Component of Switzerland's three-pillar pension system. While contributions to pillar 1 (state pension) and minimum provisions under pillar 2 (occupational pensions) are required by law (compulsory savings), pillar 3 pension plans are optional private schemes. They are divided into pillar 3a schemes (tax-privileged) and pillar 3b schemes (unrestricted access savings). For persons in gainful employment, payments into pillar 3a schemes are tax-privileged up to an annual maximum.