> My retirement is based on paying ~25% of my gross income into a retirement fund, which is then spent on current retirees, and hoping that in many years, there

> My retirement is based on paying ~25% of my gross income into a retirement fund, which is then spent on current retirees, and hoping that in many years, there will be enough people working to be able to pay my retirement. This is how most state pensions work, but most supplementary pensions do not (I at least have never heard of them, and I have some experience in different EU countries). They invest your money and grow the amount, and pay you out based on your personal 'investment' or that of your cohort. Where in Europe do you live if I may ask?