findependent Standard 20

The lowest-ranked of findependent's 15 strategies. In the back-test, it still gained 11.2% in 2024.

findependent Standard 20 ranks #37 of 109 3a investment funds, last among findependent's strategies but still above VIAC Global 20 (#47). That's based on findependent's back-test, since the 3a only opened its doors on 19 October 2026. It's for cautious savers who want a Swiss-tilted 20% equity slice and a cushion that goes beyond bonds.

Are the Fees Worth It?

At 0.29% all-in, you pay less than at finpension (0.39%) or frankly (0.44% plus fund costs), but more than for VIAC Global 20, which costs 0.22% including fund costs. On CHF 30,000, that's CHF 87 a year here versus CHF 66 at VIAC. Over ten years, that's about CHF 210 extra, before any growth.

What you get for it, at least on paper, is a better back-test: +18.9% over five years and +42.6% over ten after all costs, with a simulated +11.2% in 2024 alone, when gold and Swiss real estate did a lot of the work. VIAC's real five-year figure is +15.76%. Simulated versus real, so don't read too much into the gap.

What Actually Stands Out

The mix is 20% stocks, 59% bonds, 10% Swiss real estate, 10% gold and 1% cash. Within the stocks, 40% are Swiss and 60% foreign. Unlike Standard 40 to 80, there's no emerging market USD bond slice at this level, so the bonds are all in Swiss francs.

You can start with CHF 1, pay in by QR bill from any Swiss bank, and run up to five separate 3a portfolios. Payments for the current tax year must arrive by 29 December. Opening and everything after it happens in the app, which findependent describes on its 3a page.

What Most Reviews Miss

Cautious isn't the same as safe. The back-test still lost 9.1% in 2022, the year bond prices tumbled, and a strategy that gained 11.2% in 2024 thanks to gold and real estate can give some of that back just as quickly. If your capital must not move, an investment strategy is the wrong tool.

There's also no route around the app: no web login, no branch, no advisor. And findependent doesn't offer a 3a savings account, so you can't shift the last few years into cash with the same provider. For a cautious saver who likes a person to talk to, that's a real drawback.

The Bottom Line

Standard 20 works as a defensive building block, especially if you split your 3a into several portfolios and withdraw them in stages. On pure cost, VIAC Global 20 is cheaper. If staggering is your plan, our guide to holding multiple 3a accounts shows how it cuts tax.

Verdict: A diversified cautious 3a with a Swiss tilt, fine as a de-risking slice, but VIAC Global 20 is the cheaper choice at this risk level.