Managing retirement savings in Germany

Cheryl · 2025-08-20T09:31:12+02:00

Discover tips on managing retirement savings as an expat in Germany. Learn about pension options, taxation challenges, and investment plans.

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator20 August 2025 07:31:12

14585

Hello everyone,

Saving for retirement as an expat in Germany can be challenging. With different options, rules or even taxation, expats have to understand how it works to make informed decisions. We invite you to share your insights in order to help other expats and soon-to-be expats manage or plan their retirement savings in Germany.

How do you handle retirement savings in Germany?

Have you faced any challenges accessing pension funds from your home country (or from other countries)? How do you deal with taxation or the currency exchange rates?

What local options are available to expats, either public or private, to help you save for retirement?

What are the most popular private pension or investment plans popular among expats in Germany?

What do you wish you had known earlier about saving for retirement as an expat?

Thank you for your contribution.

Cheryl
禁漫天堂 Team

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

Member since 08 August 2010

Germany & Singapore Expert

beppiGermany/Singapore Expert20 August 2025 19:48:51

15552

The German public (and compulsory membership for most) retirement insurance scheme (鈥淩entenversicherung鈥�) is comprehensive and good enough for most people.

if you want more, consult a good (and independent - meaning you pay his fees, not the company he recommends to you!) financial consultant.

if you stay here below five years, don鈥檛 bother with any German offers - continue to contribute to your home country scheme! (You will still have to pay into the German system then, but get little to none out of it.)

Victor Blake New member

Member since 21 October 2025

Victor BlakeNew member22 October 2025 04:08:04

Figuring out how to save for retirement can be a bit confusing at first. There are a lot of different options, and the rules aren鈥檛 always clear, especially when it comes to taxes or bringing over pension money from another country. I鈥檝e looked into both the public system and private plans like Riester or R眉rup, but getting advice from someone who understands both German and international systems really helped me. One thing I wish I had known earlier is how important it is to start planning early and ask lots of questions. It definitely makes things easier in the long run.