All articles · 2026-03-08 · Pension
From Pensioenmanager to Lyff.
Were you looking for Pensioenmanager.be? We have evolved into Lyff. Discover why we have expanded our expertise in IPT and VAPZ to your…
By Jan Hermans, CEO & founder of Lyff.
The limitation
The name "Pensioenmanager" (Pension Manager) was clear, but also limiting. It suggested that we only came into the picture when you were thinking about your old age. But as an entrepreneur, you make financial choices every day that impact your quality of life tomorrow and today.
We noticed that our expertise in taxation (fiscaliteit) and long-term planning was much more broadly applicable. Our clients didn't just ask: "How much will I have later?", but more importantly: "How can I smartly get money out of my business today to finance my dream home or protect my family?"
We still do the same (and more)
Important to emphasize: in terms of content, we never stopped doing what we did. Pension planning and fiscal (fiscale) optimization still remain the absolute core of our expertise.
Only, our role in practice has become much broader. Our knowledge of taxation (fiscaliteit) and long-term planning proved relevant for almost every strategic financial choice you make as an entrepreneur or liberal professional (vrije beroeper).
That's why we have increasingly guided our clients more broadly over the years – around three clear pillars: saving, protecting, and making profitable. At Lyff., we now apply our expertise across the full spectrum: from smart wage optimization and fiscally (fiscaal) efficient wealth accumulation to protecting your family and financing private projects through well-thought-out company structures (vennootschapsstructuren). We offer clear, directly applicable insight that immediately provides peace of mind and confidence.
At a certain point, it simply became clear: the name "Pensioenmanager" only told a small part of the story. The work we do is about the complete picture. We don't just look at the finish line; we navigate with you through every phase of your life. Not just for later, but for today, tomorrow, and all the years in between.
The company (vennootschap) as your personal leverage
As CEO of Lyff., I often see entrepreneurs view their company (vennootschap) as a necessary evil. In my book "Fiscale Shortcuts voor managementvennootschappen" (Fiscal Shortcuts for Management Companies), I explain that you should see it as a toolbox with different taps. You decide which tap to open: salary (loon), dividend, reserves, or warrants. The goal is not to push the boundaries of the law, but to make smart choices within the framework that maximize your net income.
A concrete mechanism we often use is the IPT (Individuele Pensioentoezegging) as a financing tool for real estate. Instead of fully repaying your private loan with net private money (nettoprivégeld) on which you first paid 50% tax, you can build up the capital with gross money in your company (vennootschap). We call this the "bullet loan". Privately, you only pay the interest, while the company (vennootschap) pays fiscally deductible (fiscaal aftrekbare) premiums to repay the capital in one go at the end date. This can save you tens of thousands of euros compared to a classic mortgage.
Read more about this approach in our expertise on IPT
Frequently asked questions
How do I determine the ideal mix between salary (loon) and dividend?
There's no universal answer, but the 80% rule is your compass. Your salary (loon) must be high enough to create sufficient pension space in your IPT, but not so high that you drown in the highest tax brackets of personal income tax (personenbelasting). At Lyff., we often aim for a 'defensible middle' where we use dividends via the VVPR-bis regime (15% withholding tax (roerende voorheffing) after a waiting period) as a surplus for your private assets.
Are warrants more interesting than a classic bonus?
Often, yes. A cash bonus is heavily taxed in personal income tax (personenbelasting) and social security contributions (sociale bijdragen). Warrants (stock options) are taxed on a lump-sum benefit of all kinds (forfaitair voordeel van alle aard) at the time of allocation. Because the actual value at sale is often higher than this lump sum, you retain significantly more net. It's a powerful way to increase your purchasing power without explosively increasing your wage bill (loonmassa).
Do you want to discover all the mechanisms in detail? Then order my book "Fiscale Shortcuts voor managementvennootschappen".