I see what you mean but there isn’t really much choice under a high tax system. My payroll taxes means someone saves for me. If they screw it up I have some backup in private savings, but I don’t have any opportunity of not paying payroll taxes taking home a higher net. In the end I have to hope, but not assume, that the state manages my pension savings at least as well as I would personally. Making a high income and hoping to work to 70, it shouldn’t be a big issue to live after that anyway. The situation is worse for those that struggle to make it to even 65 without wearing out, and can’t put away a lot until then either (that is, blue collar)