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Every guide, one question each.
Each guide opens with the idea in plain English, then shows it in something you can click or change. The exact rules and sources wait at the end, under “Want the nerdy details?”
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18 guides
Salary & Taxes
Payslips, tax classes and Minijobs · 3 guides
- Why is my Netto so much lower than my Brutto?Taxes and social insurance, line by line, with a €4,000 example.Gross to Net Salary in Germany · 9 min read
- What does my Steuerklasse actually change?Monthly withholding, yes. Your final yearly tax, not really.German Tax Classes Explained · 8 min read
- How does a Minijob work, and what's the catch?The €603 limit, pension contributions and why there's no health insurance included.Minijobs in Germany · 9 min read
Investing & ETFs
ETFs, savings plans, costs and taxes · 7 guides
- How do I invest a little every month?Setting up an ETF Sparplan, what it costs and what it doesn't do.ETF Savings Plans in Germany · 7 min read
- Acc or Dist: which ETF version should I pick?Payouts aren't extra return. Here's what actually differs.Accumulating vs Distributing ETFs · 7 min read
- If my ETF costs 0.2%, why is there more to pay?TER, tracking difference, spreads and fees, all in one place.What an ETF Really Costs · 8 min read
- Why is 30% of my ETF gain tax-free?The Teilfreistellung, which funds get it and which don't.ETF Teilfreistellung in Germany · 6 min read
- Why was I taxed on an ETF I didn't sell?The Vorabpauschale, worked through with the 2026 rate.The Vorabpauschale Explained · 11 min read
- What is an ETF, really?One fund, many companies, bought in one go.What is an ETF? · 6 min read
- How much tax do I pay on ETF gains?25% plus a surcharge, after a €1,000 allowance and the 30% discount.How Germany taxes ETF gains · 7 min read
Brokers & Depots
Depots, brokers and who handles your tax · 2 guides
- What is a Depot, and do I need one?Your securities account, how it's protected and how to open one.What Is a Depot? A Beginner’s Guide to Brokerage Accounts in Germany · 16 min read
- Does it matter if my broker isn't German?Mostly for one reason: who does the tax paperwork.German or Foreign Broker · 7 min read
Retirement
State pension, bAV, Rürup and the new AV-Depot · 4 guides
- Where does my German pension money go?Pension points, the 2026 values and what happens if you leave.How the German State Pension Works · 10 min read
- Is a Rürup pension worth the tax break?A deduction now, a locked-in lifetime pension later.Rürup Pension Explained · 9 min read
- Should I say yes to my employer's pension offer?The bAV, the 15% subsidy and the 2026 limits.Workplace Pensions (bAV) in Germany Explained · 8 min read
- What's the new Altersvorsorgedepot?Germany's subsidised retirement account from 2027, if you're eligible.The Altersvorsorgedepot, explained · 8 min read
Home & Mortgages
Renting, buying and mortgages · 2 guides
Rather play with the numbers?
Eleven tools show their working: salary, investment tax, ETF growth, fees, inflation, retirement and more.