Mié, May 29th 2024
Swiss pension funds averaged a 5.1% return in 2023, with significant performance differences among funds.
Swiss pension funds generated positive returns in 2023, averaging a net return of 5.1%, driven by strong equity markets, according to a study by ZKB subsidiary Swisscanto. This follows a significant loss of 8.8% in 2022 due to weak equity markets.
There were notable differences among the funds. The top 10% achieved an average return of 8.2%, while the bottom 10% only saw a 2.3% return. This disparity also affected the interest rates on retirement assets, with the best funds offering 3.7% and the worst only 2.0%. The average interest rate was 2.4%.
For 2024, pension funds expect a 3.0% return. Due to the solid performance in 2023 and positive outlook, experts anticipate future benefit improvements. However, funds are cautious about guaranteeing benefits, preferring one-off payments.
The trend towards flexible benefits continues, influenced by stock market fluctuations over the past 20 years. Benefits are increasingly tied to market performance rather than fixed rates.
The Pension Fund Study 2024 included 483 funds, representing CHF 770 billion in assets and nearly 4.1 million insured persons.
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