Frequently asked questions

An insurance agent, or tied insurance intermediary, distributes the products of the insurance company that employs or mandates them. An insurance broker, or untied insurance intermediery is mandated by the client compares offers from several insurers and represents the client's interests in negotiations. At Assidu, this comparison draws on more than 80 insurance and banking partners. This distinction is set out in the Swiss Insurance Supervision Act (ISA) and determines how an intermediary is classified and registered with FINMA.

An independent insurance broker analyses a client’s needs, obtains and compares offers from several insurance companies, negotiates suitable terms and supports the client in implementing and managing the resulting solutions. Unlike an insurance agent, an independent broker is not tied to a single insurance company and represents the client’s interests.

Assidu combines multidisciplinary in-house expertise, family ownership and a strong regional presence. This structure provides clients with stable points of contact, short decision-making channels and long-term support.

The entire share capital of Assidu SA is held by the founding Dubied family and members of management who are actively involved in the company. Assidu is neither publicly listed nor controlled by an investment fund or multinational group.

Yes. Assidu supports clients throughout the claims process. Our in-house specialists coordinate with the insurance companies, assist with the required documentation and represent the client’s interests throughout the handling and settlement of the claim.

Yes. Assidu SA is entered in FINMA’s public register as an untied insurance intermediary under registration number F01460823. This registration relates to its insurance intermediation activities.

Assidu supports individuals and families, self-employed professionals, companies ranging from SMEs to large organisations, and public and subsidised entities. Our areas of expertise include insurance and risk management, occupational and personal pension provision, financial planning and mortgage financing.

Assidu offers opportunities at different stages of professional life: for apprentices, interns, recent graduates, insurance professionals, specialists, as well as for internal roles, particularly in software development, project management, marketing and administration.

For an advisory role, candidates must hold at least the recognised insurance intermediary qualification required for the activity and meet the applicable conditions for registration with FINMA. Assidu subsequently supports employees in obtaining additional qualifications, including Swiss federal professional qualifications, IAF diplomas and CAS programmes.

Yes. Assidu is an apprenticeship training company. We train apprentices, offer 52-week internships and university internships, and support junior employees as they learn the profession.

Yes. Assidu also employs insurance specialists, client service teams and professionals in software development, marketing, administration and logistics.

Each adviser manages their clients with the support of client service teams and in-house specialists across several areas of expertise. This structure allows complex situations to be handled collaboratively and knowledge to be shared across the company in the client’s best interests.

When a senior adviser prepares for retirement, responsibility for their client portfolio is gradually transferred to junior colleagues over several years. This ensures continuity in client relationships while providing younger employees with a genuine and structured career development opportunity.

Training and development paths are defined together with employees according to their role and professional goals. Assidu funds the agreed training programmes and supports employees throughout their professional development.

Assidu offers at least five weeks of annual leave, two days of remote work per week with screens and equipment supplied for home use, modern ergonomic workstations including height-adjustable desks, company-funded continuing education and structured career development opportunities.

Assidu has nine locations in Switzerland: Delémont (head office), Geneva, Neuchâtel, Biel/Bienne, Porrentruy, Montfaucon, Lugano, Bellinzona and Chiasso.

Yes. You can submit a speculative application even when none of the current vacancies exactly matches your profile. Every application is reviewed carefully.

We offer a brokerage mandate for the management and monitoring of your insurance portfolio.

A management agreement (annual flat-rate fee) gives you access to additional services (access to our framework agreements, notification and follow-up of claims, tenders, etc.)

We can distinguish between the following risks:

• material damage (fire, water, theft, etc.)
• damage to property (civil liability, legal disputes, divorce, etc.)
• personal injury (accident, illness)

The following criteria can be used to differentiate between risks:

• Probability: low – medium – high
• Extent of impact: financial or time-related
• Reversibility: material or physical

Based on these elements, risks can be classified as:

• minor risks
• medium risks
• high risks
• very high risks

Risk management follows a simple logic and makes it possible to:

• avoid the risk
• limit the risk
• assume all or part of the risk
• delegate the risk to a third party (insurance)

Risk management is therefore not limited to insurance! The priority is to protect yourself against risks that are likely, irreversible, and whose consequences are financially very significant.

It is a policy taken out on the life of a key person (owner, partner, manager or strategic employee) for the benefit of the company. In the event of the insured person's death, the company receives a lump sum to help offset the negative financial consequences of losing this essential individual.

A full AHV/OASI contribution period is 44 years for a man and 43 years for a woman. This means contributions must be paid from the age of 21 until the statutory retirement age. The maximum AHV/OASI pension is paid when the insured person has earned an average annual income of around CHF 86,000 for every year throughout their working life.

The average annual income for each year of working life can be checked by requesting an individual account statement from your compensation office.

In most cases, a pension is more attractive because it provides a fixed income for life. In practice, pension funds often encourage insured persons to opt for a lump-sum withdrawal, as this means they no longer bear the longevity risk. However, it is always best to carry out a personalised analysis based on each individual's wishes and objectives.

To answer this question as accurately as possible, a personalised analysis is needed, as it depends on each individual.

However, the reduction in the occupational pension (BVG/LPP) is the key factor. Do you have the income needed to maintain your standard of living despite the reduced pension? Do you need capital to fund a special project or repay a mortgage? Does your employer provide a bridging pension in this situation? All these questions must be considered before making a final decision.

Advance directives and mandates in case of incapacity should be drawn up as early as possible. This ensures that a person you trust can represent you should you become incapacitated. Otherwise, your regional child and adult protection authority will appoint a deputy, who will take charge of all decisions concerning you.

As for estate planning, if there are changes in your family situation, or if you wish to distribute your assets differently from what inheritance law provides, you need to draw up a will that meets all the necessary legal requirements.

As a general rule, we are paid for the work we carry out under the advisory mandate, so we do not need to charge any fees. This cost is not added to the rate offered to the client, as it forms part of the lending institution's margin.

Yes, an equity ratio of 10% is possible. This must be "hard" equity, meaning it cannot come from 2nd pillar funds.

For the remaining 10%, additional collateral is required, such as pledging your 2nd pillar assets, life insurance policies, or pillar 3a bank funds.

Within the family, it is possible to purchase a property even without equity or with a share of less than 20% (see our tips and tricks page). Some banks also make exceptions for equity below 20%.

No. Depending on your financial situation, some institutions offer the option of pledging your 2nd pillar instead of withdrawing it.

The advantage: you avoid taxation on the lump-sum withdrawal and retain both your capital and greater risk coverage.

Direct amortisation allows you to gradually reduce the interest paid. The amount is set out in the mortgage agreement.

With indirect amortisation, the same amount is paid, but into a third-pillar account (bank or insurance). The funds will be used to pay off the debt. Our clients prefer this solution because it increases their security and allows them to benefit from tax advantages.

The advantage of the insurance-based option is that it combines risk coverage (death, disability, etc.). We always review the burden of proof for our clients in the event of disability or death, in order to identify any gaps in cover.

The rates offered by banks move in line with the SWAP rate, which reflects a bank's interest costs for refinancing this mortgage. The difference is the bank's margin, which can be higher or lower depending on the institution. Some banks apply a margin model that favours "less" risky cases, meaning they apply a lower margin to cases with, for example, more than 20% equity and a low cost/income ratio.

The SARON index (Swiss Average Rate Overnight) is calculated and published by SIX Swiss Exchange, which updates its value based on data relating to actual transactions and indicative prices in the Swiss repo market, and is updated every three months.

The bank calculates the rate by taking the SARON index as a reference (for example 0.02%) and adding its own margin (for example 0.90%), meaning you end up paying 0.92% for the following quarterly period.

If the SARON index were to turn negative, the institution neutralises it by setting it to 0.00%, applying only its own margin.

It should be noted that each bank offers this product on specific terms, and many institutions require a multi-year contractual commitment. In such cases, early repayment could incur penalties similar to those applied to fixed-rate mortgages.

By choosing a SARON mortgage, you take part directly in the current movement of interest rates.