Blog: 27.01.26Saving in Switzerland in 2025: realities, aspirations and levers for better future planning

Saving is a fundamental pillar of economic stability for households and individuals. In 2025, as the cost of living rises and economic uncertainty persists, how is the Swiss population adapting its financial habits? A recent study published by Baloise in collaboration with YouGov offers a comprehensive overview of saving behaviour in Switzerland.

Based on a representative sample of the population, this analysis highlights generational differences, the underlying motivations for saving, the most popular financial products, and the remaining gaps in financial education.

At Synergix, we see these findings as an opportunity. An opportunity to better support companies, finance professionals and educational institutions in their respective roles of informing, advising and transmitting knowledge.

The study “So spart die Schweiz” is based on a representative sample of 2,032 people aged 15 to 79, surveyed between 12 and 27 May 2025 across Switzerland’s three main linguistic regions: German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. It explores, from a cross-sectional perspective:

• the financial situation of individuals and households
• saving habits and motivations
• the use of pension solutions
• the level of financial knowledge
• intentions and feasibility of early retirement
• preferred advisory channels

Segmentation by age group makes it possible to identify generational profiles with distinct needs and expectations.

Source: Baloise and YouGov, So spart die Schweiz, September 2025.

In 2025, 82 percent of people in Switzerland say that saving regularly is important to them. However, fewer than one in two, 47 percent, have actually been able to save over the past six months.

This gap between intention and reality reflects growing economic pressure, particularly linked to rising living costs, high fixed expenses and incomes that remain constrained for part of the population. Purchasing power is being tested by persistent inflation, especially in everyday expenses and housing costs. For some households, saving is becoming a luxury rather than a norm.

Regional disparities are significant:

• 50 percent of people in German-speaking Switzerland have been able to save recently

• compared with 41 percent in French-speaking Switzerland

• and only 31 percent in Ticino, where consumer debt at 8 percent is also more frequent

Fixed expenses such as housing, healthcare, food and insurance represent the main obstacle to saving for 30 percent of respondents. This figure rises to 51 percent in Ticino, compared with 29 percent in both German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland.

Beyond these constraints, part of the population also expresses a lack of vision or organisation when it comes to saving. Many say they do not know how much to save or how to allocate their money effectively. This highlights the importance of better financial literacy around the basics of budget management.

Saving motivations largely revolve around financial security.

• 71 percent of respondents say they save to cope with unforeseen expenses
• for 24 percent, this is their primary motivation
• 39 percent say they save with retirement in mind, whether early or not
• home ownership stands out particularly among those under 30, at 19 percent

A low tolerance for risk is also evident. Only 16 percent of respondents describe themselves as rather or very risk-tolerant. This translates into a strong preference for simple saving products perceived as safe, to the detriment of investments in equities or funds.

This need for security reflects a general climate of caution, but also a lack of familiarity with investment mechanisms. It suggests that financial education must not only convey technical knowledge, but also help challenge perceptions that hinder the use of more effective long-term tools.

Ages 15 to 29: strong aspirations, limited means

Young adults express high expectations. They want to access home ownership, achieve financial independence and, for many, retire earlier than the statutory age.

• 61 percent dream of early retirement, but only 4 percent have started planning for it
• 48 percent contribute to pillar 3a
• 45 percent have been able to save in the past six months, but 35 percent feel their income only covers basic needs

Young people make limited use of digital advisory tools, with only 12 percent having benefited from digital advice, but they are open to alternative approaches. They are also the group that invests proportionally the most in ETFs or equities. This reflects a desire to grow capital, but within a context of persistent financial fragility.

Ages 30 to 44: balancing expenses and protection

This cohort often combines family responsibilities, property projects and the need to stabilise its financial future.

• 76 percent contribute to pillar 3a, with the majority using a traditional account, at 62 percent
• 41 percent hold an investment-based solution
• 50 percent have been able to save recently

Security remains central to their saving logic, but a gradual openness to diversified investments is emerging. This is a pivotal period where pension choices have a strong impact on future retirement outcomes.

Ages 45 to 59: planning becomes a priority

People in this age group are generally comfortable with their current situation, at 63 percent, but their level of confidence regarding retirement falls to 44 percent.

• 66 percent hold a 3a account, but only 38 percent invest through financial products within this pillar
• 58 percent have already received personalised banking or insurance advice
• 15 percent are actively preparing for early retirement

The focus shifts towards system robustness, the risk of gaps and the need to adjust strategies. This period often marks the point where the gap between ideal plans and budgetary reality becomes more tangible.

Ages 60 to 79: current comfort but past regrets

Seventy percent of retirees or people close to retirement say they are financially comfortable. However, 37 percent state that they would have liked to do things differently:

• 18 percent would have liked to seek information earlier
• 14 percent would have started saving earlier
• 13 percent would have invested differently

These reflections highlight the decisive impact of choices made 10, 20 or 30 years earlier. They send a strong signal to current generations and planning professionals alike.

The study highlights several key findings:

• the willingness to save is present, but means are sometimes lacking

• early retirement is widely desired, but rarely planned

• human advice remains crucial, while hybrid solutions combining digital and human support have a strong future

• basic financial knowledge is insufficient and must be strengthened from an early age

At Synergix, we are convinced that finance directors, HR managers, wealth management specialists and financial advisers have a structuring role to play. Not to make individual choices on behalf of others, but to create a reliable, clear and educational environment. A framework that encourages understanding, long-term projection, risk assessment and the implementation of appropriate strategies. This applies to employees, business owners and self-employed professionals, but also to younger generations, who must be able to build their future on solid foundations.

This vision is also reflected in our practical engagement. Synergix takes part in a round table at the Geneva School of Management to raise students’ awareness of the importance of pension provision.

The objective is to give them the reference points they need to enter the labour market with confidence. To understand what is at stake from their very first job, to assess the impact of pension arrangements and to ask the right questions during interviews, particularly regarding occupational pensions. The earlier these mechanisms are understood, the easier it becomes to make informed choices.

The underlying message of the study is clear. The earlier you anticipate, the greater your room for manoeuvre. Too often, saving is perceived as a constraint or a sacrifice. It should instead be seen as a strategy for independence.

At Synergix, we are convinced that financial planning is not reserved for an elite. It is built on a combination of education, accessibility, rigour and humanity. By cultivating this approach, we help turn saving into a tool of choice, not merely one of precaution.

Companies, institutions and financial professionals have an educational role to play now more than ever. By structuring access to information. By translating data into understanding. By encouraging action.

And above all, by reminding everyone that every franc set aside today is a life decision for tomorrow.