Financial Planning: Which Documents for Your First Meeting?

A first meeting on financial planning becomes more valuable the better you prepare for it. Having the key documents on hand saves follow-up questions and gives you a realistic picture of your situation more quickly. This article shows which documents make sense, organized by topic area.

For a first financial-planning meeting, you should gather documents from five areas: income and taxes, pension provision (AHV, occupational pension fund, pillar 3a), assets and banking relationships, property and liabilities, and insurance and estate documents. Together they form the overall picture from which a viable plan can be built.

The essentials at a glance

• Income and taxes: salary statement, latest tax return including the assessment, records of any other income.
• Pension provision: current pension fund certificate, pillar 3a and 3b statements, AHV account statement (individual account extract), vested benefits accounts.
• Assets: bank and custody account statements, securities, holdings.
• Property and debt: purchase and mortgage agreements, loan and leasing contracts.
• Insurance and estate: policies plus, where they exist, marriage contract, will, inheritance agreement, power of attorney, and living will.

Why is it worth preparing for the first meeting?

Good preparation makes the first conversation concrete instead of general. When the key documents are on hand, your financial starting point can be assessed directly rather than pieced together over several appointments. You gain clarity earlier, and open questions can be discussed specifically rather than in the abstract.

The first meeting still remains a stocktaking exercise. It is not about showing up with a perfect binder, but about making the most complete picture possible. What is missing can be provided later.

Which documents on income and taxes?

Three documents form the basis for the income section: the current salary statement, the latest tax return with the final assessment, and records of any other income such as rental income, dividends, or self-employment. Together they show which funds are regularly available.

The tax return is especially informative because it brings together income, assets, and deductions in one place. In many cases it serves as the starting point for making optimization opportunities visible in the first place.

Which pension documents (AHV, occupational pension fund, pillar 3a)?

Pension provision in Switzerland rests on the three-pillar system, so documents from all three pillars belong on the list: the AHV account statement (individual account extract) for the first pillar, the current pension fund certificate for the second pillar, and statements and policies for pillar 3a and 3b for the third pillar. Vested benefits accounts from previous employers also belong here.

The pension fund certificate is central. It shows retirement savings, the projected pension, and potential for voluntary contributions, making pension gaps visible. Without it, an essential part of the overall picture remains open.

Which documents on assets, property, and debt?

Assets include current bank and custody account statements, summaries of securities, and details of holdings or company shares. For property, the purchase agreement, mortgage agreements, and a current valuation or imputed rental value are relevant. Liabilities such as loans and leasing contracts complete the picture.

Only by weighing assets against liabilities does your true financial position come into focus. That is why both sides belong in the first meeting, not just the assets.

Which insurance and estate documents?

It makes sense to bring policies for your main insurance coverage, particularly life, disability, and property insurance. They show which risks are already covered. On the estate and advance-care side, this covers a marriage contract, will, inheritance agreement, power of attorney, and living will.

These documents do not need to be complete. Simply knowing whether they exist is already important for holistic planning, because it influences how assets are structured and passed on across generations.

Frequently asked questions about financial-planning documents

Which documents matter most for a first financial-planning meeting?

The most important are an overview of your income (salary statement, latest tax return), your pension situation (pension fund certificate, pillar 3a statements, AHV account statement), and your assets and liabilities (bank and custody statements, mortgage and loan agreements). These allow your financial starting point to be assessed realistically already in the first conversation.

What happens if I am missing some documents?

That is not an obstacle. The first meeting is a stocktaking exercise, not a final plan. Missing documents can be provided later. The more complete the documents are, however, the more concrete the initial picture will be and the fewer follow-up questions will be needed later.

Do I need my pension fund certificate for financial planning?

Yes. The current pension certificate from your occupational pension fund shows your retirement savings, your projected pension, and any possible voluntary contributions. It is one of the most important building blocks for identifying pension gaps and connecting your pension planning meaningfully with the rest of your wealth planning.

Should estate and advance-care documents also come to the first meeting?

Where they exist, yes. A marriage contract, will, inheritance agreement, power of attorney, and living will all influence how assets are structured and transferred. They do not need to be complete. Whether they exist or not is already important information for holistic planning.

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