AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte

What AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte does

AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte is a Swiss statutory social insurance institution (Ausgleichskasse) headquartered in Schlieren, Zurich, operating under federal AHV/IV law. Formed on January 1, 2022 through the merger of three predecessor compensation funds (Verom, Gärtner & Floristen, and Schreiner), the institution administers Swiss first-pillar (AHV/IV/EO) and second-pillar (BVG/LPP) social insurance, family allowances, wage loss and supplementary accident insurance, and vocational training funds for employers and employees in the horticulture, floristry, and carpentry/joinery industries. Governance is anchored by 11 founding trade associations including JardinSuisse, florist.ch, VSSM, Swissavant, Schweizer Obstverband, Swisscofel, Swiss Form, SMPV, IGMR, and Artiligno. The entity is a non-shareholder statutory body without private equity ownership or external investors, employing 39 people at its Schlieren headquarters.

The service portfolio is delivered through five operational divisions: AHV-Ausgleichskasse (retirement and disability contributions and benefits), Familienausgleichskasse (cantonal family allowances), Lohnausfallversicherung (sickness daily allowance and accident insurance, with accident risk carried by Groupe Mutuel), two sector-specific Pensionskassen (PKGF for gardeners/florists; PKS for carpenters), and two Berufsbildungsfonds for vocational training. Core operational technology includes the connect online portal providing 24/7 document and form access for insured persons, an online payroll declaration program for employers, integration with the standardized ELM 4.0 electronic salary reporting system, eBill payment integration, and online simulation calculators for pension planning. Pension fund administration for PKGF and PKS was historically partnered with proparis Prévoyance arts et métiers Suisse, but the savings insurance contracts were terminated effective 31.12.2025, with assets now managed in-house under recognized investment principles.

Revenue mechanics are governed by Swiss social security statute rather than market pricing. AHV and family allowance contributions are statutorily mandated by employers and employees; supplementary accident and daily allowance premiums are determined through pooled risk assessment. The entity does not publicly disclose revenue. The organization is currently executing a multi-year digital modernization and product expansion program, including a new PKGF pension management system launching 01.01.2026, the connect@Assurés portal extension for French-speaking insured persons (autumn 2025), operational rollout of the AHV 21 federal reform, and administration of a new 13th monthly AHV pension scheduled for first payment in December 2026.

Name

AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte

Legal name

AHV – Ausgleichskasse Forte

Website

https://akforte.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swiss statutory social insurance institution (Ausgleichskasse) headquartered in Schlieren, administering AHV contributions, family allowances, occupational pensions, wage loss insurance, and vocational training funds for employers and employees in Switzerland's horticulture, floristry, and carpentry sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Statutory Social Insurance Administration

NAICS

Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Pension Funds (525110), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Pension Master Trusts, Superannuation & Provident Funds (FSAAAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

Keywords

• Social insurance administration
• Occupational pension funds
• Statutory social security
• Family allowance services
• Wage loss insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlieren

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte is a statutory Swiss compensation fund that administers AHV/IV/EO (1st pillar) contributions and pensions, occupational pension funds (BVG/LPP) for the horticulture/floristry and carpentry sectors, family allowances across all Swiss cantons, wage loss insurance (sickness daily allowance and accident coverage), and vocational training funds. It serves employers and employees primarily in the horticulture, floristry, and carpentry/joinery industries through an integrated digital self-service portal (connect), electronic payroll reporting (ELM), and dedicated phone/in-person support.

Product overview

AK Forte is a Swiss social insurance compensation fund offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance and pension services. The company operates through distinct divisions: (1) AHV-Ausgleichskasse for retirement and disability benefits, (2) Familienausgleichskasse for family allowances, (3) Lohnausfallversicherung for wage loss insurance including sickness and accident coverage, (4) Pensionskasse for occupational pensions (with separate funds for Gärtner & Floristen and Schreiner sectors), and (5) Berufsbildungsfonds for vocational training (with sector-specific funds). The core digital platform is connect, providing 24/7 online access for insured persons and employers, supplemented by an Online-Lohnprogramm for payroll management. The company serves employers, employees, self-employed, and retirees primarily in the horticulture, floristry, and carpentry industries, with 11 founding associations providing the organizational base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AHV-Ausgleichskasse (1st pillar compensation fund)
• Familienausgleichskasse (FAK)
• Lohnausfallversicherung (LAV)
• Pensionskasse Gärtner & Floristen (PKGF)
• Pensionskasse Schreiner (PKS)
• Berufsbildungsfonds Gärtner & Floristen (BBF-GF)
• Berufsbildungsfonds Schreiner (BBF-S)
• connect online portal

Quantifiable outcome

• Low administrative costs through streamlined and efficient structures

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• proparis Prévoyance arts et métiers SuissecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Occupational pension fund partner for both the gardeners/florists pension fund (PKGF) and carpenters pension fund (PKS). proparis provides reinsurance conditions and investment management, enabling AK Forte to offer attractive pension solutions to VSSM and JardinSuisse/florist.ch members.
• Groupe MutuelcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Insurance partner providing supplementary accident insurance (Unfallzusatzversicherung) for employers. AK Forte acts as the single point of contact and billing entity, with Groupe Mutuel covering the actual insurance risk.
• JardinSuissecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss gardener/entrepreneur association and legal entity for the Berufsbildungsfonds Gärtner & Floristen. JardinSuisse is one of the two founder/trade associations of AK Forte and represents the gardening industry in vocational training fund governance.
• florist.chcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss florist association and co-founder/trade association of AK Forte. Partners with JardinSuisse in governing the Berufsbildungsfonds Gärtner & Floristen and representing the floristry industry.
• VSSM (Verband Schweizerischer Schreinermeister und Möbelfabrikanten)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss association of master joiners and furniture manufacturers. VSSM is the founder association and legal entity for the Berufsbildungsfonds Schreiner and the carpenters pension fund (PKS), with significant representation in AK Forte's board.
• SwissavantmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Trade association for the Swiss interior finishing and wood industry. Swissavant is one of the 11 founder associations of AK Forte, contributing members and governance representation.
• Schweizer Obstverband (Swissfruit)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss fruit growers association, represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.
• SwisscofelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss Fruit and Vegetable Association, represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.
• Swiss FormminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Trade association for Swiss wood industry, represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.
• SMPVminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Swiss association represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.
• IGMRminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Industry association represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.
• ArtilignominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Wood industry association represented on AK Forte's board as one of the 11 founder associations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mobiliar: Swiss cooperative insurer providing accident, liability, and life insurance including BVG solutions. Comparable to AK Forte in Swiss insurance market presence and accident/UVG offerings, though at materially larger scale.
• Swiss Life: Switzerland's largest life insurer and BVG/LPP provider. Overlaps with AK Forte's occupational pension and life insurance functions as a broad incumbent offering group life, BVG, and supplementary cover across all industries.
• Suva: Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund, a statutory insurer administering mandatory UVG/LAA accident insurance. Comparable to AK Forte's Lohnausfallversicherung and accident insurance functions but at much broader national scale.
• PAX: Swiss mutual insurer operating in life, accident, and BVG/LPP pension fund administration. Comparable to AK Forte's role as a pension fund and insurance provider, though serving a much broader membership base.

Direct peers

• Coiffure & Esthétique Suisse (compensation fund): Industry-specific compensation fund for the Swiss hairdressing and beauty sector. Same Ausgleichskasse governance model and combined social insurance product portfolio as AK Forte, sized comparably in a niche trade.
• Groupe Mutuel: Swiss health, accident, and life insurer that is AK Forte's actual insurance partner for supplementary accident coverage. Directly comparable in UVG and accident insurance administration, with broader consumer-facing product range.
• Hotela Suisse: Swiss compensation fund specifically for the hotel industry. Closely mirrors AK Forte's model of a trade-specific Ausgleichskasse with combined 1st and 2nd pillar services, differing only by vertical focus.
• Stiftung Auffangeinrichtung BVG: Swiss BVG/LPP auxiliary foundation providing a statutory safety net for employees without an employer pension plan. Comparable to AK Forte's pension fund operations in regulatory mandate and BVG administration, though at a national scope.
• GastroSocial: Swiss industry-specific compensation fund serving the gastronomy and hotel sector. Directly comparable to AK Forte in structure: statutory Ausgleichskasse administering AHV, family allowances, wage loss insurance, and occupational pensions for a single trade vertical.

Regional players

• SVA Aargau: Cantonal compensation fund for Aargau offering AHV/IV/EO, family allowances, and supplementary benefits. Comparable to AK Forte in statutory compensation fund function, but a regional cantonal player rather than a trade-specific European one.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ahv-ausgleichskasse-forte

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AHV-Ausgleichskasse Forte