Insights
Analyses, market commentaries and practical guides for international clients. All content is available in German, with selected articles also in English, Russian and Ukrainian.
05 November 2026
Yes, foreigners get mortgages in Germany, and you do not need German citizenship. The bank looks at three things: how much you earn here, which residence permit you hold and how much of your own money you put in. A good starting point is to cover the buying costs (Kaufnebenkosten, taxes and fees on top of the price) from your own savings.
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25 October 2026
In Germany, your pension is built on three pillars: the state pension, the company pension and private savings. If you came to Germany on a Blue Card aged 25–40, the state pension alone will most likely not cover your usual standard of living. The good news: you have the most important thing on your side — time to close that gap calmly and with tax benefits. Below we explain how the German pension works for foreigners, what changes from 2027 and what happens to your contributions if you decide to leave.
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22 October 2026
Most of us have experienced the Ostrich Effect — that quiet dread that keeps you from opening your banking app for weeks. But here is a truth the finance industry rarely admits: finance is 80% psychology and only 20% math. You aren’t “bad with money”; you’re human.
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22 October 2026
Risikolebensversicherung (RLV) is term life insurance. If the insured person dies during the policy term, their family or another beneficiary receives the agreed sum. If the term ends without a claim, nothing is paid out. In return, premiums are low: the policy only protects your family and builds no savings. Below we cover who needs life insurance in Germany, how much cover and what term to choose, what matters for a mortgage and how couples should set up their policies.
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12 October 2026
Germany has two health insurance systems: GKV (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, public or statutory health insurance) and PKV (private Krankenversicherung, private health insurance). Most employees have no choice and are insured in GKV. The self-employed, civil servants (Beamte) and employees earning above the threshold, which is €77,400 gross a year in 2026, can choose. Below we cover who can choose, what health insurance in Germany costs, what happens to your family, whether you can go back to GKV and what changes in 2027 and 2028.
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11 October 2026
Car insurance in Germany has one compulsory part and two optional ones. The compulsory part is Kfz-Haftpflicht, third-party liability insurance: without it you cannot register a car at all. Teilkasko and Vollkasko (partial and comprehensive cover) are up to you. Below we explain what each option covers, how the price is worked out, whether your foreign no-claims history can count and how to switch insurer by 30 November.
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08 October 2026
When household income rises sharply in Germany, taxes and cash on the account often outrun the plan. How to set capital allocation, reserves and long-term goals — without a “best product” and without promised returns.
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01 October 2026
Banks like entrepreneurs least of all. Even when the surface looks solid — stable revenue, clean credit history, a profitable year. Being self-employed (Selbstständig) or taking income through a GmbH automatically marks you as higher risk in many bank models. Rejections pile up. Often the income figure matters and so does how systematically and transparently you run finances and risk cover.
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