Zurich Life Pension Funds

Swiss-backed, ESG-first pension provider with risk-rated Prisma funds

Zurich Life Assurance plc is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a Swiss multinational. Their Dublin-based investment team manages an integrated, macro-economic process. With ~58 retail funds and strong ESG credentials as a founding member of the UN Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, Zurich offers one of the most comprehensive ranges in Ireland.

Full review

Funds tracked

Risk Rating Scale

Zurich Life categorises investors into one of seven risk profiles using the online Zurich Risk Profiler (accessible through a financial broker or advisor). Fund risk ratings are recalculated periodically in line with European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) guidelines and may change over time.

Very Low Risk

Low Risk

Low to Medium Risk

Medium Risk

Medium to High Risk

High Risk

Very High Risk

1 - Very Low Risk

Not willing to accept any significant risks with money, accepting the prospect of low returns to achieve this.

About Zurich Life

Key Considerations

Large fund choice across well-known managers: Funds from Zurich's internal team plus BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Invesco, Columbia Threadneedle, and Dimensional
Prisma risk-rated range simplifies fund selection: Six multi-asset funds graded by risk level - pick the one that matches your risk profile without needing to build a portfolio yourself
GuidePath auto-adjusts as retirement approaches: The default Master Trust strategy reduces risk over time and can be personalised online (risk level, retirement split, end date)
Online Risk Profiler: A tool to help you understand your risk tolerance and match to an appropriate fund
Self-directed option available: For those who want to pick their own stocks and shares via stockbroker partners
All Prisma funds are SFDR Article 8: Any investor in the multi-asset range automatically gets ESG integration - Article 8 means the fund actively promotes environmental or social characteristics under EU regulation
Published proxy voting records: Full transparency on how Zurich votes on behalf of investors

Investment Approach

Internal (active management):

Macro-economic, top-down, asset allocation-driven approach
Portfolios constructed to take advantage of opportunities across all parts of the economic cycle
Integrated team-based process - close co-operation of fund managers across assets, sectors, and markets
MSCI ESG data integrated directly into Bloomberg-based security selection
ESG analysis supplements traditional metrics (P/E ratios, return on capital)
Companies are not excluded solely for low ESG ratings - it is an input into decision-making

External managers: BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Invesco, Columbia Threadneedle, Dimensional provide passive and specialist active options.

Self-directed: Stockbroking via partner firms - investors select stocks, shares, and other assets directly.

Fund Range

Prisma Range

Six risk-graded multi-asset funds actively managed by Zurich's internal Dublin-based team, investing across global equities, bonds, property, commodities, cash, and alternatives using both strategic and tactical asset allocation. They carry no additional AMC beyond the base policy charge and serve as the building blocks for the Personalised GuidePath lifecycle strategy.

Fund	Risk Level	Description
Prisma Low	Low	Conservative multi-asset
Prisma 2	Low-Medium	-
Prisma 3	Medium	-
Prisma 4	Medium-High	-
Prisma 5	High	-
Prisma Max	High	Maximum growth allocation

All Prisma funds: SFDR Article 8, internally managed, risk-graded to match investor profiles.

ESG / Responsible Investment

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a framework for evaluating companies on climate impact, working conditions, and corporate ethics. Zurich operates a detailed, multi-pillar ESG framework:

Four-pillar framework:

ESG Integration: MSCI data (since 2013) in Bloomberg. All internally managed funds. Mandatory RI training for all PMs.
Active Ownership: Vote across entire directly managed equity portfolio. Glass Lewis recommendations (not binding). Full records published online.
Exclusions: Cluster munitions, thermal coal (>30% revenue), oil sands (>30%), oil shale (>30%), new coal development.
Carbon Ambition: Phased reduction targets. Phase 1 achieved. Phase 2 targets more ambitious reductions by end of decade.

Exclusion policy specifics:

Cluster munitions and anti-personnel landmines: zero tolerance
Thermal coal: mining >30% revenue OR >20Mt/year; power >30% from coal; new mine/plant developers
Oil sands: >30% revenue from extraction; pipeline transportation companies
Oil shale: mining >30% revenue
Thresholds reduced from 50% to 30% in 2022
Exceptions for companies making positive transitions

Net Zero commitment:

Founding member, UN Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance
Net zero by 2050 (1.5°C pathway)
Investment Leaders Group member (Cambridge CISL)
Philosophy: continue investing in transitioning companies (engagement > divestment)

Active Ownership:

Engagement with largest carbon emitters through direct meetings
Support shareholder resolutions on climate disclosure and fossil fuel divestment
Most frequent votes against management: governance and excessive compensation
Shareholder Rights Directive II compliance

PAI indicators monitored: GHG emissions (Scope 1-3), carbon footprint, fossil fuel exposure, biodiversity, emissions to water, hazardous waste, UNGC violations, gender pay gap, board diversity, controversial weapons. Additional: land degradation, threatened species, deforestation, excessive CEO pay, anti-corruption convictions.

Charges

Additional AMC and Other Ongoing Costs are published per fund in the fund guide. The base AMC is agreed between the investor/employer and their financial broker.

Page content last reviewed 13 July 2026. Fund performance data is updated daily.

Frequently asked questions about Zurich Life pensions

Zurich Life offers the Prisma range - six risk-rated multi-asset funds (all classified as Article 8 under SFDR) - alongside a broader selection of approximately 58 retail funds and 55 Master Trust funds. External managers include BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, Invesco, Columbia Threadneedle, and Dimensional.

Zurich's Personalised GuidePath is the default strategy for their Master Trust. It personalises de-risking along three axes: risk preference (Low, Medium, or High), retirement planning split (Tax-Free Cash, Annuity, or ARF), and strategy end date. It progresses through three stages: Early Growth, Mid Growth, and Retirement Planning.

Zurich is a founding member of the UN Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. Their ESG framework has four pillars: ESG Integration, Active Ownership, Exclusions (companies with over 30% revenue from coal or oil sands, and cluster munitions manufacturers), and Carbon Ambition. They use MSCI ESG data and publish voting records.

Zurich's base Annual Management Charge (AMC) is agreed privately between the investor and their broker. In addition, each fund carries an additional AMC and ongoing fund costs, which are published in the fund guide. There is no publicly listed standard rate.

Prisma is Zurich's flagship suite of six risk-rated multi-asset funds. Each fund targets a different risk level and is managed by Zurich's Dublin-based investment team. All six Prisma funds are classified as Article 8 under SFDR, meaning they promote environmental or social characteristics.

Yes. Zurich Life offers a self-directed stockbroking option within their pension wrapper, allowing members to invest in individual equities and ETFs in addition to their standard fund range.

Zurich provides an online Risk Profiler, a GuidePath personalisation portal for Master Trust members, fund factsheets, and published voting records. Fund information and tools are available through the Zurich Life website.