u/Sweaty-Client9910

Hi everyone,
My partner and I are currently in the process of buying an apartment in Bern, Switzerland.
We both have different retirement assets (2nd pillar/LPP, 3a, and other pension or insurance savings), and we’re considering using them to finance the purchase.

My question is: what taxes, fees, or withdrawal costs should we expect when withdrawing these funds for owner-occupied property?

More specifically:
Is there a tax when withdrawing from the 2nd pillar (LPP/BVG)?

Is there a tax when withdrawing from Pillar 3a?

What about Pillar 3b or life insurance policies?

Are there any other fees or hidden costs we should be aware of?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this process in Switzerland, especially in the canton of Bern.
Thank you very much for your help!

(I would love some answer in French better for me )

Hey, FIRST time Alibaba I'm ordering a small kids bike from China to Switzerland and the seller is charging $60 shipping for ONE item. That's 3-4x the actual product price — feels completely insane.

Here are the specs:

- Box size: 50 x 22 x 35 cm

-Actual weight: 3.5 kg

-Volumetric weight: ~8 kg (so they're billing on volumetric i guess)

I'm flexible on delivery time — anywhere between 10 and 30 days is fine for me. I just want the cheapest option possible.

Is $60 normal for this? Am I getting ripped off? Any cheaper alternatives you'd recommend for shipping to Switzerland?

Thanks!