Retirement for entrepreneurs: clever planning for the fourth pillar
Entrepreneurs have more leeway than employees when it comes to organizing their retirement. We refer to these additional options as the "fourth pillar". It complements traditional pension provision and requires forward-looking and careful planning.
Strategic preparation for retirement is a central component of succession planning in small and medium-sized companies. This involves not only economic considerations, but also personal and structural ones. Starting early - ideally from the age of 50 - creates the necessary flexibility to set the course in good time.
Planning your personal life
In addition to financial security, planning also focuses on questions relating to personal life after retirement. The transition to retirement often means a reorientation: the loss of responsibility, social recognition and established daily structures can be a challenge. This makes it all the more important to formulate clear goals, reflect on your own role and develop a new perspective for the period of your life after your active entrepreneurial career.
The financial component also plays an important role. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to optimize their pension provision in a targeted manner - be it through staggered purchases into the pension fund, investments or building up additional sources of income. It is important to carefully analyze your own asset structure, for example with regard to AHV benefits, pension fund assets, private assets and possible income from new entrepreneurial commitments. Capital withdrawals can be used, for example, to finance projects with regular income that help to stabilize the standard of living.
Define a clear succession strategy
It is equally important to develop a clear succession strategy. Whether it is a complete handover, a partial sale or a changed role in the company - retirement offers the opportunity to consciously pass on or restructure your life's work. As life circumstances and general conditions can change, it is advisable to regularly review your plans and adjust them if necessary. This is the only way to ensure that the chosen strategy remains sustainable and future-proof. With a well-thought-out approach, entrepreneurs create a stable foundation for their personal "fourth pillar" - and thus for a well-prepared transition into a new phase of life.
More information: Swiss umbrella organization for business succession - CHDU
Event information
The Swiss umbrella organization for company succession - CHDU - has set itself the task of giving company succession the necessary emphasis at an economic and political level. Within the framework of courses and workshops, interested parties can find valuable information on how to plan their own company succession. The next opportunity to learn more about important success strategies for company succession and retirement is offered by the
After-work impulse "Shaping wealth - securing the future."
organized by the Swiss Umbrella Association for Corporate Succession - CHDU in cooperation with Swiss Life Wealth Managers.
Date: July 1, 2025, 6 p.m., Casino Bern
Participation is free of charge. Registration by e-mail to info@chdu.ch
