FUTURA A to Z

Technical interest – what is it?

The technical interest rate for a pension fund is a calculated interest rate that is used to discount future pension obligations. It is used to calculate the current capital requirement for the future payment of pensions. This is not a guaranteed interest rate for insured persons, but an assumption about the long-term return that can be achieved on the invested capital.

The technical interest rate has a significant influence on the conversion rate and the funding ratio of the pension fund. It is determined by the Board of Trustees in collaboration with the occupational pensions expert, based on the legal framework and economic expectations.

The technical interest rate for FUTURA is 2.0% (as at 2025).

What does partial retirement mean?

Partial retirement is a gradual transition to retirement in which the workload and income are reduced in stages. Instead of leaving work abruptly, employees from the age of 58 can reduce their working hours in several stages (maximum of three stages) and draw retirement benefits from the pension fund in the corresponding amount. The first partial withdrawal must correspond to at least 20% of the retirement benefits. The period between the partial retirement steps must be at least one year.

For example, a person could reduce their workload from 100% to 70% and draw 30% of their retirement benefits accordingly. Later, they could reduce their workload further and claim additional retirement benefits. Partial retirement can only be taken with the consent of the employer.

Are part-time employees BVG?

Part-time employees are BVG if their annual income exceeds CHF 22,680 (as at 2025). Employers can voluntarily set a lower coordination deduction or insure the entire salary for non-mandatory pension plans.

What happens to my pension fund assets when I die?

An entitlement to death benefits exists if the insured person

• was insured under the pension fund regulations at the time of death or when the incapacity for work, the cause of which led to death, occurred; or
• was receiving a retirement or disability pension from the Foundation at the time of death.

The provisions of the respective pension plan apply. In addition to spouse's or partner's pensions, orphans' pensions or a lump-sum death benefit may also be paid out. You can see the individual benefits on your pension certificate (see also "Pension certificate").

What is the lump-sum death benefit?

If no pension benefits are due on the death of an insured person, the existing retirement assets are paid out as a one-off lump-sum death benefit. The beneficiaries are defined in the pension fund regulations and can be parents or siblings, for example.

TO the pension fund regulations

The beneficiary regulations are also dealt with in this chapter: see "Beneficiary regulations".

It is important to regularly review your personal situation and, if necessary, submit a beneficiary declaration to ensure that the assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes.