They primarily draw their confidence from interpersonal relationships, but also from their health, resilience, and financial security. 98% pursue specific life goals, such as aging healthily, starting a family, or buying a home, and often feel positive about achieving these goals. However, they also see obstacles: financial resources or factors like health and fate, which are beyond control, pose the biggest challenges. Men tend to feel more pressure when it comes to finances and home ownership than women, whereas women experience more pressure in achieving professional goals.
"There are many studies on the concerns of the Swiss population. Together with Helvetia, we deliberately reversed the perspective and wanted to know how people feel about their optimism," says Michael Hermann of Sotomo regarding the representative survey of 1,866 adults in the German- and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. Results show that 80% of the Swiss population aged over 18 are optimistic about the coming year (Figure 1). Gender plays little role, but age does: while three-quarters (76%) of those under 50 are optimistic about the near future, the figure rises to 86% among those over 65. Additionally, confidence increases with income. Only two-thirds of those with an equivalent income under CHF 4,000 are optimistic about the next year (69%), compared to 89% of those with incomes above CHF 6,000. Differences emerge between language regions too: 82% in German Switzerland are optimistic about the next year, compared to 73% in Romandy.
Social relationships, and also financial security, are key sources of confidence
The population primarily draws confidence from social relationships: friendships (50%), partnerships (50%), and family (49%) are most frequently mentioned (Figure 2). But health (49%), self-belief (46%), and financial security (42%) are also crucial sources of personal optimism. "Our study shows that confidence doesn't arise in a vacuum but grows where people experience support, closeness, encouragement, and financial security," says Markus Bucheli, Head of Marketing & Market Communication at Helvetia Switzerland.
Great optimism except for healthy aging and financial prosperity
Almost all people in Switzerland have life goals (98%) as diverse as life itself (Figure 3). Foremost is the desire to age healthily (77%). This is followed by travel and world trips (51%), family – such as through children or grandchildren (48%), true love (47%), fitness and sportiness (47%), and financial prosperity (42%). Professional fulfilment (39%) and the dream of owning a home (34%) also play an important role for many.
Overall, confidence in achieving personal life goals is high, especially with family and marriage (Figure 4). 81% of those wishing for a family believe it achievable or have already realized it. For marriage, it's 79%. Home ownership (61%) and professional fulfilment (60%) are mid-range, while healthy aging (45%) and financial prosperity (43%) cause the most concern.
Financial resources make life goals achievable
Lack of financial resources (40%) and uncontrollable factors like health and fate (40%) are seen as the biggest obstacles to achieving personal life goals (Figure 5). Moreover, 82% of respondents state that financial resources are very important (29%) or rather important (53%) in reaching their life goals (Figure 6). Younger respondents attach more importance to financial means. 86% of 18 to 34-year-olds consider financial resources very important (37%) or rather important (49%) for achieving their life goals. In contrast, only 73% of those over 65 do so.
Men more pressured on finances and property than women
In finances and property, more men (54%) feel pressure to meet their life goals than women (46%). Similarly, men often feel pressured over professional goals (52%). For women, pressure to achieve professional life goals (50%) is more common than in finances and property (46%). "A career change, a longer training phase, starting a family, buying a home, or early retirement are moments we want to enable for our clients. That's why we view insurance, pension provision, assets, and home ownership holistically and demonstrate how financial life goals can be achieved," says Simon Weiner, Head of Sales Alliance & Market Development at Helvetia Switzerland.
About the survey
The data was collected between June 9 and June 18, 2026. The analysis considered information from 1,866 individuals. The weighted sample is representative of Switzerland's resident population concerning key sociodemographic characteristics.
Media contact:
Corporate Communications
Phone: +41 58 280 50 33
media.relations@helvetia-baloise.com