VIAC Pillar 3a Review: Pros, Cons, and Verdict

VIAC revolutionized the Swiss Pillar 3a market in 2017, challenging the high fees and inflexibility of traditional providers with its simple, low-cost app. But now, with strong competition, is it still the best choice for your retirement savings?

This in-depth VIAC Pillar 3a review dives deep into its 3a offer—investments, costs, security, and perks—giving you the facts to decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Before we begin, remember choosing a provider is just one step. If you’re new to the concept, check our Ultimate Guide to Pillar 3a first.

Investing Freedom: How VIAC Works

One of VIAC’s core philosophies is removing traditional barriers to pension saving. They’ve designed their platform to offer maximum flexibility and ease of use.

• Total Flexibility: With VIAC you are always in control. You can invest as much or as little as you want, whenever you want. There’s no fixed frequency required for payments, no minimum contract duration and no minimum amounts required to open an account or make deposits
• 100% Digital Opening: The entire onboarding process happens on your smartphone in just a few minutes. Download the app, follow the guided steps, and verify your identity via a quick digital check. It’s seamless and efficient.
• Simple Bank Transfers: Already have Pillar 3a funds sitting in an old, expensive bank account or insurance policy? VIAC makes transferring and consolidating your assets incredibly easy. The app includes a guided function that generates the necessary transfer order for you to sign and send to your previous provider.

Your Strategy, Your Choice: Investment Options

VIAC brilliantly caters to both complete beginners seeking simplicity and experienced investors desiring granular control over their portfolio.

Standard Strategies

If you prefer a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach, VIAC offers a range of pre-defined, expertly crafted strategies. These are grouped into three main themes:

• Global: Maximizes worldwide diversification across developed and emerging markets.
• Switzerland: Focuses heavily on the Swiss equity market (SMI, SPI).
• Sustainable: Invests exclusively in companies meeting strict Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

Within each of these themes, VIAC allows you to select your desired risk level across a full spectrum. You can choose:

• Numbered Strategies (20, 40, 60, 80, 100): For progressively higher growth potential, you can select strategies labeled with these numbers (or close to 100, like 97-99%). This number represents the target percentage allocated to stocks fitting the chosen theme (Global, Swiss, or Sustainable). The remainder of the portfolio is generally invested more conservatively in cash (earning interest) and high-quality bonds.
• Account Only: Holds 100% cash (which earns interest) within your chosen theme (though the theme matters less here).
• Account Plus: A very conservative option holding mostly cash but including a small 5% allocation to stocks appropriate to the theme (Global, Swiss, or Sustainable).

Not sure which one fits you best? VIAC provides a short questionnaire within the app to help you assess your risk tolerance and suggest the most suitable strategy. All standard strategies utilize low-cost, highly diversified ETFs and index funds.

Custom Strategy

For those who want to be their own portfolio manager, VIAC offers an impressive “Custom” option. You can build your investment allocation from scratch by selecting from a vast range of low-cost ETFs and index funds covering all major asset classes:

• Cash
• Swiss, Global or High Yield Bonds
• Swiss, Developed Market or Emerging Market Stocks
• Swiss or Global Real Estate
• Commodities (including physical Gold)
• Alternative investments like Private Equity and Bitcoin

Opting for a custom strategy does not incur any additional costs. Furthermore, VIAC’s system cleverly includes an automatic compliance check. As you build your portfolio, it ensures your allocations adhere to Swiss legal requirements for pension funds (OPP2), preventing accidental breaches of rules regarding diversification, currency exposure, or single stock limits.

Understanding VIAC’s Costs: Low Fees & Interest on Cash

VIAC keeps its fee structure straightforward and competitive. Here’s what you need to know:

• Cash is Free: Any portion of your Pillar 3a assets held in cash (at WIR Bank, earning interest) is managed completely free of charge.
• Invested Assets Fee: For the portion of your assets invested in securities (ETFs and index funds), VIAC charges a single administration fee. This fee ranges from 0.40% to a maximum of 0.44% per year, generally increasing slightly with a higher allocation to stocks (equities).
• All-Inclusive: This administration fee is the only fee VIAC charges you directly. There are no hidden costs like opening/closing fees, custody fees, or performance fees. The only other costs are the standard, low internal fees (TER) of the underlying investment funds themselves.

Security: How Your Money is Protected

VIAC employs a multi-layered security system, ensuring your retirement assets are held with the utmost safety according to Swiss regulations.

• Your Cash: Uninvested cash is held in your name at WIR Bank. These funds benefit from the Swiss depositor protection scheme, safeguarding assets up to CHF 100’000 per client in the unlikely event of the bank’s insolvency.
• Your Securities (ETFs/Funds): Your investments are held as segregated assets. This means they are legally separate from the balance sheets of VIAC, the pension foundation, and the custodian banks (UBS or Swisscanto, depending on the funds). In the extremely unlikely event that any of these institutions were to fail, your investments would remain your property and would not be included in the bankruptcy proceedings.

Ease of Management: The VIAC App Experience

If VIAC has one superstar feature, it’s arguably its mobile app. It sets a high standard for user-friendliness in the Swiss fintech space.

• Intuitive Interface: The app is clean, visually appealing, and incredibly easy to navigate, even for those with no prior investment experience. Clear charts visualize your portfolio’s performance, and the guided process for selecting or creating a strategy makes decision-making simple.
• Digital Document Access: All essential documents are readily available within the app. You can easily download your annual tax certificate (required for claiming tax deductions), transaction confirmations, and transfer orders whenever needed.
• Flexible Multi-Account Management: VIAC lets you easily manage up to 5 separate Pillar 3a portfolios under one login. This key feature enables significant tax optimization during retirement. Because Swiss taxes on lump-sum pension withdrawals are progressive (higher amounts face higher rates), splitting your savings allows for staggered withdrawals across different years. By taking out smaller amounts annually, you break the tax progression and can save thousands in taxes. VIAC makes this advanced strategy simple to implement.

Unique Perks & Benefits: The VIAC Extras

Beyond its core offering, VIAC provides several unique benefits that add extra value.

• Free Base Insurance: VIAC automatically includes a valuable base insurance policy covering death or disability (following illness or accident). The coverage amount is equal to 25% of your invested assets, up to a maximum payout of CHF 250,000 per event. This provides an additional layer of financial security for you and your family at no extra cost – a benefit rarely found with other fintech 3a providers.
• Referral Program: VIAC incentivizes word-of-mouth marketing. For every friend you successfully refer who opens an account, VIAC manages a portion of your assets (e.g., CHF 7,500, cumulative) for free, for life. Your referred friend also typically receives a starting benefit, like having their first CHF 1,000 managed fee-free.
• VIAC Deals: The “Deals” section within the app occasionally features partnerships with other companies, offering users exclusive discounts on products like car insurance, travel services, or other financial tools.

Conclusion: Is VIAC Right For You?

Let’s summarize the key considerations.

Pros

• Excellent, beginner-friendly User Experience (App).
• Great for cash holdings (zero admin fees + earns interest).
• Free basic insurance included.
• Easy multi-portfolio management for tax optimization.
• Good investment customization options.
• Transparent and competitive fee structure.

Cons

• Administration fee on invested assets (max 0.44%) can be slightly higher than the absolute cheapest competitor in the market.

VIAC is likely the perfect choice for you if:

• You prioritize an effortless and confidence-inspiring user experience through a best-in-class mobile app.
• You value clarity and simplicity in managing your investments, wanting a platform that guides you smoothly.
• The unique, added security of the free integrated insurance coverage aligns with your desire for extra peace of mind.

Your 4-Step Checklist to Get Started

Feeling confident that VIAC is the right fit? Taking action is the final and most important step. The digital process takes less than 15 minutes.

1. Download the App: Get the VIAC app from the Swiss App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Get Your ID Ready: You’ll need your valid passport or Swiss ID card for the quick digital identity verification.
3. Choose Your Strategy: Follow the guided questions to determine your risk profile and select one of the recommended investment strategies (you can always change it later).
4. Make Your First Transfer: Transfer funds from your bank account using the provided details to start putting your money to work for your future retirement.