Financial advisor for expats in Germany

Navigating the German financial system can be overwhelming, especially as an expat. I specialize in helping internationals like you gain clarity and confidence in your financial decisions. Let's build a secure and prosperous future together.

100 % independent
Consultation in English
Experienced & certified

Your financial partner for English speakers

As an immigrant you have different challenges. We help you to find a solution for those challenges.

Confused by the German pension system?
Struggling with German?
Want to save but not sure where to put your money?
Wondering how much your various existing pensions add up to?

Your finance mate for your journey

Vision

Everyone should be able to manage their finances independently

We should have received financial education before we had to deal with balancing their accounts, buying insurance or filing our taxes.

Knowledge is power: financial education empowers you to make sound financial decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

You don't have to fall on your face to learn.
I want to be part of a solution that helps people become financially literate enough to start investing early for retirement and to seek only good, quality advice.

Discovery call

Mission

Helping expats build a secure financial future in Germany

Administrative tasks are never an easy challenge for anyone - even a native German. Things like taxes and finances are complicated enough, but when you don't speak German, they can be downright scary! 
I enjoy helping my friends with German bureaucracy because it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that I've helped them navigate this maze.

Discovery call

Motive

Help my mates to plan ahead

Many of my mates don't save for their future because they are convinced that either the financial system will collapse or they won't live to be old. But the odds are that they will probably grow old. Unfortunately, there are no second chances when it comes to retirement planning. Catching up later is 10 times more painful than starting early.
I want to help my friends to start planning early and plan ahead.

Discovery call

Qualification

Licence

  • Independent financial advisor (Honorar Finanzberater 34h)
  • Insurance Expert (Versicherungsvermittler 34d)

Background

  • Master in Finance - Maastricht University
  • Bachelor in International Business - Maastricht University
Discovery call

Let’s plan your finances

Time: 30 min
Cost: €0

Discovery call

Let's start at easy

We start with a little small talk. I am curious to get to know how long you have been in Germany and what brought you here. We talk about your current situation, aspirations, and any questions you may have.

  • Your Story: Share your situation and what you aim to accomplish.
  • Introduction: Get to know more about what I can do for you
  • Q&A Session: Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
  • Next Steps: We'll discuss and outline the plan for moving forward.

The objective of the meeting is to determine if my expertise aligns with your goals.

Discovery call

Financial overview

Time: 60 min
Cost: €69 incl. tax

Help expats to build a financial future in Germany

Your current financial situation: You create an overview of your income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Knowing your average monthly surplus and your net worth is the basis for any financial planning.

Your financial goals: Most of my clients want to save for their retirement. Saving for your pension is a smart thing to do. However, if you have other financial goals, such as starting a business or buying property, you should include them in your financial plan. You list your goals, add a date and a number and prioritise them.

Pension gap: I bet your pension is high on your to-do list, so we start by working out how much pension you want and when you want to retire. Then we add up all your existing pension products, including your international pensions. Once we have an idea of how much of a gap you have, we can have a look at your options.

Book a financial overview session

Evaluating your options

Time: 60 min
Cost: €69 incl. tax

Pick the best investment option for you

Existing investments: We make a list of all your investments that contribute to your retirement, such as state, occupational and private pensions, as well as property and savings plans and even company stock options. We calculate the expected return on each product, check whether the product is doing a good job of helping you achieve your goals, and give you a recommendation so you can decide whether to leave everything as it is, cancel, freeze or invest more in the investment option.

New options: We make a list of all the options available to you that you are not currently investing in, such as your pension options like your company pension, property as an investment, ETFs. I explain the purpose, advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Personalised recommendations: We take into account:

  • Your goals, such as owning property
  • Your risk tolerance and investment timeframe
  • Your financial situation
  • Your existing experience and products
  • Your personal situation, such as whether you plan to stay in Germany or leave soon

The result is a unique investment proposal. Depending on your preferences, you can either take it from here or I can provide hands-on support.

Book a session to evaluate your options

Execution

Let's finish what we started

Pension insurance
Time: 60 min
Cost: fixed fee or commision

A pension plan can be a great way to achieve your goals. If your goal is a passive income for your retirement.
The most important thing is that it matches your goals. For example, a company or Rürub pension is not a good choice if you are planning to move abroad in a few years' time. A flexible pension may be an excellent choice in this scenario. Together we will find out if and which pension insurance is recommended.

  • We will discuss the pros and cons and the tax benefits of your insurance options
  • We will compare different providers to find the best product for your needs
  • We will find the optimal balance between security and yield
  • I will teach you what you need to know to select a balanced ETF portfolio for your investment
Real estate
Time: 60 min
Cost: €69 incl. tax

Property as an investment, meaning you buy an apartment and rent it out. This can be a great addition to your investment portfolio. Especially if you plan to retire before the age of 62.

  • Depending on your goal I will show what a great real estate investment looks like
  • I will support you in finding a suitable property

When we have a suitable property we analyze the figures together. This includes an interest rate estimate for the apartment based on your financials and a calculation of profitability and tax savings based on your taxable income.

ETF savings plan setup
Time: 60 min
Cost: €69 incl. tax

ETF savings plans are versatile and flexible. You can use it as part of your pension, but in this context I am referring to a normal trading account that you manage to build wealth in addition to your retirement. I believe in teaching my mates how to fish. To put it simply, I will show you what you need to know to get started investing in ETFs. You will learn everything you need to know to feel comfortable building and managing your own ETF portfolio.

What other mates say

Honest financial advisor taking time to understand your personal situation

I admit it: I'm no expat, but rather as German potato as it gets. Nevertheless, Alex proved to be the first consultant that actually suggested us to cancel certain insurances that were no longer fitting to our personal needs and lifestyle and only recommended meaningful new ones. There was never any pressure, just an honest discussion about risks and preferences.He also can claim the honor of managing to set up a pension plan for my wife, which I was never able to during 13 years of partnership (he insists though that he's no marriage counselor ;) ). I wholeheartedly can recommend Alex to anyone seeking advice and an honest sparring partner for discussing your financial situation.

Ruwen Bussinger

Germany
April 5, 2024

Book your discovery call today to get started

Ready to take control of your financial future? Book a free discovery call with me today! We'll discuss your situation, answer your questions, and show you how we can help you build a secure and prosperous future in Germany.

Discovery call