100+ Free Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Exam

NQF 5

Swiss Qualification Level

SBFI National Qualifications Framework

Grade 4.0

Minimum Passing Grade

FS Personalvorsorge (Scale 1-6)

CHF 3,000

Federal Exam Fee

FS Personalvorsorge Examination Regulations

50%

Federal Tuition Subsidy

SBFI Bundesbeiträge (Up to CHF 9,500)

750 min

Total Examination Time (12.5 Hours)

Prüfungsordnung Personalvorsorge

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

The Swiss Federal Diploma for Occupational Pension Specialists (Fachmann für Personalvorsorge FA) is Switzerland's premier 2nd-pillar credential (NQF Level 5). Administered by FS Personalvorsorge under SBFI oversight, it tests five core domains: Swiss Pension Law (BVG/FZG/BVV 2), Actuarial Mathematics & Benefit Administration, Pension Fund Accounting (Swiss GAAP FER 26 & Deckungsgrad), Capital Investments (BVV 2 Asset Allocation & ALM), and Pension Fund Governance (Parity Administration & OAK BVG).

Sample Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Art. 2 Para. 1 of the Swiss Federal Act on Occupational Old Age, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans (BVG), which employees are subject to mandatory occupational pension insurance?

A.Employees who are insured under AHV, earn an annual AHV gross salary exceeding the 2026 entry threshold of CHF 22,680, and have an employment contract of more than 3 months

B.All employed individuals in Switzerland regardless of their annual salary or contract duration

C.Only employees working full-time (100% pensum) with at least 5 years of service

D.Self-employed individuals with registered commercial enterprises

Explanation: Under Arts. 2 and 7 BVG and the official 2026 key figures, the entry threshold is CHF 22,680. Employees subject to AHV whose employment lasts more than three months and whose relevant annual salary exceeds that threshold generally enter mandatory BVG insurance, subject to statutory exceptions.

2Under Art. 8 Para. 1 BVG, what is the maximum statutory coordinated salary (maximal koordinierter Lohn) insured in the mandatory 2nd pillar regime?

A.CHF 64,260 (upper BVG salary limit CHF 90,720 minus coordination deduction CHF 26,460)

B.CHF 90,720 (full statutory upper salary ceiling)

C.CHF 148,200 (UVG maximum ceiling)

D.CHF 50,000

Explanation: For 2026, the upper BVG salary limit is CHF 90,720 and the coordination deduction is CHF 26,460. The maximum mandatory coordinated salary is therefore CHF 90,720 − CHF 26,460 = CHF 64,260.

3Under Art. 8 Para. 2 BVG, if an employee earns an annual salary just above the entry threshold (e.g., CHF 23,000), what is the minimum statutory coordinated salary (minimaler koordinierter Lohn) that must be insured?

A.CHF 3,780 per year

B.CHF 2,000 per year

C.CHF 0 (no mandatory savings)

D.CHF 5,000 per year

Explanation: Under Art. 8 Para. 2 BVG and the official 2026 key figures, the minimum coordinated salary is CHF 3,780. It applies when the ordinary coordination calculation for a mandatorily insured employee would produce a smaller amount.

4Under Art. 14 Para. 2 BVG, what is the statutory minimum retirement conversion rate (Mindestumwandlungssatz) currently prescribed for calculating annual old-age pensions from statutory retirement assets (BVG-Obligatorium) at standard reference retirement age?

A.6.8%

B.6.0%

C.5.0%

D.7.2%

Explanation: Under Art. 14 Para. 2 BVG, the statutory minimum conversion rate for mandatory retirement savings (Altersguthaben im Obligatorium) at standard statutory retirement age is 6.8%. For an accumulated mandatory capital of CHF 100,000, this yields an annual lifetime pension of CHF 6,800.

5An active insured employee turns 40 years old. His coordinated salary under the pension fund regulations is CHF 50,000. Under Art. 16 BVG, what is the statutory annual old-age savings credit (Altersgutschrift) credited to his individual retirement asset?

A.CHF 5,000 (10% of CHF 50,000)

B.CHF 3,500 (7% of CHF 50,000)

C.CHF 7,500 (15% of CHF 50,000)

D.CHF 9,000 (18% of CHF 50,000)

Explanation: Under Art. 16 BVG, the statutory Altersgutschrift rate for employees aged 35 to 44 is 10% of the coordinated salary: 10% × CHF 50,000 = CHF 5,000.

6Under the Swiss Vested Benefits Act (Freizügigkeitsgesetz / FZG Art. 2 & 15), what happens to an employee's accumulated vested termination benefit (Freizügigkeitsleistung) when they change employers?

A.The entire accumulated vested benefit must be transferred directly to the new employer's pension fund

B.The employee receives a full cash payout to their private bank account

C.The previous pension fund retains the assets until standard retirement age

D.The vested benefit is forfeited and absorbed into the cantonal social security fund

Explanation: Under Art. 2 Para. 1 & Art. 3 Para. 1 FZG, when leaving a pension fund before an insured event occurs, the entire vested benefit (Freizügigkeitsleistung) must be transferred directly to the pension institution of the new employer to preserve continuous occupational pension protection.

7Under Art. 5 Para. 1 FZG, under which of the following circumstances is an insured person legally entitled to request a cash payout (Barauszahlung) of their vested termination benefit?

A.The insured takes up self-employment as their main occupation and is no longer subject to mandatory occupational pensions

B.The insured wishes to purchase a private luxury motor vehicle

C.The insured changes jobs to another Swiss employer with a higher salary

D.The insured temporarily takes an unpaid sabbatical of 3 months in Switzerland

Explanation: Under Art. 5 Para. 1 lit. b FZG, an insured person may demand cash payment if they establish self-employment as their principal occupation (Haupterwerb) and are no longer covered by mandatory occupational pension insurance.

8Under the Encouragement of Home Ownership using Occupational Pension Funds Act (WEG / BVG Art. 30a-30g), what is the minimum withdrawal amount for an advance withdrawal (Vorbezug) to acquire residential owner-occupied property?

A.CHF 20,000 (except for acquiring shares in housing cooperatives)

B.CHF 5,000

C.CHF 50,000

D.CHF 10,000

Explanation: Under Art. 5 Para. 1 of the Ordinance on the Use of Occupational Pension Assets for Home Ownership (WEFV), the minimum amount for an advance withdrawal (Vorbezug) is CHF 20,000. This minimum threshold does not apply to the acquisition of shares in housing cooperatives (Anteilscheine an Wohnbaugenossenschaften).

9Under Art. 30c Para. 5 BVG and tax regulations, what is the consequence if an insured person repays an advance withdrawal for home ownership (WEG-Vorbezug) before retirement?

A.The capital withdrawal taxes previously paid upon withdrawal can be reclaimed from the federal and cantonal tax administrations within 3 years of repayment without interest

B.The repayment is treated as a tax-deductible voluntary buy-in (Einkauf)

C.The pension fund levies a 20% penalty fee on repaid funds

D.Repayments are strictly prohibited once an advance withdrawal is executed

Explanation: Under Art. 83a DBG and Art. 30c BVG, when an insured person repays an advance withdrawal (WEG-Rückzahlung), they may file a claim within 3 years to refund the capital withdrawal tax previously paid. The repayment itself is not tax-deductible as an ordinary buy-in because it restores previously untaxed pension capital.

10Under Art. 79b Para. 3 BVG, if an insured person makes a voluntary tax-deductible buy-in (Einkauf in die Pensionskasse), what statutory blocking period applies to capital withdrawals (Lump-sum / Kapitalbezug)?

A.Any resulting benefits cannot be withdrawn in lump-sum form within the following 3 years (3-year blocking period / 3-jährige Sperrfrist)

B.Lump-sum withdrawals are blocked for 10 years

C.There is no blocking period; lump-sum withdrawals are permitted the next day

D.The blocking period applies only to real estate purchases

Explanation: Under Art. 79b Para. 3 BVG and established Swiss Federal Supreme Court jurisprudence, benefits resulting from voluntary buy-ins (and indeed any lump-sum capital withdrawals from the pension fund) cannot be taken in capital form within 3 years following the buy-in date. Violating the 3-year rule results in retroactive tax cancellation of the buy-in deduction.

About the Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Exam

The Fachfrau / Fachmann für Personalvorsorge mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis is the federal professional qualification for specialists working with Swiss occupational pension institutions, collective foundations, insurers, and employee-benefit advisers. The official profile covers BVG/LPP and FZG law, insurance technique, Swiss GAAP FER 26 accounting, BVV 2 investments, case analysis, and pension-fund management. Note on format and language: candidates may be examined in German, French, or Italian, and the official assessment combines written papers and case studies with an oral pension-management examination. This English-language multiple-choice bank is a study adaptation by OpenExamPrep—not an official translation, format simulation, or substitute for oral and case-study practice—and retains essential Swiss terminology.

Assessment

Six parts totalling 750 minutes: Recht (120 min written), Versicherungstechnik (120 min written), Rechnungswesen (120 min written), Kapitalanlagen (120 min written), Fallstudien (240 min written, double weight), and Pensionskassenführung (30 min oral).

Time Limit

750 minutes (12.5 hours) across five written parts and one oral part

Passing Score

Overall grade of at least 4.0 on the official 1.0-to-6.0 scale

Exam Fee

CHF 3,000 for the 2026 examination; eligible preparatory courses may qualify for the federal tuition subsidy (Trägerorganisation für die Berufsprüfung für Fachleute der Personalvorsorge (ASIP, VVP, VBV), under SBFI supervision)

Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Exam Content Outline

30%

Swiss Occupational Pension Law & BVG/FZG Regulations

Federal Act on Occupational Old Age, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans (BVG/LPP), Vested Benefits Act (FZG), Ordinance on Occupational Pensions (BVV 2), ATSG general social security principles, and pension fund regulations.

25%

Actuarial Calculations, Benefits & Vesting

Actuarial principles, minimum interest rate, technical interest rate, conversion rate (Umwandlungssatz), retirement/disability/survivor pensions, coordination deduction (Koordinationsabzug), vested benefits (Freizügigkeitsleistung), and buying into pension benefits (Einkauf).

20%

Pension Fund Accounting & Swiss GAAP FER 26

Swiss GAAP FER 26 accounting standards for pension funds, balance sheet presentation, calculation of coverage ratio (Deckungsgrad), technical provisions (versicherungstechnische Rückstellungen), fluctuation reserves (Wertschwankungsreserven), and employer contribution reserves.

15%

Capital Investments, Asset Allocation & BVV 2

Asset allocation principles, statutory investment categories and limits under Art. 53-58 BVV 2, real estate and mortgages, alternative investments, currency overlay, ESG integration, and asset-liability management (ALM).

10%

Pension Fund Governance, Board of Trustees & Oversight

Parity administration (paritätische Verwaltung), Board of Trustees (Stiftungsrat) duties and liability, ASIP Code of Conduct, cantonal/regional supervisory authorities (BVG-Aufsicht), Federal Occupational Pension Commission (OAK BVG), and statutory auditing.

How to Pass the Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Overall grade of at least 4.0 on the official 1.0-to-6.0 scale
Assessment: Six parts totalling 750 minutes: Recht (120 min written), Versicherungstechnik (120 min written), Rechnungswesen (120 min written), Kapitalanlagen (120 min written), Fallstudien (240 min written, double weight), and Pensionskassenführung (30 min oral).
Time limit: 750 minutes (12.5 hours) across five written parts and one oral part
Exam fee: CHF 3,000 for the 2026 examination; eligible preparatory courses may qualify for the federal tuition subsidy

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
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Personalvorsorge-Fachmann FA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the Swiss 3-Pillar Architecture: Understand the exact legal interactions between 1st pillar state pensions (AHV/IV), 2nd pillar occupational pensions (BVG/FZG), and 3rd pillar private savings (3a/3b).

2Calculate BVG statutory limits precisely: Know the annual entry threshold (Eintrittsschwelle), minimum and maximum coordinated salary (koordinierter Lohn), coordination deduction (Koordinationsabzug), and age-tiered contribution rates (Altersgutschriften: 7% at 25-34, 10% at 35-44, 15% at 45-54, 18% at 55-65).

3Master Swiss GAAP FER 26 accounting: Understand how pension fund assets and liabilities are presented at market value (statutory balance sheet), how mathematical provisions for active and retired members are determined, and how the statutory coverage ratio (Deckungsgrad) is calculated.

4Know BVV 2 investment rules: Memorize statutory asset category limits under Art. 53-58 BVV 2 (mortgages, domestic/foreign equities, real estate, foreign currencies, alternative investments) and the conditions under which the board of trustees may deviate under the 'Prudent Investor' rule (Art. 50 BVV 2).

5Understand Underfunding Recovery Measures (Unterdeckung): Learn statutory remediation tools under Art. 65d BVV 2, including restructuring contributions from employers and employees, reduction of interest rates below the BVG minimum, and temporary limits on early withdrawals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fachmann für Personalvorsorge mit eidg. Fachausweis?

The Fachfrau / Fachmann für Personalvorsorge mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis is a federally recognized qualification (Berufsprüfung) in Switzerland, accredited by the SBFI at Level 5 of the National Qualifications Framework. It validates specialized expertise in administering, accounting for, and managing Swiss occupational pension funds (2nd pillar / BVG).

Who oversees and administers the Swiss Occupational Pension examination?

The examination is organized by the Trägerorganisation für die Berufsprüfung für Fachleute der Personalvorsorge, comprising the Swiss Pension Fund Association (ASIP), the Association of Administrative Specialists in Occupational Pensions (VVP), and the Vocational Training Association of the Insurance Industry (VBV), via FS Personalvorsorge under SBFI regulatory oversight.

What are the admission requirements for the Federal Examination?

Candidates must hold an EFZ commercial or insurance apprenticeship diploma, a gymnasiale Maturität, or an equivalent qualification, plus at least 3 years of relevant professional practice (including at least 1 year in Swiss occupational pension administration). Candidates without standard secondary VET diplomas require at least 5 years of verified practice.

How is the Federal Examination structured and scored?

The examination comprises four 120-minute specialist papers, a 240-minute double-weighted case-study paper, and a 30-minute oral examination in pension-fund management, for 750 minutes total.

Are preparatory courses subsidized by the Swiss Federal Government?

Yes. Under the SBFI federal tuition subsidy program (Bundesbeiträge für eidgenössische Prüfungen), the Swiss Confederation reimburses 50% of eligible tuition expenses (up to CHF 9,500 for Berufsprüfungen) directly to candidates after they sit the official examination.

Why are practice questions provided in English on OpenExamPrep?

Switzerland's pension fund asset management and international corporate HR departments operate heavily in English. This practice bank translates the complex technical, actuarial, and statutory requirements of Swiss BVG law and Swiss GAAP FER 26 into rigorous English-language study questions to facilitate conceptual mastery.