- 300 francs a month from age 30 grow to about 340'000 francs at 65; from 40, about 180'000.
- Pillar 3a does the same, with a tax deduction on top every year.
- Do not wait for the right moment: a fixed amount every month smooths out the highs and lows.
Your capital at 65 by starting age
Every year you start earlier counts double: your first contributions have the most time to grow. The 300 francs you invest in your first month, at 30, grow on their own to about 1'700 francs at 65. Those invested at 64 have no time left to earn anything.
Change the monthly amount and the return in the chart: the gap between starting at 30 and starting at 40 always stays huge.
The CHF 300 from the first month, at age 30, grow to about CHF 1'720 at 65. Interest earns interest.
Payment at the end of each month, monthly compounding. Assumed return, not guaranteed.
The detail: 300 francs a month at 5%, by starting age
| You start at | Total paid in | Capital at 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | CHF 144'000 | CHF 457'806 |
| 30 | CHF 126'000 | CHF 340'828 |
| 40 | CHF 90'000 | CHF 178'653 |
| 50 | CHF 54'000 | CHF 80'187 |
5% a year, a reasonable assumption for a diversified long-term portfolio, not guaranteed.
Investing, or leaving it in a savings account
Leaving your savings in an account means giving up more than half of the capital you could have. Example: 1'000 francs a month from 30 to 65. In a good savings account, that comes to about 460'000 francs; invested, more than a million. Same effort, same period: only the investment changes.
The detailed calculation
| CHF 1'000 a month for 35 years | Capital at 65 |
|---|---|
| Savings account at 0.5% | CHF 458'887 |
| Invested at 5% | CHF 1'136'092 |
| Difference | CHF 677'206 |
The same in a pillar 3a
Pillar 3a adds a tax deduction to the effect of time. At the maximum, with a prudent 4% return, starting at 30 rather than 40 adds more than 230'000 francs of capital at 65. And every year, the contribution gives you back about a quarter of its amount in tax: see the 3a limit.
3a capital at 65, by starting age
| 2026 limit every year, at 4% | 3a capital at 65 |
|---|---|
| From 25 | CHF 689'695 |
| From 30 | CHF 534'568 |
| From 40 | CHF 302'266 |
| From 50 | CHF 145'331 |
The return weighs as much as age
How you split between equities, bonds and cash changes the result as much as ten years' head start. Over 35 years, the same 300 francs a month grow to about 220'000 francs with a cautious profile, and more than double that with a dynamic profile. The right choice depends mostly on how long you have: see asset allocation over 25 years.
Capital at 65 by profile
| Return | Profile | Capital at 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 3% | Cautious, mostly bonds and cash | CHF 222'469 |
| 5% | Balanced, 60 to 70% equities | CHF 340'828 |
| 7% | Dynamic, 80 to 100% equities | CHF 540'316 |
300 francs a month for 35 years. Returns before fees, not guaranteed.
There is no "right moment"
Every month of waiting is a month less for compound interest. Nobody knows when the market will fall, or when it will recover. Investing the same amount every month settles the question: when prices fall, your contributions buy more units; when they rise, fewer. Over 35 years, the highs and lows even out.
Depending on your age today
- 30: you are in the best position. Start small, but start now.
- 40: 300 francs a month still make about 180'000 francs at 65. Infinitely better than nothing.
- 45 or 50: increase your monthly effort, fill your 3a, and look at a pension fund buy-in, often the strongest lever at that age.
Going further
Think in today's francs. With 2% inflation a year, 340'000 francs in 35 years will be worth about half in today's purchasing power. That is no reason to wait, quite the opposite: a savings account loses even more to inflation.
Fees matter as much as returns. One point less in fees a year has the same effect as one point more in return. Over 20 years, the difference runs into tens of thousands of francs: see investing in Switzerland, and what fees cost.
Grow with your salary. Put aside part of every pay rise, from the first month it arrives. You will not feel it, and your effort grows painlessly.
In the right order. First an emergency fund, then pillar 3a, which is deductible, then a securities account for the rest.
Simulate your 3aYour age, your contribution, your canton: capital at 65 and tax saving.
Open the calculatorYour next step
To do, at your own pace:
Path “Start investing” · step 2 of 8
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to start at 45?
No. CHF 300 a month for 20 years at 5% gives about CHF 123'000. Doubling the effort to CHF 600 gives about CHF 247'000. And pillar 3a and your pension fund add to it.
What return can I expect over 30 years?
It depends on your allocation: about 2 to 3.5% for a cautious profile, 5 to 6% for a balanced one, 7 to 8% for global equities over long periods, before fees and with no guarantee. For an invested 3a, 4% is a prudent assumption.
How much should I save a month to have CHF 500'000 at 65?
At 5% a year: about CHF 440 a month if you start at 30, CHF 601 at 35, CHF 840 at 40.
Is pillar 3a better than a savings account?
For most employees, yes: the contribution is deductible, which usually gives back about a quarter of it in tax, and a 3a partly invested in equities aims for more than an account at 0.2 to 1%. In return, the money is locked until 60, with some exceptions.
Should I wait for the right moment to invest?
No. Nobody finds it reliably, not even professionals. Investing the same amount every month smooths out the highs and lows. And a few days of strong gains account for a large share of returns: missing them is expensive.
Sources: ViaVest calculations: future value of regular savings, monthly compounding (monthly contributions) or annual compounding (3a). FSIO and BVV 3, 2026 3a limit ; FTA tax calculator (2026 tariffs) ; MSCI World index, historical data. Returns are assumptions, not guarantees.