Dear Nadia and Davide, for about 100 days now, you’ve been managing the new PensExpert branch in Bern. Tell us how you’ve experienced this time and what has impressed you the most.
Nadia Bögli: Very well. PensExpert places great importance on its employees and treats them with a high level of appreciation. The corporate culture is demonstrated respectfully at the highest level.
That sounds like an exciting challenge. Tell us more about your initial experiences as co-branch managers.
Davide Coppola: Working as co-branch managers is an exciting challenge! We see our role as a unique opportunity to actively shape the success of a company and drive it forward with new services. It’s motivating to see that the new services from the Bern branch are already showing initial successes. I always say, if you want to advise entrepreneurs at eye level, you have to be an entrepreneur yourself.
Nadia: Entrepreneurship was decisive for me. We are not just business consultants but also shape strategic decisions and innovations that drive the company forward nationwide.
What new services are you offering at PensExpert? Can you give us an overview?
Nadia: Both of us have been working as financial planning experts in SME succession for many years and, as a well-coordinated team, we’ve successfully supported countless entrepreneurs in approaching their succession planning thoughtfully and early on—tailored to a customized private pension plan. For years, we have been working with PensExpert as a pension service provider, allowing us to rely on established processes.
Davide: Our focus is not only on personal pension planning but also on corporate financial planning tailored to the private situation. Early preparation in pension planning ideally supports the succession process, especially in terms of taxes, as large amounts are often paid out from the company as salary or dividends. Additionally, we can draw on the expertise of our tax specialists, which is an enormous added value.
How is Bern responding to the new market participant?
Davide: The reactions to the new branch have been overwhelming! The environment has received the new branch very well. We are proud to now offer customer proximity for PensExpert in Bern. The first deals have already been successfully closed, making for a fantastic start.
Nadia: The new presence with the Bern branch is definitely seen as a strong sign of the company’s growth and development. PensExpert, as a pioneer in pension solutions for specialists, executives, and entrepreneurs, enjoys enormous trust with 25 years of experience. We feel this trust everywhere, and it greatly helps in our efforts to establish the branch.
What are your key arguments regarding the new services for potential clients?
Nadia: Entrepreneurs involved in succession planning combined with pension and financial planning benefit from our well-established 5-point plan:
Planning Security: A comprehensive analysis of the financial situation, supplemented by corporate financial and personal pension planning, ensures stable resources and supports strategic decisions with foresight.
Seamless Handover: The succession process, with a focus on private pension planning, secures the company’s long-term future and maximizes its value.
Risk Management: Potential risks and possible challenges are identified early and minimized with a clear plan.
Tax Optimization: An efficient financial structure reduces unnecessary tax burdens. An optimally planned balance of salary and dividends keeps a company lean, creates maximum tax efficiency, and generates additional private capital for pension fund purchases.
Emotional Relief: Trusted support within a network of experienced specialists eases the transition into a new phase of life. New leaders are optimally integrated and prepared for their responsible roles. The predecessors are always required to sign a binding exit plan.
Your 5-point plan addresses emotions. Where do the greatest challenges lie? Can you give us an example from your practice?
Nadia: Our experience shows that succession arrangements always stir up a lot of emotions. These are often suppressed or underestimated, especially in family successions. One successor told me that since taking over his father’s company ten years ago, he feels as though he’s been in a never-ending probation period. An exit plan can help define roles clearly and set an end date for this perceived eternal probation period for the next generation.
Davide: Many entrepreneurs have a strong emotional attachment to their company, which can burden the handover process with uncertainty, fear of the future, or grief. For successors, the transition to entrepreneurship is also accompanied by emotions. Balancing the task of securing the legacy while successfully advancing it is no simple feat. The predecessor generation bears significant responsibility when it comes to letting go while continuing to provide support. The parties involved often rely on experts who can support this process professionally and with a team of specialists.
What’s your personal recipe for a successful succession?
Davide: A successful succession requires both professional and interpersonal competence. Good communication and the ability to address emotional aspects are crucial. We support the handover process and ensure it is carried out successfully, collaboratively, and in a way that aligns with long-term goals.
Nadia: Our years of experience help us tailor the recipe to each “guest.” The finances—essentially the appetizer—can often be analyzed uniformly and presented clearly. After that, it’s time for the main course, where the specific needs must be addressed. We compile the ingredients—sometimes together with our network—and present concrete proposals. It’s important to us that our clients not only achieve and secure their financial goals but also experience the transition to a new phase of life efficiently, sustainably, and successfully.
