Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest About the Foundation

Take a look behind the scenes at the Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest and find out everything you need to know about our history, occupational benefits solution, and organization.

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Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest

The Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest was founded in Winterthur on March 20, 1974. Its purpose is to manage the occupational old-age, survivors’, and disability benefits insurance of its affiliated companies throughout Switzerland. To this end, it provides mandatory occupational benefits insurance and offers pension plans exclusively comprising extra-mandatory benefits.

The Foundation’s services are ideally tailored to the needs of medium-sized and larger companies. It is aimed at companies looking for maximum independence and flexibility without having to set up and run their own occupational benefits foundation.

Management of investments

  • The occupational benefits fund commission defines the investment strategy; the affiliated occupational benefits fund bears the investment risk.
  • The assets are invested by AXA Asset Management, Credit Suisse, or another licensed asset manager.

Protection of pension benefits

  • Benefits due if an insured person becomes disabled or dies before the reference age (formerly: retirement age) are reinsured with AXA Life Ltd.
  • The retirement benefits and the associated surviving dependents' pensions in the event of an insured member's death after the reference age (formerly: retirement age) are provided by the Foundation.

Administration and management

  • AXA Life Ltd

Product features of the Client Invest pension solution

The semi-autonomous Client Invest solution allows your company to keep control of your occupational benefits: You enjoy ideal conditions for an independent pension and investment concept, while benefiting from the advantages of affiliation to a collective foundation with AXA. We answer the most frequently asked questions regarding your pension solution here: 

  • How are conversion rates and retirement pensions handled?
    • Retirees are transferred from the occupational benefits fund to the Foundation. 
    • The occupational benefits fund can take over the conversion rates determined by the Foundation or set its own. 
    • It can define a higher conversion rate for extra-mandatory benefits or one comprehensive conversion rate. 
    • The provisions needed to finance retirement losses and any higher conversion rates are calculated by the pension fund actuary on an annual basis. 
    • Provisions participate in the investment performance of the occupational benefits fund.
  • What does semi-autonomous pension model mean?

    The risk benefits of death and disability are guaranteed by AXA. The occupational benefits fund, however, bears the investment risk for the retirement assets of the insured and also decides on how any additional earnings are to be used.

  • What does individual investment strategy mean?

    The strategy analysis forms the basis for the asset management of a pension solution. The company’s occupational benefits fund commission defines the investment strategy taking into account the risk capacity, risk tolerance, and target return. The companies are supported in these key processes and decisions by AXA Asset Management, Credit Suisse, or another asset manager of their choice.

    You can obtain more information from AXA Asset Management, the Credit Suisse Investment Foundations, and KGAST – the Association of Swiss Registered Investment Foundations.

  • What are the specific benefits of the occupational benefits fund?
    • AHV (OASI) bridging pension
    • Smaller reduction in retirement pension upon early retirement
    • Additional death lump sum 
    • Additional benefits for pensioners
    • The occupational benefits fund creates the corresponding provisions for the funding of these benefits
  • What other options does Client Invest offer?

    Contribution+ option:

    For company-owned pension funds, the pension plan may envisage higher risk/cost contributions than are required by the actual premiums. This option is likewise offered in Client Invest through Contribution+. 

    Corporate group option:

    With the dissolution of a company’s own pension funds and the takeover of comparable collective foundation solutions with multiple employers, Client Invest offers a solution for specific corporate structures. 

Organization of the Foundation

The Board of Trustees is the highest governing body and carries responsibility for the Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest. It determines and monitors the strategy, is responsible for managing the investments, and also ensures the Foundation's sustainable development and independence. The prime focus is its obligations to beneficiaries. 

The Board of Trustees has entrusted AXA Life Ltd with the management of the Foundation. AXA Life Ltd is responsible for operational management as well as distribution, and guarantees direct and transparent communication with beneficiaries and companies.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest is composed of the following members:

  • Dr. Matthias Wick

    Dr. Matthias Wick (Chair)

    Employee representative

    Cisco Systems (Switzerland) GmbH, Wallisellen
    Solutions Engineer Director

  • Pascal Burch

    Pascal Burch

    Employee representative

    Top Akustik AG, Lungern
    Sales OW, NW & Export

  • Uwe Podlech

    Uwe Podlech

    Employee representative

    Arxada AG, Basel
    Associate Director Group Treasury

  • Alain Staub

    Alain Staub

    Employer representative

    Ewopharma AG, Schaffhausen
    Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO

  • Felix Günthardt

    Felix Günthardt

    Employer representative

    Swarovski International Holding AG, Männedorf
    Managing Director Business Services

  • Laura Walter

    Laura Walter

    Employer representative

    Swiss Youth Hostels, Zurich
    Member of the Management Team

Management

The management is responsible for the operational management of the Foundation, advises the Board of Trustees on strategic issues, and bears the responsibility for implementing the decisions of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for appointment.

  • Claudia Borsari Zappa

    Claudia Borsari Zappa

    Managing Director Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest