Financial self-determination down slightly

Growing worries about their financial situation
In Switzerland, 45% of people say that they feel financially self-determined. This is two percentage points down from the previous year. The main reasons for this decline are the rising cost of living, stagnating incomes and what are felt to be insufficient pensions. Some 24% of respondents are very worried about their financial situation. For Swiss people, it is particularly important to be able to save money on a regular basis (36%) and to be in control of their own expenses (34%). Both aspects have become even more important compared to the previous year (+6 and +3 percentage points, respectively).

Lack of confidence in retirement provisions
Only a quarter of respondents expect their private, occupational and state pensions to allow them to lead a financially self-determined life in old age. Confidence in retirement provisions is significantly higher in German-speaking Switzerland (29%) than in Western Switzerland (18%). In this regard, 18 to 29-year-olds are particularly sceptical, with only 23% of this age group stating that they trust the private, occupational and state pension systems. Despite this scepticism, only a small number take personal responsibility: fewer than half of those surveyed feel responsible for the success or failure of their pension provisions. Here, too, the difference between the language regions is clear: 46% of respondents in German-speaking Switzerland see themselves as responsible, compared to just 29% in Western Switzerland.

Room for improvement in pension planning
Only 27% of respondents feel well prepared financially for retirement. This figure is particularly low in women (23%) and part-time workers (19%). Furthermore, a quarter of respondents said that they had started saving for retirement too late, while 27% would like to know more about financial and pension topics.

Financial confidence gradually recovering
Despite growing concerns, the majority of Swiss people are confident about the medium-term future, with 56% expecting their financial situation to have developed positively in ten years’ time. Financial confidence has thus recovered somewhat following a significant dip in 2024. However, confidence is much lower among pensioners (32%). The differences between cities and the countryside are also striking: 61% of respondents from cities stated that they were financially confident, versus 54% in towns and suburbs and 53% in rural areas.