to each client's individual circumstances.

“Retirement planning is not simply a question of choosing between a pension and a lump sum. Every decision can have implications for wealth, taxation, investments and succession planning.”

Why should you start planning for retirement several years in advance?

As retirement approaches, a number of decisions often need to be made: whether to make voluntary contributions to your pension fund, choose between a pension and a lump sum, organise your Pillar 3a savings, review your vested benefits or consider early retirement.

However, these decisions are rarely independent of one another.

For example, making voluntary contributions to an occupational pension fund can have tax implications and influence how pension assets are withdrawn at retirement. Choosing between a pension and a lump sum will affect future income, as well as wealth management and succession planning.

Planning ahead therefore makes it possible to consider these decisions as part of a coherent overall strategy rather than addressing each one in isolation.

“The earlier decisions are considered, the more options are available. Starting the process well in advance allows you to compare different scenarios, plan for the future and make decisions with greater peace of mind.”

What does retirement planning involve?

Retirement planning goes beyond simply estimating future pension income.

It may include:

• benefits from the first and second pillars of the Swiss pension system;
• potential voluntary contributions to an occupational pension fund;
• the choice between a pension and a lump sum;
• Pillar 3a savings and vested benefits;
• investments and available liquidity;
• property assets;
• family circumstances;
• personal plans and financial needs after retirement.

The aim is to understand how these different elements interact and assess their implications over time.

A comprehensive retirement assessment therefore helps move beyond a series of individual decisions towards an overall view of your wealth.

Early retirement: why compare different scenarios?

Early retirement may be a long-held ambition. However, retiring earlier can affect pension benefits and the income available over several years.

The question is therefore not simply, “Can I retire earlier?”, but also, “What impact would this decision have on my standard of living and my wealth?”

Retirement planning allows different scenarios to be compared:

What would happen if you retired at different ages? What would be the impact of withdrawing pension assets as a lump sum? What financial resources would be available to maintain your desired standard of living and fund your future plans?

The aim is not to arrive at a standardised answer, but to identify the scenario that best aligns with each individual's priorities.

Who can help you plan for retirement in Lausanne?

Retirement planning involves several aspects of wealth management. It can therefore be beneficial to seek guidance from a specialist who can consider pension arrangements, investments, taxation, property and personal objectives together.

At Piguet Galland in Lausanne, Annabelle Guitton supports clients who wish to take a broader view of their financial circumstances and anticipate important retirement-related decisions.

Certain situations particularly benefit from this holistic approach, especially when income, occupational pension arrangements and personal wealth are closely interconnected, as may be the case for senior executives, entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and members of the liberal professions.

Three frequently asked questions about retirement planning

When should you start planning for retirement?

There is no specific age at which retirement planning should begin. Generally, the earlier certain decisions are considered, the more opportunities there are to compare different scenarios and assess their implications before action is required.

What does a retirement assessment include?

A retirement assessment may cover pension arrangements, future income, financial and property assets, taxation, personal plans and liquidity needs, providing a comprehensive overview of your financial situation.

Where can you find a retirement planning specialist in Lausanne?

Piguet Galland has a dedicated Wealth Planning team in Lausanne. Annabelle Guitton, who holds a Swiss Federal Diploma in Financial Planning, supports clients in reviewing their pension arrangements and preparing for retirement.

Review your retirement plans

Would you like to understand where you stand, compare different scenarios or prepare for an important decision regarding your pension arrangements?

Arrange a meeting with Annabelle Guitton and the Wealth Planning specialists at Piguet Galland in Lausanne to review your personal circumstances.

Coming soon: Occupational pension buy-ins, pension or lump sum: how to make the right choices?

Succession Planning

Protecting your spouse while supporting your children​‌