A co-operative out of conviction

19. January 2022

Asga, Employer

"Together we are Asga. Your interests are our interests."

In our case it’s the members of the co-operative that decide. Anyone insured with Asga is automatically a member of our co-operative. Members are represented on the Delegates’ Assembly – the supreme governing body. Employees as well as members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board are insured with Asga and personally committed to it. This ensures that actions are taken exclusively for the benefit of the members.

"All in this together."

All members have equal status at a co-operative occupational benefits institution like Asga. This also applies to participation; employers and employees are represented on the Delegates’ Assembly on an equal basis and everyone therefore has the same voting rights.

"A pension fund for businesses and SMEs. Efficient and highly personal."

When Asga was established nearly 60 years ago, securing the funding of retirement benefits on behalf of businesses in Eastern Switzerland was the co-operative’s objective. Today, businesses and SMEs throughout German-speaking Switzerland trust us with their retirement assets. With 130 employees, we too are an SME and are familiar with your needs in relation to pension provision.

"Every single Swiss franc remains within the system."

Asga is a co-operative. That makes a difference in financial terms, too, as our entire income is used to benefit the members. Whether it’s reserves for securing pensions in the long term,
or actuarial measures to ensure sustainable financial equilibrium. And if there’s any income left over, surpluses are paid directly to the insureds.

"Highly personalised in future too."

A handful of members present when our co-operative was founded supported the idea of creating their own independent pension scheme. Back then, they probably knew each other personally. Even today, when we now have over 14,000 member firms, personal ties are the basis on which we work. Our insureds trust us with their retirement assets. We are conscious of our responsibility on a daily basis. Managing, investing and growing money is a mental exercise, while the positive feeling you get when you provide for the future in a safe and proper manner comes from the heart. Retirement provision is an extremely personal matter.

"Customer proximity comes from the heart."

With our regional anchoring and co-operative spirit, we see ourselves as one big family. And, as with every family, every member is different and has different needs and aspirations. Personalised advice is therefore extremely important to us. That’s how we deliver retirement solutions geared towards the needs of the members. Proximity is a matter of understanding – not merely a question of region.

"Good management shouldn't cost much."

Asga was founded in 1962 to secure the occupational benefits of its members through collective self-help. The belief was that an independent co-operative would be able to look after the benefits of members in a more targeted way as well as manage the money more safely, efficiently and transparently. Saving costs on behalf of our members is part of our DNA.

"Frugal management."

Asga aims to grow its members’ money, as well as invest and manage it securely. There are only two ways of doing this: a) invest better and b) spend less. At Asga, therefore, our work processes are efficient and not just for the sake of it. We are constantly optimising our internal processes and work in a highly focused manner. It’s an approach that pays off for our members: In terms of efficiency, Asga has been one of the leaders in the sector for a number of years.