Every question here can save you tens of thousands of shekels over your lifetime — or reveal whether your advisor truly works for you, or just for themselves.
After 20 years working in this field, I discovered that most people don't know which questions to even ask their advisor. That's no shame — this industry is built to make you feel like you don't understand. The following 10 questions will turn you from a client who's told what to do, into a client who understands. They work in any situation: with an insurance agent, with a pension advisor, or with the bank advisor. Save this file before your next meeting.
Most people know the percentage (if at all), but not the figure in shekels. That's the practical difference: it lets you compare, decide, and understand how much your fund actually costs you.
If the advisor can't answer this quickly, that's a problem. In 2026, the average management fees in pension funds are roughly 0.15% of accumulated savings + ~1.95% of contributions. If you're paying more — it can and should be fixed.
Most people are in the "default track" chosen by the company — without checking whether it suits their age, their needs, or the level of risk they can bear. If the advisor answers "it's the safest" — that's not enough. Ask for an explanation backed by numbers.
A pension fund isn't just savings — it's also insurance. Sometimes there's overlap with private insurance policies you pay for separately (wasting money), and sometimes there are dangerous gaps — for example, if you're a sole provider with young children.
There's no single answer. It depends on insurance seniority, tracks, costs, and coverage. A good advisor will explain the trade-off, and won't throw out a "yes" or "no" as an automatic formula.
This is the one number that really matters to you. Most people don't know it. If the advisor gives you a future number without adjusting for inflation — ask for the value in today's shekels. That's the only way to decide whether it's enough.
The state gives you significant tax benefits if you save for retirement. Benefits left unused = money you leave on the table every year. This is especially true for the self-employed — it can be worth thousands of shekels a year coming straight out of your taxes.
It's not pleasant to think about — but this is the real insurance within your pension. If you don't have a clear answer, you don't have real protection for your family. A professional advisor must present these scenarios to you in numbers.
Most people stay stuck in a poor fund/track out of fear of "penalties". In 2026, transferring a pension is a legal process that can be done within a few weeks — usually with no penalty, and without harming your seniority.
This is the most important question on the list. Most pension advisory in Israel is combined with insurance brokerage. That's not necessarily bad — it depends on transparency. A direct question will expose the interest.
I'm a licensed financial advisor and an independent insurance agent. In a 30-minute introductory meeting, with no obligation, we'll go over your situation together — and you'll get real answers to each of the 10 questions.
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After two decades at the front line of the capital markets — managing institutional portfolios, options strategies, and advising funds — Ido focuses on personal advisory. He works from Ra'anana with clients from all over Israel, face-to-face and over Zoom. More about Ido →