Hello Expats
Who we help · Managers / Executives

Financial advice for expat executives in Switzerland

Higher salary, more moving parts: bonuses, RSUs, pension buy-ins, property, protection. We bring it into one clean plan - independent and built around your career, not a product.

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In short

Expat executives in Switzerland typically cross the CHF 120,000 gross income threshold and move from simple withholding tax to an ordinary tax assessment. As of 2025, the highest-impact decisions are usually maxing pillar 3a (CHF 7,258 for employees), using voluntary pillar 2 buy-ins in high-bonus years, planning the Swiss tax treatment of bonus and equity (RSU / PSU / stock options), structuring globally diversified investments outside any single employer, and putting in place protection cover that actually fits a high salary.

What you face

What expat executives have to figure out

  1. 01

    Ordinary tax assessment kicks in

    Above roughly CHF 120,000 gross annual income (in most cantons) you are automatically moved from withholding tax to an ordinary tax return. That is a problem if no one optimises it - and a major opportunity if someone does.

  2. 02

    Bonuses, RSUs and equity compensation

    Cash bonus, RSUs, PSUs and stock options each have their own Swiss income- and wealth-tax treatment, timing and reporting. Getting the vesting, sell-to-cover and cross-border allocation right matters more than most single investment decisions.

  3. 03

    Pillar 3a and voluntary pillar 2 buy-ins

    Pillar 3a (up to CHF 7,258 for employees in 2025) is the easy win. Voluntary buy-ins into your pension fund (pillar 2) can save serious tax in high-income years, but the timing rules around future lump-sum withdrawals are strict and need planning.

  4. 04

    Building real wealth, independently

    Beyond pension wrappers, you need a long-term, globally diversified, low-cost portfolio that sits outside any single employer. Independent investment advice avoids hidden product fees and concentration in your own company stock.

  5. 05

    Retirement and pension-gap planning

    Swiss pillar 1 + pillar 2 typically replace around 60% of pre-retirement income up to a ceiling - much less in percentage terms for high earners. The gap must be closed by deliberate saving and investing, not assumed away.

  6. 06

    Property and higher-value mortgages

    Higher-value Swiss property changes the conversation: equity sourcing (cash, pillar 2, pillar 3a), affordability at a notional 5% rate, fixed vs SARON tranches and tax treatment of indirect amortisation through 3a. Independent comparison across lenders matters.

  7. 07

    Income, life and disability protection

    Swiss social insurance covers only part of a high salary if you become unable to work. Private life and disability cover - properly sized to your actual income, family and obligations - is one of the most under-bought items at executive level.

Free first call

Make the next bonus cycle count

In a 30-minute call we map the three highest-impact moves for your situation - typically pillar 2 buy-ins, RSU planning and a real investment plan outside your employer.

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How we help

How we help executives

Taxes & pension

Ordinary tax filing, bonus and RSU planning, pillar 3a maxing and voluntary pillar 2 buy-ins coordinated across high-income years.

Optimise Swiss tax, pillar 3a and pillar 2 buy-ins as an executive

Investments & savings

Independent, globally diversified portfolio design outside your employer, with a clear concentration-risk plan for vested equity.

Structure long-term wealth as a high earner in Switzerland

Finance & mortgage

Higher-value mortgage strategy, equity sourcing (cash, pillar 2, 3a) and independent comparison across Swiss lenders.

Plan a higher-value Swiss mortgage as an executive

Health & protection

Right-size KVG / LAMal and supplementary cover plus life and disability protection that actually matches an executive salary.

Set up health and protection cover for executives
Why executives work with us
100%
Independent - no in-house products
RSU/PSU
Equity-compensation aware advice
EN/DE
Fluent in English and German
CHF 0
First consultation - no obligation
How we work

How we work with executives

A three-step process built for senior decision-makers who want straight answers, not a sales pitch.

1 · Free discovery call

30 minutes on video. We map your compensation structure (base, bonus, equity), your Swiss tax position and your wealth picture - and tell you straight where the leverage is.

2 · Your executive roadmap

A written plan covering tax, pillar 2 buy-ins, pillar 3a, investments, mortgage and protection - quantified, prioritised and aligned with your career horizon.

3 · Implementation, together

We implement with you - filings, buy-ins, portfolio, insurance, mortgage - and review the plan whenever compensation, role or family situation changes.

Tools

Run the numbers yourself

Calculators are estimates for planning, not formal tax or investment advice.

Open the Swiss salary calculator

Estimate your real Swiss net salary by canton, permit and family situation - the starting point for any bonus or buy-in planning.

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Pension gap

Estimate the gap between your expected Swiss pension and the retirement income a high earner actually needs.

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Mortgage check

See what a Swiss bank will realistically lend you on a higher-value property.

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Health insurance premium comparison

Compare KVG / LAMal premiums by canton, age, deductible and model for the whole household.

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Ask us anything

Ask an executive-specific question

Type your question about bonus tax, RSUs, pension buy-ins or building wealth in Switzerland. A real Hello Expats advisor reads every message and replies personally - usually within one working day.

FAQ

Executive questions we hear most often

How are my bonus and RSUs taxed in Switzerland?
Cash bonuses are normally taxed as employment income in the year they are paid. RSUs and PSUs are usually taxed as income at vesting based on the share price on that date, while stock options can be taxed either at grant or at exercise depending on whether they are tradable. Withholding tax is applied through payroll where relevant, but ordinary tax filing then trues up the final amount - so accurate documentation of grant, vest and sale events is essential.
Are voluntary pillar 2 buy-ins worth it for a high earner?
Often yes. Voluntary buy-ins into your pension fund are deductible from taxable income in the year they are made, which is especially valuable in high-bonus years where your marginal tax rate is highest. The main rules to respect are: there must be a buy-in capacity confirmed by your pension fund, and any lump-sum withdrawal from the same pension within 3 years of a buy-in is generally disallowed for the tax deduction, so timing around retirement or home purchase needs to be planned.
Do I have to file an ordinary tax return as an executive?
If you hold a B permit and your gross annual income exceeds CHF 120,000 (in most cantons), you are automatically moved from simple withholding tax to an ordinary tax assessment and must file a Swiss tax return. C-permit holders and Swiss nationals file ordinarily by default. Filing is also where most optimisation happens - pillar 3a, pillar 2 buy-ins, professional expenses, mortgage interest and donations are claimed there.
How should a high earner invest in Switzerland?
The general approach for executives is a globally diversified, low-cost portfolio held outside any single employer, complemented by maxed pillar 3a and (where appropriate) pillar 2 buy-ins for the tax benefit. A specific concentration-risk plan for vested employer equity matters as much as the asset allocation itself - executives often end up dangerously overweight in their own company stock without realising it.
What happens to my Swiss pension if I leave the country?
Your pillar 2 capital normally has to stay within the Swiss vested-benefits system if you move to another EU/EFTA country and remain insured for old-age pension there (the obligatory part), while the over-obligatory part can usually be paid out in cash. Pillar 3a can be withdrawn when you leave Switzerland permanently. The tax on the lump-sum withdrawal depends on where it is paid - some Swiss cantons are markedly cheaper than others, which is worth planning ahead.
Do you also coordinate with my company's tax provider?
Yes. For internationally mobile executives we regularly work alongside corporate tax-equalisation programs and the firm's nominated provider, focusing on the personal-side optimisation (pillar 3a, pillar 2 buy-ins, private investments, protection, mortgage) so nothing falls between the company package and your private finances.
Related guides

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Next step

Let's structure your executive setup properly

A 30-minute call with an independent Hello Expats advisor - no obligation, no fees. We focus on the three or four moves that will actually move the needle for you this year.

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