opbouwtegoeden

Opbouwtegoeden are rights to future benefits in a pension or savings scheme that build up over time. They represent the value of pension rights that an employee has earned through service and contributions, and they can be expressed as a monetary balance in the pension plan.

Accumulation occurs by regular contributions by employee and employer, supported by accrual rates or service years, and investment returns within the plan. In defined-contribution plans, the opbouwtegoed is the amount accumulated in the individual account; in defined-benefit plans, it corresponds to the eventual benefit that the employee has earned according to formula.

They can be transferred when changing employer or scheme, subject to rules about transfer value and portability. At retirement, the opbouwtegoeden are converted into a pension benefit, often as a lifelong annuity or a lump-sum option in some jurisdictions.

Regulation: In the Netherlands, pension schemes operate under the Pensioenwet and associated rules; providers must show opbouwtegoeden in annual statements and cede them to new funds upon transfer.

Risks and considerations: Valuation depends on discount rates, indexation, and interest rates; changes in plan terms may affect the amount. Tax treatment: contributions may be tax-deferred; benefits are taxed upon payout.

Context and usage: The term is primarily used in the context of Dutch and other European pension schemes, where it appears in plan documents, annual reports, and statements as the accumulated balance of pension rights.