findependent Global 20

The one risk level where findependent isn't the cheapest. It still outranks VIAC Global 20 by 16 places.

findependent Global 20 ranks #31 of 109 3a investment funds, ahead of VIAC Global 20 (#47) and finpension Global 20 (#53). Read that with care: the score uses findependent's back-test, because the 3a only launched on 19 October 2026, while VIAC's is real. It's for cautious savers who want a little global equity and a diversified cushion.

Where Does findependent Lose on Cost?

Mostly. At 0.29% all-in, Global 20 is cheaper than finpension (0.39%) but not VIAC Global 20, which costs 0.22% including fund costs. On CHF 50,000 that's CHF 145 a year here versus CHF 110 at VIAC. It's the only risk level where findependent isn't the lowest-cost 3a in our database.

So why the higher rank? Performance points. findependent's back-test shows +20.3% over five years after all costs, scoring 19 of 35, while VIAC Global 20's real +15.76% scored 11. A simulated record beating a real one is exactly the kind of comparison you should take with a pinch of salt.

What Actually Stands Out

The cushion here isn't just bonds: 59% bonds, 10% Swiss real estate and 10% gold, plus 1% cash. In findependent's back-test, gold and real estate gave the cautious strategies a big lift in 2024. Equities are global with only 10% in Switzerland, so the 20% growth slice is spread across world markets.

Your 3a belongs to the findependent 3a Vorsorgestiftung, a pension foundation separate from Findependent AG. Fund units are held at Zürcher Kantonalbank as special assets, and the 1% cash sits at Hypothekarbank Lenzburg under the bankruptcy privilege up to CHF 100,000. Findependent AG is supervised by FINMA.

What Most Reviews Miss

The back-test's worst calendar year wasn't 2008 but 2022, at -9.1%, when rising rates hit bonds hard. With 59% in bonds, rate shocks are the risk that matters most here, more than a stock crash. And a fifth of the portfolio sits in gold and real estate, which can swing on their own.

If what you really want is capital that doesn't fluctuate, findependent can't give you that: there's no 3a savings account. And the real estate fund's 0.00% TER hides the costs of the Swiss real estate funds it buys, which findependent itself discloses. On a 10% slice, that's a small but real addition.

The Bottom Line

Global 20 is a well-built cautious 3a with a broader cushion than most, but on cost alone VIAC Global 20 wins at this risk level. If you're de-risking ahead of retirement, our guide to managing your 3a near retirement explains how to stage it.

Verdict: A diversified cautious 3a with gold and real estate, ranked high on a back-test, but not the cheapest option at 20% equities.